Wrestle Kingdom

Yuke's Media Creations, a company known for its wide range of wrestling games (such as WWE SmackDown on Playstation or WWE WrestleMania on GameCube), debuts on Xbox 360. Wrestle Kingdom has been licensed to use the image of real professional wrestlers from Japan, so you can take part in the competition playing as the famous Japanese athletes. The gameplay system resembles the well-known productions of AKI. Use the X button to attack, while A is used to wrestle. Once you're close to your opponent, you can try different combinations of keys and directions to perform a variety of strikes, holds and throws. The Y button enables you to run and bounce off the ropes directly at the opponent. The right analog joystick is used to provoke the opponent, and when you manage to accumulate the right amount of energy in combination with other buttons, it will be used to make the finishing blow, unique for each wrestler.

In battle, you can focus on specific parts of your opponent's body to make them tired and reduce their ability to defend themselves against attacks. In terms of animation, the blows and holds in Wrestle Kingdom do not differ from other console games. Models and textures, on the other hand, are of very good quality - clear and rich in detail. The figures of wrestlers and animations of their faces are realistic. A lot of work was put into reproducing the battle arena and the audience watching the spectacle.

Last updated on 10 December 2007