Credit to Y1 over at another forum for this one..
WrestleMania 21 Massive Preview
We take an in-depth look at Pro Reversal, game types, arenas, and much more. Plus, first movies of in-game action!
It seems hard to believe, but WWE WrestleMania 21 is coming in March. Xbox owners who've long-awaited THQ's departure from the Raw series have a completely new game to enjoy this spring. Featuring 45 Superstars, including roughly a half-dozen legends, more than 20 arenas, Xbox Live play, and authentic Superstar intros and voices, WrestleMania 21 shows immense promise. While it's not quite time to give hands-on impressions of THQ's wrestler (the game just went Alpha), we have amassed some significant details.
We can finally answer your questions about the control scheme, how the Pro Reversal works in reality and not just in theory, what match types are available, and even which arenas you can do battle in. Don't think this is the end of our coverage of WM21 -- This is just the beginning. Everything you read within will be explored in even greater depth over the next two months. The Road to WrestleMania 21 begins here...
In the Ring
WM21's control scheme features two reversal buttons, two grappling buttons to allow for greater control over your Superstar's moves. To add a further touch of control, each grappling button (A and B) has two functions. Tapping the A button performs a quick grapple and holding A performs a strong grapple. The quick grapple can be very useful to snatch a wrestler in motion or to beat a quick wrestler to the punch. Tap B for a specialty grapple or hold for a submission grapple. When a wrestler's in submission, a meter appears above their name. At that point it's time for the old button mash to free yourself from the hold unless you want to tap out like a mama's boy.
Expect to see signature moves from your favorite Superstars along with the staple wrestling moves and plenty of unique turnbuckle dazzlers. A camera cut option allows for more powerful moves to be show in a more cinematic style. In these slow-mo close-up moments, players can get a good gander at sweat and blood flying off a Superstar's body.
Left and Right Trigger act as grapple and strike reversals respectively. A strike (punch, slap, kick, elbow) can come from an open stance or during a grapple. Either way, you must learn the precise timing to counter each strike. Every move, both strikes and grapples, have unique reversal timings. It's not clear if WM21 includes a counter icon or if timing must be learned through practice.
The reward for a successful reversal is an animation specific to that attack. This means that there are as many reversal animations as strike and grapple animations. As an added element, most grapples have two phases. These more complex grapples can be reversed in the initial phase or at the start of the second phase. As can be seen in IGN's two exclusive videos reversal animations are pretty damn sweet.
The Pro Reversal system should add an interesting element to WM21 missing from THQ's previous Xbox wrestlers. Practice and timing become crucial as button-mashing techniques can now be easily defeated. And thanks to the control set-up, reversals should actually be easy to learn, but perhaps difficult to master.
It's not enough to wrestle, you need to make a show of it. Heat is the measure of the crowd's support. Taunt opponents, mix up your moves, dazzle the crowd with your wrestling prowess, and your Heat Meter fills. Once fully on fire, you can use your Superstar's finishing move (A+B). These signature moves are cinematic and devastating. It doesn't mean your opponent is done-for, but they will certainly be on their way to defeat.
Don't hesitate to use your Heat as soon as possible, as the meter won't stay full for long. Take a hit or get tossed like a salad and your Heat Meter begins to sink. The crowd is fickle, which should encourage players to continually press the attack.
As a match wears on, wrestlings appear sweatier, with successful attack often resulting in a spray of sweat. Should you start pounding your opponent, you can ever get some blood splatter. While blood won't leave its mark on the mat, truly damage opponents will have their face and chest spattered red. WM21 features body-specific damage, so that targeting the face can result in blood a little earlier. Don't expect buckets of the stuff to be pouring off a Superstar's pretty face. This isn't Mortal Kombat. As can be seen in IGN's new screenshots, blood can provide a powerful image. Just imagine what a cage match can turn into with the right amount of rage.
