Anyone else playing Fire Pro Wrestling Returns?

[SaturnFan]

So Fire Pro Wrestling Returns for PS2 came out a few weeks ago. You can pick it up for $15. If your a wrestling fan then you really want to check this game out. It's the best wrestling game I have ever played. You can create also any wrestler and create your own rings and belt. The 2D graphics also look fantasic. Fire Pro makes SvR2008 look like a joke IMO.

Don't let this sleeper hit go under the radar....it is really fun to play.

[misfits859]

Hehe, still trying to find a copy. I've played the Japanese import for about a year but I want the US version to restore my interest. Played Fire Pro D forever. And you're right. As far as pure wrestling sims go, there ain't no coming close to Fire Pro.

[heybtbm]

FYI: As usual, Gamestop is charging $19.99. Everywhere else charges $14.99. I got it last week from Amazon. Haven't opened it yet.

[The Great Dane]

I have the Japanese version and I love it. I have been asking for the English version for Christmas for a while now, so hopefully I will get it :D

But, yeah, its awesome, and is my favorite wrestling game ever. I think I am done with the Smackdown games, and for the first time ever I don't think I'm going to be buying the newest game.

Do you guys make up your own feds and simulate shows? I love to have my "fed" going against other feds around the world to see who really is the best :p

[MrSparkle]

hmm ive never heard of this series looks pretty cool ill have to check it out maybe i can finally find a wrestling game to dethrone my wrestling game champ (wrestling for nes lol)

[The Great Dane]

Oh, man, the Fire Prowrestling series is awesome. I will give you a little info on the newest one, Returns. It has 327 default wrestlers, all of which are "made-up" wrestlers, but really they are all real just with names changed so they can include them. There are 500 edit slots for you to create that many wrestlers. It has a create-a-wrestler, create-a-ref, create-a-ring, create-a-promotion, create-a-stable, create-a-logo. It is a dream come true for those who love to create their own...everything.

You can create pretty much anyone you want. While the wrestler creation isn't THAT detailed in terms of the look of the wrestler, you can edit his/her logic completely. If you want to make a Ric Flair character who will constantly work on the opponent's leg until finally going for the Figure-four at the end, you can do it. The logic is one of the most in depth parts of the Fire Pro series.

The logo creation is awesome. You can literally make any logo you want. These logos are used in the create-a-ring part. I made a WCW logo that is nearly identical to the original WCW logo.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Yeah, I've been looking for it at Gamestop for weeks with no luck.

I have Six Man Scramble for Saturn, and that was always a blast. Nothing like timing that grapple with a perfectly timed button tap.

I wish this new PS2 version has online play, but I doubt that it does. Does it?

I also love the awful cover art ... a real throwback to the hand painted NES covers of old.

[misfits859]

I recall on Fire Pro D there was a rather large group of us from Gamefaqs that would create characters, upload them via VMU and a central commissioner would download them and we would create supercards that he would simulate and record with a video camera. He would stream the video so we could watch it in real time. This allowed us to perfect our character's logic over several weeks. Very fun times.

[Neil Koch]

Yeah, I've been looking for it at Gamestop for weeks with no luck.


It's a budget title so most Gamestops/EB aren't going to carry it, or when they do, get like 1 or 2 copies in.

[SaturnFan]

It's a budget title so most Gamestops/EB aren't going to carry it, or when they do, get like 1 or 2 copies in.

I've noticed EBGames got it but none of the Gamestops got it in yet.

[Mangar]

Didn't the Japanese versions of this game have actual Wrestlers in it? I have some of the Japanese versions on the PS1, and I can swear i remember playing as some of the Road Warriors, Stan Hansen, and some famous Japanese wrestlers. (Fujinami, Liger, etc..)


If so - Is that the deal with the name changes? IE: "real" wrestlers that had to have their name changes for the U.S release?

Oh: Anyone tried this yet on the PS3? Curious about compatibility since it seems i'm getting one from Santa.

[SaturnFan]

Oh: Anyone tried this yet on the PS3? Curious about compatibility since it seems i'm getting one from Santa.


I'm playing it on PS3 and it looks and plays so smoothly.

[roushimsx]

Didn't the Japanese versions of this game have actual Wrestlers in it? I have some of the Japanese versions on the PS1, and I can swear i remember playing as some of the Road Warriors, Stan Hansen, and some famous Japanese wrestlers. (Fujinami, Liger, etc..)


If so - Is that the deal with the name changes? IE: "real" wrestlers that had to have their name changes for the U.S release?

They've always had fake names that are kind of similar to their real names while their appearances are damn near identical. IIRC there's guides out there with the "proper" names of the real wrestlers so you can go through and rename them, though I haven't spent any time with the edit mode in this game yet (I hear it's even more robust than previous versions, if you can believe it).

