When it comes to wrestling games, the WWE franchise is undeniably the leader. Although they took a break a few years ago to reevaluate their games, their triumphant comeback in 2022 was nothing short of amazing. Meanwhile, AEW is challenging the current champion with a team made up of wrestlers from previous titles. As in real life, the outcome of the game is up for grabs and anyone’s guess. THQ Nordic and Yuke’s have stepped back into the squared circle to bring us AEW Fight Forever; it’s an ambitious project but considering that these two have experience with wrestling games, one that has people excited for what’s to come.
Upon initial observation, it becomes readily apparent that AEW Fight Forever and WWE games possess notable visual differences. WWE games place emphasis on hyperrealistic character models, whereas AEW Fight Forever gravitates towards a more exaggerated style, ultimately imparting an arcade-like essence to the game. That there sets you up for what the entire experience is going to be. AEW Fight Forever does not take itself too seriously and that is apparent from the visuals, gameplay options, mini-games, control scheme, and more. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does leave me with some questions about why they chose this route.
Road to Super Stardom
Upon starting the game, there is no extensive tutorial and you are immediately thrown into action. There are numerous matches available for you to jump right into, or you can opt to play the “Road to Elite” story mode. This mode takes you through the first year of AEW, and it is unique in that it doesn’t take very long. Between matches, you can choose to sightsee, work out, or rest up. The story mode is filled with dialogue choices, and you can take any AEW Roster member (in-game) through it. It is intended to be played through multiple times, as the dialogue options vary depending on whether you win, lose, or choose a different activity between matches. Additionally, you can also train and build up your created character’s stats by taking them through this mode. As far as I can tell, this is the only way to improve your created character.
The character creator isn’t super robust. Which is honestly kind of disappointing. There are only a handful of preset faces you can choose from and you don’t have a slider option like in WWE or Street Fighter 6. Where the creator does shine is in the move-set. You can customize your wrestler to fit your exact style picking every single move they make. This makes for some fun creations when it comes to how you want to play in the ring. There are unlockables in the in-game store, but you need to play the mini-games and story mode to get the in-game currency.
Controls
The game controls are simple and easy to understand, with buttons for punching, kicking, running, grabbing, and defending. It has a nostalgic feel, similar to N64 games, where building momentum leads to performing a signature move or finishing move. This makes it accessible to players of all skill levels, promoting a “pick up and play” style of gameplay. However, the downside to this is that it may not offer much room for improvement. Additionally, when pinned, the button-mashing prompt can be frustrating as there is no indication of whether you are pressing the correct buttons. Despite this, the controls are precise and responsive, and your moves will execute as soon as you press the corresponding button. The mini-games are an interesting feature, though some may feel random and out of place. On the other hand, the AEW Trivia game fits well with the overall theme. It’s a great addition to a party atmosphere, but its longevity may be limited. One of the highlights of the game is its soundtrack, featuring tracks like Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality” and Omega Sparx’s music, which adds to the already impressive playlist.
Overall, AEW Fight Forever has a ton of potential but feels like it’s missing something. It’s got a great initial roster, some good DLC options, and a future Battle Royale free-to-play mode that will, hopefully, get more eyes on AEW Fight Forever.