Matches
Gamers can test their skills on four different difficulty settings (Amateur, Rising Star, Superstar, Legend) in a large variety of matches. While developer Studio Gigante wanted to include even more match types, because this is their first year on WrestleMania they had to hold back a little on fulfilling their wishlist. Still, there's a nice selection of classic match types to choose from.
Bra & Panty
Tag - 2-on-2 TAG, Tornado Tag, Cage Match, Hell in a Cell, Table Match, TLC, Ladder Match
Handicap - 1-on-2, 1-on-2 Tag, 1-on-3, 1-on-3 Tag
Triple Threat - Normal, Cage Match, Hell in a Cell, Table Match, TLC, Ladder Match
Fatal 4-Way - Normal, Cage Match, Hell in a Cell, Table Match, TLC, Ladder Match
Last Man Standing
Battle Royale
Royal Rumble
Of course WrestleMania 21 also features four-player System Link and Xbox Live play. Every match type and arena is expected to be playable online. The true incentive for online play is the Create-A-Belt feature (which may be changed to "Create-A-Championship). Players create a championship belt and then take it only. Though the CAB is still being implemented into the Alpha build, a high level of customization is promised. New items for your belt can be purchased in the Shopzone so that the more you play and the better you perform, the more elaborate the decorations you can place on your belt.
Take your belt online an put it up for grabs. That's right, other gamers across the country battle for your belt. Imagine busting your ass to make the sweetest belt anyone's ever seen, only to lose it to someone from Maine. Humiliation and triumph are certain to mark WrestleMania 21 as one of the more unique Xbox Live games.
Look for Xbox Live hands-on in February and expect more in-depth details on the different match types throughout the next two months.
Arenas
WWE WrestleMania 21 has 21 arenas available from the moment you first pop the game into your Xbox. It's possible that there may be a few extra unlockable arenas, but even if the final tally stay at 21, that's a heft number of places to do battle. Each arena is individually lighted, meaning that there is a noticeable change in shadows and even the glisten on a Superstar's skin depending on where a match is played.
While screens, movies, and details on each arena are forthcoming, here's a quick a dirty list start you dreaming:
Gymnasium
Wrestling Club
Civic Center
Industrial Basement
Vengeance
Unforgiven
Summerslam
Armageddon
Backlash
Bad Blood
Heat
Judgment Day
No Mercy
No Way Out
Raw
Royal Rumble
Smackdown
Survivor Series
Velocity
WrestleMania
Grow Your Legend
While picking one of your favorite Superstars and taking them on against a friend online or offline is a lot of fun, the real draw of a wrestling game is the career mode. Studio Gigante tossed out just about everything Raw did. Good riddance. With a fresh outlook, Gigante designed a career mode that would tell a story about a young wrestlers rise to fame on the road to WrestleMania 21.
First up, you must create your Superstar. Unfortunately, the Create-a-Superstar functionality isn't quite ready to be shown in great detail. However, here's how things begin initially. You name your Superstar (up to 16 characters) and select a hometown. Next select your expertise: Traditional, Aerialist, Power, Technician. Once that's done, you select one of four weight classes (Super Heavyweight, Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Cruiserweight). Then it's time for the real fun, creating a unique character with fully customizable facial features and body types. Of course you can then dress you Superstar in a number of outfits, with many more available for purchase in the Shopzone.
Your Superstar is rated in six different attributes: Speed, Stamina, Strength, Submission, Countering, and Charisma. Attribute increases can be purchased in the Shopzone. You won't have money at first, however. As a young wrestler, you must prove yourself in the training grounds and work your way up through the wrestling hierarchy. Career mode sports a heavy amount of cinematic cut-scenes and is promised to be much more focused than Raw 2. For those disappointed with Raw 2, breathe a little sigh of relief. WM21 has full voice-overs from the real Superstars and AI that actually makes sense. Go ahead and cheer, we'll wait for you to finish.
