Support NeoGAF

[RBH]

NA Release Date: March 29th, 2011
EU Release Date: April 1st, 2011
Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii, PS2, PSP

Demo: Now available on Xbox Live and Playstation Network

Xbox Live demo: http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/WWE-All-Stars-Demo/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80254518887




Strategy guide (includes a list of the controls as well as tips about performing combos, reversals, counters, etc):

http://thqinc.cachefly.net/wwe/AllStars_Images/WWE_AllStars_Demo_StrategyGuide.pdf

DLC
•Big Bossman
•Chris Jericho
•Jerry "The King" Lawler
•Michael Hayes
•Mark Henry
•R-Truth
•The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase (Gamestop pre-order)
•Ted DiBiase Jr. (Gamestop pre-order)
•Dusty Rhodes
•Cody Rhodes
•Hawk
•Animal
•Honky Tonk Man (free DLC)



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Videos

•Elimination match with Randy Orton vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. The Miz vs. Bret Hart - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uka5n3TfLk
•Tag-Team match with Stone Cold and HHH vs. Undertaker and Big Show - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2ADouE4XuQ
•Triple Threat match with Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock vs. John Cena - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK30FubQ-nU
•Tips and combos for the demo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztk6w5l5bj0
•Full match between Bret Hart and HHH - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ipIbtaW-g
•Full match between Roddy Piper and Sheamus - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYKvKq_KNpc
•TV commercial - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYGmplTGRsI
•Full match (steel cage) between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ2lEUsai5s
•Match Types trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ3YBsdfpIs
•Full match between Andre the Giant and Kane - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP7w27rMwTE
•Fantasy Warfare trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYdz6Vr5K-4
•Stone Cold vs. CM Punk video package - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pt1HTZUQtM
•Full match between Shawn Michaels and John Morrison - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajPj7Hj2VT4
•Gameplay video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foQ1qFe9N6w
•Interview with Sal DiVita and Rey Mysterio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ5G1N6q3BM
•Greatest Roster trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4tTsiusK9k
•New trailer featuring Hogan, Savage, and The Rock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QM3pG_kYpw
•Gameplay video featuring John Cena vs. Triple H: http://www.4players.de/4players.php...8/68364/WWE_All_Stars/Debuet_Spielszenen.html
•New trailer featuring Hulk Hogan vs. John Cena: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBjOFuiyO8A
•Gameplay walkthrough - http://www.gametrailers.com/video/characters-wwe-all-stars/709416
•Greatest Wrestling Matches trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tto3hsp1cs
•Macho Man Randy Savage trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtzJpS7BgY4





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Previews

Before we get another Smackdown vs Raw, THQ is going to be delivering an over-the-top, arcade-style wrestling game in the way of WWE All Stars. This WWE game is about getting into the action fast with twitch-like controls and overly stylized moves.

You'll likely recognize a lot of the moves, but expect a very cartoon-y result. Imagine The Big Show power bombing someone which then results in the opponent getting launched 12 feet into the air from the impact. You can even juggle others like in traditional fighting games (e.g., Street Fighter).

There are around 31 wrestlers that will be in WWE All Stars, and so far, THQ has shown off Ricky Steamboat, Bret Hart, The Rock, Triple H, John Cena, Andre the Giant, The Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio, John Morrison, Sheamus and Randy "The Macho Man" Savage. Two additional characters -- Million-Dollar Man and Ted Dibiase Jr. -- will be available exclusively through GameStop pre-orders.

All of the fighters are split up into four categories: acrobat, big man, brawler and grappler. Don't expect the wrestlers to have the same moves just because they're in the same category, either. Someone like Shamus will have a completely different play style in comparison to someone like Bret Hart.

Only one game mode was shown off -- a simple one-vs-one gametype. There will be up to four-player support that we'll hear more about at a later date. We were at least told to expect a wrestler creator system, downloadable content and multiple modes including one called "Fantasy Warfare" where players pick between WWE Legends or WWE Superstars to see who the greatest (virtual) fighter of all time is.

