This is Wrestling?
User Rating: 5.2 | The Simpsons Wrestling PS
Ok, before I start this review, let me just say that the word "Wrestling" in the title isn't true. The only moves that are closely related to wrestling in this game are pinning and moves you can do off the ring ropes. Thats right, no submission moves, no turnbuckle moves, nothing at all. The rest of the game plays like a 3D fighter, but more like a Capcom fighter with it's crazy moves than a Namco or a Sega serious fighter. If you want a serious wrestling game for the PS1, rent either the two WWF Smackdown games or WWF Attitude. Now, onto the real review... Now, it's well known that TV shows don't make very good game, and now, The Simpsons step up to the console world with their first and only PS1 game, with, of all things, a wrestling game. All of which is courtesy of local license ruiner's Big Ape Productions. Now, I stated above that this game contains hardly anything to do with wrestling, and more in common with a fighter, this point proves itself when you win the match by pinning your opponent twice after depleting his/her life bar. Also, the game contains 16 characters (8 regular, 4 that need to be unlocked and 4 secret), which doesn't compare to the 30 people in Tekken 3 or the 50 Wrestlers in WWF Smackdown 2: Know Your Role. But some of the character choices aren't bad, but some could be taken away or more could be added. Each character has a bar telling the player of when they can use a certain button to attack the opponent. The Square button is the normal attack, and takes the longest to deplete the bar, the Triangle button is the projectile attack, and takes a little longer to deplete, and the Circle button is the Special attack, which will deplete your bar nearly completely. You can use these in combinations of Rope Attacks and Jumping attacks. Needless to say, this system doesn't work well in either a wrestling game or even a fighter! The graphics in this game are appalling. The backgrounds look atrocious, and the people in the background look even worse (some of which should be playable in this game). The characters themselves don't look very good at all, but they still look like themselves, and you can tell them apart from one another, so it's not all bad. The sound is marginally better than the graphics. While there is only one actual recognisable tune in the game (which is the Simpsons Theme, played at the title screen and during the credits), the rest of the music isn't too good. However though, we get voices from the actual voice actors on the show, and this feature is possibly the best thing in the entire game. The quotes aren't too bad, and in some cases, the characters do say things to specific characters, but in some cases, there aren't any quotes that aren't specific, even though you expect there to be (one case, in a Homer VS Bart match). There is commentary throughout matches, but guess what, none of it has anything to do with the match. If you want a game with decent wrestling commentary, go and get WWF Attitude. So, to add it all up. The gameplay isn't really any good, the graphics are appalling, and the sound is ok, saved only by the voice-acting. Hell, I'm a massive fan of the Simpsons, and I don't believe that I'm gonna say this, but this gotta be one of the worst examples to cash in on one of the most brilliant shows to ever be created. Definitely something to avoid unless you have no other options...