To better your Superstar, you must earn some spending cash. Aside from winning matches, there are specific goals set through each phase of career mode. At the start of your career, you have Rising Star Tasks to tackle. Here's the full list of your first challenges on your way to superstardom:
Earn $50,000
Win 20 matches
Purchase unlockable item
Win Tag match
Win Table match
Win Triple Threat match
With Studio Gigante focused on completing the final elements of the career mode, what becomes of your Superstar through the course of his career must remain a mystery for the time-being. Don't worry, in due time Create-a-Superstar and career mode will be revealed on IGN Xbox.
To further improve the look and stats of your Superstar, you can make some purchases at the Shopzone. There's a surprising number of goodies to be had at the shop and while we can't list every last item (since that list has not been finalized by Studio Gigante), here are all the categories you can choose from at the shop:
Arenas - Purchase some arenas for play online.
Weapons - Forget chairs and tables, there are much deadlier weapons you can store for a match.
Attributes
Create-a-Superstar - Accessories which unlock as you progress. These include items for head, upper body, and lower body, plus moves and entrances.
Create-a-Belt - Expect some really extravagant decorations for your championship belt.
Movies
Diva Photos - Hulk Hogan in a feather boa not included.
Screens
Misc.
More to Come
Haven't gotten your fill of WrestleMania goodness yet? Don't worry, we've got plans for a ridiculous amount of coverage. There's quite a lot still to be uncovered. A hands-on is upcoming and Xbox Live details will be quit a big deal next month. We hope to give you some in-depth details on Create-a-Superstar, Create-a-Belt, and career mode over the next few weeks.
So what's up next? Expect at least one, possibly two WM21 stories next week. We being Turnbuckle Tuesday on (surprisingly) Tuesday of next week. A few more stories are coming for January and then the floodgates truly open in February with so many stories, you may just cry.
http://xbox.ign.com/articles/578/578065p1.html
I haven't read any of the above yet, I just copied and pasted.. will post thoughts after I see videos and whatnot.. sounds like us XBox owners might get a decent wrestling title for once.
for more pics!
WrestleMania 21 Massive Preview
We take an in-depth look at Pro Reversal, game types, arenas, and much more. Plus, first movies of in-game action!
It seems hard to believe, but WWE WrestleMania 21 is coming in March. Xbox owners who've long-awaited THQ's departure from the Raw series have a completely new game to enjoy this spring. Featuring 45 Superstars, including roughly a half-dozen legends, more than 20 arenas, Xbox Live play, and authentic Superstar intros and voices, WrestleMania 21 shows immense promise. While it's not quite time to give hands-on impressions of THQ's wrestler (the game just went Alpha), we have amassed some significant details.
We can finally answer your questions about the control scheme, how the Pro Reversal works in reality and not just in theory, what match types are available, and even which arenas you can do battle in. Don't think this is the end of our coverage of WM21 -- This is just the beginning. Everything you read within will be explored in even greater depth over the next two months. The Road to WrestleMania 21 begins here...
In the Ring
WM21's control scheme features two reversal buttons, two grappling buttons to allow for greater control over your Superstar's moves. To add a further touch of control, each grappling button (A and B) has two functions. Tapping the A button performs a quick grapple and holding A performs a strong grapple. The quick grapple can be very useful to snatch a wrestler in motion or to beat a quick wrestler to the punch. Tap B for a specialty grapple or hold for a submission grapple. When a wrestler's in submission, a meter appears above their name. At that point it's time for the old button mash to free yourself from the hold unless you want to tap out like a mama's boy.
Expect to see signature moves from your favorite Superstars along with the staple wrestling moves and plenty of unique turnbuckle dazzlers. A camera cut option allows for more powerful moves to be show in a more cinematic style. In these slow-mo close-up moments, players can get a good gander at sweat and blood flying off a Superstar's body.