Controls were pretty simple from what I tried out on the Xbox 360. Y is assigned to your strong strike, X is for a quick strike, B is a strong grapple and A is for a quick grapple. Combos can be performed and a different move will happen depending on which direction the joystick is pushed with the button presses.

Players have an energy meter that allows them to use four different signature moves for each wrestler (The Rock's "Rock Bottom," for example.) These meters fill up faster the more a player uses different techniques. Performing these signature moves is done with a combo of either the X + A or Y + B buttons. These special moves also cause all of the action to go into very cheesy slow-motion.

Along with the energy meter is the Finishing Meter which is activated by pressing the left and right bumper together at the same time. A player can activate the Finishing Meter once it's filled up and if they connect, it's over; the opponent is knocked out.

On the defense side, players will be able to counter grapples/reversals with the left bumper and block/counter strikes with the right trigger. It's kind of a guessing game as you're not sure if the player is going for a strike or attempting to grapple. Everything can be reversed, so it's up to you to be quick enough to prevent an attack.

You'll of course be able to do things like climbing the turnbuckle, whipping players into the ropes -- you can even use objects like steal chairs, although you have a limit to how many times you can use a weapon before getting disqualified.

The other meter you'll be worrying about is your health meter, naturally. You're in trouble when it's flashing red and it'll be harder to get out of pins. One thing I liked about All Stars is that even a pinned player will have a second chance as a meter pop-ups for both players. The player that's pinning the opponent will need to try and fill the meter while the pinned player will be trying to increase the capacity of the meter, making it harder to get filled up.

Overall, I felt that the controls were very easy to pick up and play. I managed to win a couple of matches; granted, I used Andre The Giant against an AI-controlled Rey Mysterio. It'll be interesting to see if players use the Mad Catz Fight Sticks or Fight Pad for All Stars. I think the regular controller is a better fit, but I can see why THQ would want pro controllers.

The one thing I couldn't stomach with All Stars is the over-the-top look for the wrestlers. I mean, I get why they did it, I just think caricature designs of ANYTHING are always gross looking.

After the WWE All Stars presentation, THQ had The Big Show, Ricky Steamboat, Kofi and Shamus talk about the game. It was kind of cool hearing how the current wrestlers are honored they are able to go up against old-school wrestlers like Bret Hart, Macho Man and more. It's just as much of a dream match for the wrestlers as it will be for wrestling fans that get WWE All Stars.

http://www.destructoid.com/hands-on-wwe-all-stars-191975.phtml

Additional previews:

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/act...&om_clk=picks&tag=picks;title;1&mode=previews
http://espn.go.com/espn/thelife/vid...not-talking-dwayne-johnson?readmore=fullstory
http://sfx-360.com/newsite/news/hands-on-preview-of-wwe-all-stars/
http://g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/6407...review-Past-vs-Present-in-the-Squared-Circle/
http://www.gameplaybook.com/news/wwe-all-stars-updated-preview-xbox-360-playstation-3/

WWE All Stars is an arcade fighter wrapped in a wrestling world, and more importantly, it doesn't feel like WWE SmackDown vs. Raw. Here, there are no rope breaks, no count outs, no submissions and the falls count anywhere in every match. Complementing that departure from reality, the characters are hulking masses that look like toys and perform moves that would make Evan Bourne blush.

That's the hook to WWE All Stars: these are matches as if they were being acted out in the mind of a 6-year-old. When Macho Man Randy Savage climbs to the top rope and leaps off for his diving elbow, he twists in the air and rises a good 10 feet before crashing down on his opponent. When John Cena delivers the Five-Knuckle Shuffle, he leaps from the mat and does this corkscrew spin before coming in for a devastating landing. The moves are exaggerated versions of everything you know.

For a fanbase as hardcore as WWE fans, that levity might sound like a turnoff. It isn't. SmackDown vs. Raw will remain the simulation title and All Stars will blaze this trail that walks the line between casual play and strategic depth. On one hand, this is a game you can jump into and play regardless of what you know about wrestling. ("There are light and heavy grapples and strikes. Go.") On the other, there's a reversal system that allows you to stay afloat no matter the beatdown as long as you get the timing right.