My copy finally came in the mail the other day (yay free shipping from Amazon) and I've been wrestling with the Fire Pro version of Terry Funk for the last few days. I'm having an absolute blast, despite having won only 1 of the last dozen or so matches. My timing is still pretty far off, but I'm really getting back into the swing of things.

Years ago, my buddies and I used to play the shit out of Six Man Scramble and we had a blast doing it. Kinda wish we all lived close to each other still so that we could mix it up in the new version :(

The biggest thing to learn before going into a Fire Pro game (and the trickiest thing to relearn if you've been away) is that button mashing is punished (for the most part). It's a refreshing change of pace, but it requires a really different mindset that what most people are used to.

[The Great Dane]

Yeah, there is a really good rename list over at gamefaqs:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/file/927675/38973

[Kitsune Sniper]

I want to purchase this game, but I hate wrestling games that amount to nothing but button mashing. It's not fun when you play against an opponent that never freakin' tires out.

Please tell me this game isn't like that.

[roushimsx]

I want to purchase this game, but I hate wrestling games that amount to nothing but button mashing. It's not fun when you play against an opponent that never freakin' tires out.

Please tell me this game isn't like that.


The biggest thing to learn before going into a Fire Pro game (and the trickiest thing to relearn if you've been away) is that button mashing is punished (for the most part). It's a refreshing change of pace, but it requires a really different mindset that what most people are used to.

You need to order the game from Amazon post-haste. :) Tack on another budget game to pad it out and get free shipping! MLB Power Pros is a bit more expensive but might be of interest, or there's always the $15 standbys of Puzzle Quest and King of Fighters XI. Neo Geo Battle Coliseum comes out really soon, too. :)

If you don't mind a little B-game with your A-Game, Swashbucklers: Blue vs Gray is fun, if incomplete and somewhat repetitive.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I already own KOF XI. :p

I'm gunning for Battle Colloseum but that damn game gets pushed back further and further...

[boatofcar]

I want my PS2 with me in Korea :(

I love this flood of quality budget titles!

[snes_collector]

Very nice, I've been wanting to play a FPW title for awhile and since I'm getting a PS2 for Christmas this may be one of my first purchases for it.

[kainemaxwell]

So how's it play?

[The Great Dane]

So how's it play?

What would you like to know about how it plays? The grapple system?

If so, it is based on timing. You move into your opponent and they engage in a grapple. The idea is to press the desired move button at just the right moment, and before the opponent does. It is set up in three different types of moves: weak, medium, and strong moves.

Weak moves are done by pressing "[]" and one of the four directions on the d-pad for four differnent light moves.

Medium moves are done by pressing "X" and one of the four directions.

Strong moves are done by pressing "O" and one of the four directions.

Now, in order to use higher damage moves, you must first wear down your opponent by using weak moves and attacks. Eventually, you can move on to medium, and finally strong. You can always attempt to use stronger moves towards the beginning of the match, but you will most likely be reversed. You can also use your finisher at any time, but also have a high chance of getting it blocked or reversed.

Also, there is a breath feature. After the use of a few moves, and being attacked by the opponent, you will begin to run out of breath. So, you hold the breath button for few seconds to regain your "air."

That is the basic idea of the gameplay. Of course I didn't go into other things like back grapples and ground submissions, etc. But, that is the basic idea of it. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

[Xexyz]

I'll be playing it along with KoF XI next Tuesday when they arrive in the mail =/

Still, the delay more than makes up a $40 dollar splurge at GameStop. I'm done paying for their $5 markups of $15 budget games.

[The Great Dane]

Hey, do you guys want to do a simulated tournament sometime? Someone will host it, and then people will choose wrestlers from the default roster. Then, someone will sim all of the matches to see who's wrestler wins.

[roushimsx]

Hey, do you guys want to do a simulated tournament sometime? Someone will host it, and then people will choose wrestlers from the default roster. Then, someone will sim all of the matches to see who's wrestler wins.

I'd be down for taking part, though I'm sure I'll get my ass handed to me. I've got the ol' capture card configured properly again (silly WHQL drivers screwing everything up!). Hell, if people have an Action Replay Max / Code Breaker / uLaunchELF / etc, they could just create their own wrestler, dump the save file, and email 'em (or ftp to a central server?).

Create a DP FPW YouTube Account to upload all of the videos for the matches....mmm...this could be fun. Hell, we could do Stage6 if no one objects. You probably won't be able to watch the matches on your PS3, but PC/Mac users will benefit from watching higher resolution videos. :)

Seems like it might be a pretty fun project to undertake.