Left and Right Trigger act as grapple and strike reversals respectively. A strike (punch, slap, kick, elbow) can come from an open stance or during a grapple. Either way, you must learn the precise timing to counter each strike. Every move, both strikes and grapples, have unique reversal timings. It's not clear if WM21 includes a counter icon or if timing must be learned through practice.
The reward for a successful reversal is an animation specific to that attack. This means that there are as many reversal animations as strike and grapple animations. As an added element, most grapples have two phases. These more complex grapples can be reversed in the initial phase or at the start of the second phase. As can be seen in IGN's two exclusive videos reversal animations are pretty damn sweet.
The Pro Reversal system should add an interesting element to WM21 missing from THQ's previous Xbox wrestlers. Practice and timing become crucial as button-mashing techniques can now be easily defeated. And thanks to the control set-up, reversals should actually be easy to learn, but perhaps difficult to master.
It's not enough to wrestle, you need to make a show of it. Heat is the measure of the crowd's support. Taunt opponents, mix up your moves, dazzle the crowd with your wrestling prowess, and your Heat Meter fills. Once fully on fire, you can use your Superstar's finishing move (A+B). These signature moves are cinematic and devastating. It doesn't mean your opponent is done-for, but they will certainly be on their way to defeat.
Don't hesitate to use your Heat as soon as possible, as the meter won't stay full for long. Take a hit or get tossed like a salad and your Heat Meter begins to sink. The crowd is fickle, which should encourage players to continually press the attack.
As a match wears on, wrestlings appear sweatier, with successful attack often resulting in a spray of sweat. Should you start pounding your opponent, you can ever get some blood splatter. While blood won't leave its mark on the mat, truly damage opponents will have their face and chest spattered red. WM21 features body-specific damage, so that targeting the face can result in blood a little earlier. Don't expect buckets of the stuff to be pouring off a Superstar's pretty face. This isn't Mortal Kombat. As can be seen in IGN's new screenshots, blood can provide a powerful image. Just imagine what a cage match can turn into with the right amount of rage.
Matches
Gamers can test their skills on four different difficulty settings (Amateur, Rising Star, Superstar, Legend) in a large variety of matches. While developer Studio Gigante wanted to include even more match types, because this is their first year on WrestleMania they had to hold back a little on fulfilling their wishlist. Still, there's a nice selection of classic match types to choose from.
Bra & Panty
Tag - 2-on-2 TAG, Tornado Tag, Cage Match, Hell in a Cell, Table Match, TLC, Ladder Match
Handicap - 1-on-2, 1-on-2 Tag, 1-on-3, 1-on-3 Tag
Triple Threat - Normal, Cage Match, Hell in a Cell, Table Match, TLC, Ladder Match
Fatal 4-Way - Normal, Cage Match, Hell in a Cell, Table Match, TLC, Ladder Match
Last Man Standing
Battle Royale
Royal Rumble
Of course WrestleMania 21 also features four-player System Link and Xbox Live play. Every match type and arena is expected to be playable online. The true incentive for online play is the Create-A-Belt feature (which may be changed to "Create-A-Championship). Players create a championship belt and then take it only. Though the CAB is still being implemented into the Alpha build, a high level of customization is promised. New items for your belt can be purchased in the Shopzone so that the more you play and the better you perform, the more elaborate the decorations you can place on your belt.
Take your belt online an put it up for grabs. That's right, other gamers across the country battle for your belt. Imagine busting your ass to make the sweetest belt anyone's ever seen, only to lose it to someone from Maine. Humiliation and triumph are certain to mark WrestleMania 21 as one of the more unique Xbox Live games.
Look for Xbox Live hands-on in February and expect more in-depth details on the different match types throughout the next two months.
Arenas
WWE WrestleMania 21 has 21 arenas available from the moment you first pop the game into your Xbox. It's possible that there may be a few extra unlockable arenas, but even if the final tally stay at 21, that's a heft number of places to do battle. Each arena is individually lighted, meaning that there is a noticeable change in shadows and even the glisten on a Superstar's skin depending on where a match is played.