Now, lots of games say crap like "easy to pick up but deep," but I'm happy to tell you that it looks like THQ isn't BSing us this time When I was just getting a feel for the controls, I was still pulling off fantastical stuff -- I made Rey Mysterio run up Andre the Giant's chest, leap to the top rope, and then fire off an attack. That's amazingly awesome to watch and satisfying to do. When I had built up a finisher, it was a simple pair of button presses to pull off and see Bret the Hitman Hart grab his opponent and throw him into the Sharpshooter for the KO.

As I got the hang of that stuff, the strategy and depth of the game began to shine through. When someone's grabbing for you, you can reverse it with a button press and perform the grab on them. They can reverse it as well to get a chain going. When you knock guys down, they're going to get up pretty quickly to keep WWE All Stars frantic pace, but every other time you drop an opponent, they'll glow red letting you know that you can perform a move without the fear of them popping right back up.

Layered on that base stuff are character classes. Big Men are slow but are hard to knock down, while Acrobats can connect from the top rope pretty much anywhere in the ring and run without draining their extreme signature move bar as quickly. Each class has its own pros and cons.

This is definitely one of the best things to hear and see in WWE All Stars. Wrestling games -- especially ones aimed at a more general audience -- live and die by diversity. People want characters to feel different, look different and have different moves. WWE All Stars seems to have that. Each Superstar has their own moves and attack styles pulled from their careers. Talking to the developers about the obscure moves they found for Andre the Giant really showed me the care they put into making this game feel right.

Delving back into that fighting game feel is the fact that you can juggle opponents here. In one match, I saw Kofi Kingston whipped to the ropes, popped into the air, and then just batted around with strikes and kicks. If you're good enough, you can finish with a grapple and end it all with a sweet neckbreaker to really make the exchange a thing of beauty. When you hold down on the strikes, your character's fist will glow with power waiting to be unleashed on the opponent.

All of that is countered with a bit of twisted wrestling like entrances so short you don't even see the character get to the ring and Macho Man's extreme atomic drop where he takes the opponent up in the air before dropping him butt-first on his knee. Although you can pin in matches, a majority of my matches ended with Finishing moves exhausting a player's health bar. This leads to a KO that's followed by a scene of the wrestler actually pinning the winning opponent. The same pin scene played after Bret Hart made a guy tap with the Sharpshooter, which I found a bit odd. There's the standard alternate ring gear for each Superstar, and Jim Ross along with Jerry "The King" Lawler provide commentary while Howard "The Fink" Finkel takes care of the ring announcing.

I'm excited about WWE All Stars. It reminds me of an old WWE arcade game except is looks a lot better and seems deeper. I want to play as the Macho Man, and I want to get the reversal system down. That's not surprising, but what is a bit shocking is that the game actually makes me want to invite over my friends who fell out of wrestling and have them play as the classic Superstars they remember.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/114/1144447p1.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[AssassiN]

Sheamus kinda looks like a ginger super saiyan.

 

[ZombieSupaStar]

this is being made by the TNA game team


edit: HOLY SHIT MACHO MAN!?

 

[Ken Masters]

this is being made by the TNA game team

and that's a wrap

 

[spindashing]

I know All Stars is supposed to look over the top, but did they really need to STEROID every one up...

 

[Rated-Rsuperstar]

But is there anything beyond the basic arcade mode? Storymode? Any create options? This just seems like I'd rent it, play a couple matches, and never touch it again.

 

[Dexa]

i like the tekken juggles

now just add tables ... and chairs .. and proper controls

[edit]

this is being made by the TNA game team

 

[NYCrooner]

No Hogan, Warrior, Stone Cold or Flair will destroy it for me. I hope they make the final roster.

 

[ElFly]

I find hilarious that a wrestling game can be called a "simulation".

