The worlds of video games and pro wrestling once had a very fruitful relationship with a plethora of digital renditions of the in-ring (and, at times, out of the ring) action including multiple variations of WWE’s programming. But as the dynamic of pro wrestling changed during the early 2000s so did the amount of wrestling games available. Philadelphia-based promotion CHIKARA looks to change that issue with the company’s latest foray in providing the intergalactic, comic book style action the promotion is known for with a gameplay style reminiscent of some great wrestling games from the past. Having taken part in the online beta experience, the gameplay left me excited about the full game even if the online functionality & obvious technical issues were definitely worrisome.
Did I Complete “CHIKARA Action Arcade Wrestling”?
There’s actually not much to “complete” in regards to this game. With no sort of a story or “Career” mode, the only real “completion” opportunities come with leveling up the player’s profile by finishing matches that allows for the unlocking of a few wrestlers as well as post-match taunts. With the rather lacking features I simply played through all the modes, tested out the extensive creation suite “Wrestle Factory”, and utilized the online components including playing against a fellow CHIKARA fan and downloading the incredibly impressive created wrestlers & custom arenas like a tribute to the old Hasbro toy ring I had as a kid – a task that took around five hours too accomplish with two of those hours simply trying to get an online match.
Did “CHIKARA Action Arcade Wrestling” Live Up to the Hype?
Realizing just how overly complicated wrestling (specifically WWE) games have gotten over the last decade, the developers at VICO Game Studio wanted to invoke the spirit of wrestling games from a bygone era. The basis of “AAW’s” gameplay is rooted in using the strike & grapple buttons to do everything. Tapping or holding the grapple button will allow the player to perform a quick or strong collar & elbow tie up respectively with the character in control of said lock up being able to follow up with an attack by hitting the grapple button with or without the d-pad or arrow keys. Performing the same attacks will create reversal situations for the opponent. Striking not only can stop grapple attempts if timed properly, but can also stun the opponent for a follow-up big attack. By hitting both the strike & grapple buttons at the same time on a downed opponent executes submissions that, if the opponent’s health is low enough can result in a submission victory. The combo of hitting the grapple & striking buttons while standing over one of the multiple weapons that can be placed around ringside including a trashcan actually full of trash, a table that can be set on fire and even light sabers will pick up said item; though a fallen opponent can’t be struck with a weapon. Movements such as leaving the ring, climbing the turnbuckles or even blocking are simplistic as well with the latter being useful against strikes. Finishers are only activated when an opponent’s health is at critical, but aren’t limited to one usage & can be utilized infinitely.
One of the best gameplay implementations is the usage of “Power Ups”. When mid-match challenges called “Spots” appear at the bottom of the screen, the successful execution of said “Spots” will produce power ups that can be collected and activated when need be such as boosting the effectiveness of grappling, making it harder to be pinned, and even regenerating health. Some buffs like said health boosts can be automatic and may mean the difference between being hit with a finisher or turning the tides of momentum in the player’s favor. Power ups definitely add to the arcade nature this game is going for in the best way possible.
Unfortunately for as fun as the action is bell to bell there’s not much to do other than singles & multi-person matches. Tag team matches both two-on-two and three-on-three are held under tornado rules. Battle royal bouts can have up to eight people in the ring at one time, but eliminations are only associated with a character’s health bar and not some mini-game like what’s seen in the WWE games. There are no stipulation matches like Cage or Two Out of Three Falls bouts. Titles can be challenged for, but with no record system or even entrances championships really don’t matter. Online is both rewarding and disappointing. The most important aspect of online grappling is terrible at best & horrific at worst with laggy connections, animation issues being even more prominent online, and the most profound problem of simply finding a match. Add that to the fact as of right now the only match type available for online competition is singles (which may be the for the best considering how long it would take to find three people for a tag match online). On the opposite end of the spectrum is being able to download wrestlers & arenas created by gamers who are incredibly talented at what they do. The creation suite in “AAW” can allow for anyone with some patience & creativity to create whatever comes to their mind including actual wrestlers from the past & present or even the most absurd CAWs like a No. 2 Pencil. Players are limited to sixty downloads a day; which is so much more giving than what WWE games offer for the same thing.
As of now, “CHIKARA Action Arcade Wrestling” is a fun experience locally between friends who grew up playing wrestling games during the 16-bit era or someone who has a knack for creating wrestlers so others can enjoy. But the amount of stuff that needs to be worked on and added to so the game fills fulfilling definitely leaves a lot to be desired.
Should You Play “CHIKARA Action Arcade Wrestling”?
In a world where quality wrestling video games are incredibly rare including WWE’s digital offerings, “CHIKARA Action Arcade Wrestling” impresses with an old school presentation from an in-ring perspective and an extensive creation suite; sadly these are the only positives right now. A lack of match types, online being an effort in futility when trying to find a bout, and some technical issues definitely hurts the overall enjoyment. While it’s financially beneficial for those not looking to spend more than twenty dollars for a wrestling game, it’s definitely smarter to just wait & see if the developers add more or fix some of the game’s core problems like the patch released that helped the hit detection in multi-person matches. The promise is there for something greater, but don’t expect to feel like this is an electrifying experience in its initial release form.