While screens, movies, and details on each arena are forthcoming, here's a quick a dirty list start you dreaming:
Gymnasium
Wrestling Club
Civic Center
Industrial Basement
Vengeance
Unforgiven
Summerslam
Armageddon
Backlash
Bad Blood
Heat
Judgment Day
No Mercy
No Way Out
Raw
Royal Rumble
Smackdown
Survivor Series
Velocity
WrestleMania
Grow Your Legend
While picking one of your favorite Superstars and taking them on against a friend online or offline is a lot of fun, the real draw of a wrestling game is the career mode. Studio Gigante tossed out just about everything Raw did. Good riddance. With a fresh outlook, Gigante designed a career mode that would tell a story about a young wrestlers rise to fame on the road to WrestleMania 21.
First up, you must create your Superstar. Unfortunately, the Create-a-Superstar functionality isn't quite ready to be shown in great detail. However, here's how things begin initially. You name your Superstar (up to 16 characters) and select a hometown. Next select your expertise: Traditional, Aerialist, Power, Technician. Once that's done, you select one of four weight classes (Super Heavyweight, Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Cruiserweight). Then it's time for the real fun, creating a unique character with fully customizable facial features and body types. Of course you can then dress you Superstar in a number of outfits, with many more available for purchase in the Shopzone.
Your Superstar is rated in six different attributes: Speed, Stamina, Strength, Submission, Countering, and Charisma. Attribute increases can be purchased in the Shopzone. You won't have money at first, however. As a young wrestler, you must prove yourself in the training grounds and work your way up through the wrestling hierarchy. Career mode sports a heavy amount of cinematic cut-scenes and is promised to be much more focused than Raw 2. For those disappointed with Raw 2, breathe a little sigh of relief. WM21 has full voice-overs from the real Superstars and AI that actually makes sense. Go ahead and cheer, we'll wait for you to finish.
To better your Superstar, you must earn some spending cash. Aside from winning matches, there are specific goals set through each phase of career mode. At the start of your career, you have Rising Star Tasks to tackle. Here's the full list of your first challenges on your way to superstardom:
Earn $50,000
Win 20 matches
Purchase unlockable item
Win Tag match
Win Table match
Win Triple Threat match
With Studio Gigante focused on completing the final elements of the career mode, what becomes of your Superstar through the course of his career must remain a mystery for the time-being. Don't worry, in due time Create-a-Superstar and career mode will be revealed on IGN Xbox.
To further improve the look and stats of your Superstar, you can make some purchases at the Shopzone. There's a surprising number of goodies to be had at the shop and while we can't list every last item (since that list has not been finalized by Studio Gigante), here are all the categories you can choose from at the shop:
Arenas - Purchase some arenas for play online.
Weapons - Forget chairs and tables, there are much deadlier weapons you can store for a match.
Attributes
Create-a-Superstar - Accessories which unlock as you progress. These include items for head, upper body, and lower body, plus moves and entrances.
Create-a-Belt - Expect some really extravagant decorations for your championship belt.
Movies
Diva Photos - Hulk Hogan in a feather boa not included.
Screens
Misc.
More to Come
Haven't gotten your fill of WrestleMania goodness yet? Don't worry, we've got plans for a ridiculous amount of coverage. There's quite a lot still to be uncovered. A hands-on is upcoming and Xbox Live details will be quit a big deal next month. We hope to give you some in-depth details on Create-a-Superstar, Create-a-Belt, and career mode over the next few weeks.
So what's up next? Expect at least one, possibly two WM21 stories next week. We being Turnbuckle Tuesday on (surprisingly) Tuesday of next week. A few more stories are coming for January and then the floodgates truly open in February with so many stories, you may just cry.
http://xbox.ign.com/articles/578/578065p1.html
I haven't read any of the above yet, I just copied and pasted.. will post thoughts after I see videos and whatnot.. sounds like us XBox owners might get a decent wrestling title for once.