Anyway, does this game fix the eternal rounds of every other wrestling game I've ever played? from WWF Smackdown on the PSX to the WWE SD vs RAW 2009 on the Wii, every fight takes forever to conclude, cause pinning down people is hard.

 

[SolidSnakex]

Anyway, does this game fix the eternal rounds of every other wrestling game I've ever played? from WWF Smackdown on the PSX to the WWE SD vs RAW 2009 on the Wii, every fight takes forever to conclude, cause pinning down people is hard.

That's what you get for not playing AKI's games.

 

[Host Samurai]

Needs Warrior and Hogan. I don't think its a big damn deal if they do put Hogan in despite TNA. He's already the biggest star in wrestling history. Not too worried about SCSA not being in.

 

[Xater]

Oh right that game where Cena looks like the Hulk. Totally forgot that this existed. Alos can't find my Cena/Hulk photoshop.

 

[T-Matt]

I'm excited but skeptical.

 

[GQman2121]

Looks and sounds horridly shallow to me. I\\\'m sure fans will eat it up, but didn\\\'t this type of game bomb the last time they tried it?

 

[canadian crowe]

Did I miss something? Why wouldn't Stone Cold be in?

 

[ElFly]

That's what you get for not playing AKI's games.

I played the Kinnikuman game on the gamecube (I always hit me in the head for trading that one) and Fight for NY and they were way, way better about this, yeah. If only they had the WWE license.

So I am guessing the answer here is "no"

 

[Mailenstein]

Oh Macho Man, how I've missed you :lol ! He is probably cutting the best promos in the business lol.

 

[Gravijah]

Did I miss something? Why wouldn't Stone Cold be in?

I haven't followed wrestling for years, but is he having his usual issues with WWE?

 

[Degen]

Shame they can't have a perfect roster because of how many people went to TNA, but props for this game not getting NBA Elite'd (yet)

Delving back into that fighting game feel is the fact that you can juggle opponents here. In one match, I saw Kofi Kingston whipped to the ropes, popped into the air, and then just batted around with strikes and kicks. If you're good enough, you can finish with a grapple and end it all with a sweet neckbreaker to really make the exchange a thing of beauty.

King from Tekken approves of this

 

[bernardobri]

They look like Action Figures...

 

[canadian crowe]

I haven't followed wrestling for years, but is he having his usual issues with WWE?

I don't think so. He was in smackdown 2011, so I assume he would be a lock.

 

[twinturbo2]

and that's a wrap

Isn't Sal DiVita on the team now? Co-creator of NBA Jam and one of the guys behind Midway's WWF Wrestlemania arcade game?

 

[Fersis]

Randy Macho Man in a WWE game?

OOOOOOOH YEAAAH!!

 

[Pimpbaa]

I love the stylized look they are doing.

 

[Lunchbox]

greg millers such a mark

they probably gave him royal rumble nose bleed seats for that "preview"

 

[Messi]

Don't follow wwe anymore but The screens look fun and HHH looks awesome.

 

[Kintaco]

I don't follow wrestling anymore, but I knew Macho Man was in the game only because Hogan wasn't in it. Maybe I'm a sucker but isn't there no love lost between those two?

 

[ZombieSupaStar]

Isn't Sal DiVita on the team now? Co-creator of NBA Jam and one of the guys behind Midway's WWF Wrestlemania arcade game?

yeah this def looks more like a wrestlemania the arcade game style wrestling game. I will see how it is, if its fun I will buy it.

 

[Messi]

Macho man gameplay looks bananas. Could be a fun multiplayer game.

 

[Lambtron]

Isn't Sal DiVita on the team now? Co-creator of NBA Jam and one of the guys behind Midway's WWF Wrestlemania arcade game?

According to the article in Game Informer, that is true.

I will buy this if it has Doink The Clown.

 

[Mister Zimbu]

Shamus bitchslapping Liu Kang looks amazing.

 

[SolidSnakex]

I played the Kinnikuman game on the gamecube (I always hit me in the head for trading that one) and Fight for NY and they were way, way better about this, yeah. If only they had the WWE license.

