Backyard Wrestling 2: There Goes the Neighborhood E3 2004 Updated Impressions

Later this year, Eidos Interactive and developer Paradox will be releasing the follow-up to Backyard Wrestling, titled Backyard Wrestling 2: There Goes the Neighborhood. Both Eidos and Paradox acknowledge that the first game had more than its share of shortcomings, and they are working to correct everything that was wrong with the first game for the sequel. At E3 2004, we sat down and spent a little time with There Goes the Neighborhood, and we took a look at some of the new changes.

The first thing we immediately took note of in Backyard Wrestling 2 were the graphics--specifically, how much better they looked than in the last game. Each of the wrestler models features quite a bit more detail than before, and the environments showed off higher-res textures than in the last game. All the same kinds of stuff that was breakable and usable as weapons in the last game will still be breakable in this year's title, and there will be more breakable environmental objects and more weapons. Additionally, any damaged objects you leave on the ground will stay on the ground this time, as opposed to simply fading away. The wrestler animations also looked a bit more fluid than before, though there was still some jerkiness in certain transitional animations.

Backyard Wrestling 2 will feature a completely revamped grappling system, in that it will actually have one this time. You'll be able to pull off reversal grapples and transitional grapples, as well as some better counters. The game will also feature real submission holds that actually play into a new location-specific damage system. Of course, you'll still be able to bash people's heads in with fluorescent light tubes and jump off of rooftops onto flaming tables, but at least you'll also be able to actually wrestle a bit too.

Backyard Wrestling 2 will contain numerous new wrestlers, as well as a few old favorites. The Insane Clown Posse and Mad Man Pondo will join such notable hardcore wrestling names as New Jack and Sandman and such hardcore pornographic film stars as Tera Patrick. Ten different environments will be in the game, and each will feature full 3D crowds. An all-new story mode (which wasn't available for our demo) will allow you to create your own wrestler via the game's much-improved create-a-wrestler mode, and you'll be able to take him through a series of matches to become the ultimate Backyard Wrestling champion. In addition to all of that, the game will feature head-to-head online play for both the Xbox and PS2.

At the very least, Backyard Wrestling 2 should be an improvement over its predecessor, though just how big of one remains to be seen. We will have more on Backyard Wrestling 2: There Goes the Neighborhood soon.