The more you lean into the game and the more time you spend with it, the more it draws you and and the more of a joy it becomes to play. Coupled with the lack of energy bars, and the fact that pausing for breath is a key gameplay element, Fire Pro Wrestling World feels more like the “sport” of wrestling than most other titles. You’ll gradually come to grips with the need to watch your opponent, and while the main game is more forgiving, button mashing will still get you nowhere.Ĭonsequently, unlike many WWE games, victory in Fire Pro Wrestling World feels well deserved. But it does teach you that timing is key if you want to succeed in this sprite-based slam fest. The game’s (optional) tutorial is horrifyingly intimidating a computer controlled character slamming you into the mat again and again because you’ve not countered at exactly the right moment. But the style grows on you to the point where you’ll happily accept a pile-driver having maybe only five frames of animation. Likewise, the animation is far from smooth so if you’ve transitioned from any recent WWE game you’re in for a bit of a shock. The game uses 2D sprites rather than actual 3D models. It takes a while to get accustomed to Fire Pro Wrestling World’s visual style.