So I am guessing the answer here is "no"

The answer would actually be yes from what i've read. This game is much more like a fighting game instead of your typical wrestling game. They're even releasing a fighting stick for it. What I was pointing out before was that AKI's sim wrestlers was always much better at handling wrestler fatigue. The Yukes wrestlers are very arcadey in that aspect.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Too bad we don't just get a straight sequel to Legends of Wrestlemania. That was a solid arcade style foundation i thought, and they had a lot more WWE history to exploit (Demolition, son!!)

 

[ZombieSupaStar]

Too bad we don't just get a straight sequel to Legends of Wrestlemania. That was a solid arcade style foundation i thought, and they had a lot more WWE history to exploit (Demolition, son!!)

i want some new generation in this game too, like this vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_luvuDhlo0

scott hall and kevin nash plz!

 

[Menelaus]

wow, this actually looks kind of cool

 

[Speevy]

How long has Savage actually been full-on gray?

I bet he has for 15 years now.

 

[Penguin]

As I said in the other thread, I don't care for Greg Miller's previews/reviews of wrestling games, he is a huge mark and really hardly criticizes the series.

That said the game play looks fun and fresh and different. I like over the top action when that's all you promised.

I did see a comment above about modes, and that will really make or break the purchase for me

 

[Sputnik Sweetheart]

They look like Action Figures...

I have a feeling that isn't by chance...

 

[BigKaboom2]

Too bad we don't just get a straight sequel to Legends of Wrestlemania. That was a solid arcade style foundation i thought, and they had a lot more WWE history to exploit (Demolition, son!!)

My thoughts exactly. I still pop that in from time to time, and seeing all these recycled moves from TNA iMPACT rather than getting a sequel to LoWM is pretty depressing.

 

[revolverjgw]

Macho Man is the all-time greatest

 

[joeposh]

This looks the closest I'll get to a successor to Def Jam Vendetta/Fight of NY for a while. Might have to pick it up if it garners some positive impressions.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Too bad we don't just get a straight sequel to Legends of Wrestlemania. That was a solid arcade style foundation i thought, and they had a lot more WWE history to exploit (Demolition, son!!)

This. It had a pretty good roster to build from, and while arcadey it still had enough sim elements in it that you could make a match look good.

 

[Plinko]

I got burnt on the "Legends of Wrestlemania" promises. I'm extremely skeptical.

If it has an actual grapple system I might reconsider.

 

[Host Samurai]

Jeez. Why don't they just do what every damn fan wants. No Mercy like game play. That's it. Just copy and paste job with legend characters is all I am asking.

 

[SolidSnakex]

Jeez. Why don't they just do what every damn fan wants. No Mercy like game play. That's it. Just copy and paste job with legend characters is all I am asking.

The saddest about that came in a recent wrestling thread where someone mentioned that AKI (now Syn Sophia) wants to make another wrestling game but no one has offered.

 

[luffeN]

I got burnt on the "Legends of Wrestlemania" promises. I'm extremely skeptical.

If it has an actual grapple system I might reconsider.

From what I can remember playing this at Gamescom I think it has a grapple system but a shallow one. So you cannot compare it to WWE vs. Smackdown. But don't take my word for it because I played it half a year ago xD

 

[Plinko]

The saddest about that came in a recent wrestling thread where someone mentioned that AKI (now Syn Sophia) wants to make another wrestling game but no one has offered.

That is an absolute damn shame.

 

[RBH]

Wow, I had no idea until I read this thread that they're releasing a fight stick for this game.

 

[iconoclast]

This game looks completely retarded. Should be a fun rental!

I hope Shawn Michaels is part of the legends roster or whatever.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

meh gameplay video did nothing for me. Don't care for the graphical style much, the models are almost too bloated looking, and the gameplay was a bit too arcadey for my taste. I mean, reading the writeup, and no subs or count outs? Guess I'll still check it out.

And now that Macho Man is back does that mean Vince forgives him for boning his 14 year old daughter?