[The Great Dane]

I actually didn't mean to record the matches, but that would sure make it awesome :D

Unfortantely, I can't upload my edits. So, I would just be choosing from the default roster. Which is fine for, as there are enough people to choose from.

[Nick]

I have it and I suck ass at it. It frustrates me so much I am tempted to sell it. The only reason I hang on is because everyone says its such a great game. BTW I realize you cant button mash etc..I don't and I still get beat like crazy.

[Lothars]

I have it and I suck ass at it. It frustrates me so much I am tempted to sell it. The only reason I hang on is because everyone says its such a great game. BTW I realize you cant button mash etc..I don't and I still get beat like crazy.

don't worry I just got it as well and I suck but It takes alot of time to get use to it, It's really interesting, I definitely would recommend keeping at it, because even though i suck there's some cool about it.

[Mianrtcv]

I have it and I suck ass at it. It frustrates me so much I am tempted to sell it. The only reason I hang on is because everyone says its such a great game. BTW I realize you cant button mash etc..I don't and I still get beat like crazy.

The first step is admitting you have a problem...

Seriously. Give it a bit more of a shot. It is a decent game.

[The Great Dane]

I have it and I suck ass at it. It frustrates me so much I am tempted to sell it. The only reason I hang on is because everyone says its such a great game. BTW I realize you cant button mash etc..I don't and I still get beat like crazy.

Yeah, practice is the key with the Fire Pro series. It takes EVERYONE a while to get used to playing it. Eventually you will be able to beat the computer on level 10. So, just keep at it and keep the computer level on 1 or 2. If you have any questions let us know.

[Kitsune Sniper]

... does it play like the GBA version?

... because I think I'll play a button masher instead. I didn't like it at all.

[gepeto]

Yeah I love that wrestling game I think it is one of the deepest wrestling games that once you master is so much fun. The gameplay options are insane. Firepro 2 for the gba had a nice tutorial mode that gets you acustom to the firepro gameplay.

True wrestling fans usually pick up controls quickly. multiplayer Battle royals are over the top. I am a little sad it msrp is 14.99 but gamestop charges 20.00 but the truth is I wouls have paid more.

[xtremegamer]

Picking up my copy tomorrow. Been dying to play this.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Got my copy at Gamestop yesterday, have yet to pop it in, but I've been down the FPW road before, I'm sure it'll be nothing but great times.

[tonyvortex]

one of my friends was asking me and i didnt know so i thought i would ask here,does anyone know how you can transfer edits or how to transfer .max files to the ps2?

[Kitsune Sniper]

Yeah I love that wrestling game I think it is one of the deepest wrestling games that once you master is so much fun. The gameplay options are insane. Firepro 2 for the gba had a nice tutorial mode that gets you acustom to the firepro gameplay.

True wrestling fans usually pick up controls quickly. multiplayer Battle royals are over the top. I am a little sad it msrp is 14.99 but gamestop charges 20.00 but the truth is I wouls have paid more.

Oh, there's a tutorial in the GBA version?

In that case, I'm going to give it another shot. I was just pushing buttons at random when I made my other post.

[Ryu3324]

just bought it great game!

[The Great Dane]

Oh, there's a tutorial in the GBA version?

In that case, I'm going to give it another shot. I was just pushing buttons at random when I made my other post.

Yeah, you have to practice in order to get the timing right on any Fire Pro game. But, once you have it down, it isn't difficult to win matches.

[gepeto]

Yeah, you have to practice in order to get the timing right on any Fire Pro game. But, once you have it down, it isn't difficult to win matches.


Yeah the tutorial is only in firepro 2 though. Once you figure all the different moves out the fun really begins.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

After playing a few matches today, I'm reminded why this series never saw the light of day on the US Shores.

(Granted I've known how to utilize the game's grapple system for years)

US gamers (especially the youth demographic) don't like game design elements that are technically sound, yet frustrating in application. (Read : games gotta be easy yo!)

Sure, with practice, one can become a FPW grapple master and school the CPU on any level - however, with the high rate of A.D.D. and the various "standards" set by wrestling games since Pro Wrestling on the NES, all the way up to the Smackdown Vs. Raw series ... there has never really been anything over here with a "timing-macro-second-touch-grapple" system like Fire Pro (save the GBA versions) and it would have been like a shock to the system in comparison to the "standard-grapple/reversal" systems of games like No Mercy and Smackdown if it released along side those in this market.

I'm super jazzed that this even happened - and that the game has maintained it's signature look and feel up to and including this version, and that it's out as a bargain title to boot.

[Nick]

Thanks for the info/support guys. :D I'm gonna have to play this some more. It's hilarious when I do. I get pumped up everytime I win a grapple...lol.