When wrestling superstars walked the earth

As people get older, they often talk about the good old days, when things were simpler and in many ways better. If you are longing for a trip down memory lane, you’re in luck. THQ has released “WWE Legends of WrestleMania.”

The mere mention of names such as Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and Hacksaw Jim Dugan conjures up flashbacks of the days when professional wrestling was worth getting excited about.

When this reviewer learned WWE Legends of Wrestling was being released in late March, I began to get excited. I’m not big on wrestling games, but I haven’t been this excited about a wrestling game since “WWF WrestleFest” hit the arcades back in 1991. Mike Tyson was arrested that year and Nirvana and A Tribe Called Quest were big. That was a long time ago.

WWE Legends of WrestleMania takes wrestling fans to the ’80s and ’90s when going to the local video store to rent the latest WrestleMania and Royal Rumble on cassette tape was the norm. The game offers 38 legends along with four managers and six locked characters. All of the major players from the past, including the Hulkster, The Ultimate Warrior, Rowdy Roddy Piper and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, among others, are represented. The game also features 16 arenas and plenty of video footage of classic matchups from the past.

The title features three modes: Relieve, Rewrite and Redefine. In the Relieve mode, players are required to replicate the actual classic match and complete it as it was originally done. There is plenty of preview footage prior to the match and in-game flashbacks, such as a shot of the Hulkster ready to land a leg drop, which adds to the excitement of the game. In the Rewrite mode, players get a chance to change history by completing the match in any way they choose. In Redefine mode players can pick and choose their characters and matchups but with slight variations such as a ladder or cage match.

If you don’t find a favorite wrestler from the past on the existing roster, you can also create your own legends using the ample amount of options.

The game is simple to control, with four buttons used for striking, grappling, blocking and various action. That means the game requires some button smashing. If you’re into games that are a little more complicated, go and play “StarCraft.” The movements of the wrestlers can be a little stiff sometimes and the way the wrestlers are represented is a bit off. The game does have some shortcomings but the overall packaging and presentation make it worth the purchase.

By Jason Kim [jason@joongang.co.kr]