You Know What That Means
Publisher AEW Games has dropped some new development footage for its upcomingAll Elite Wrestling video game, which has been officially titledAEW Fight Forever. The new ring rocker is currently in development at Yuke’s, though platforms and a release window are yet to be confirmed.
The two new videos focus on AEW wrestlers Nyla Rose and Kris Statlander, (not forgetting referee Aubrey Edwards) as the two warriors battle it out in squared-circle action. While the footage obviously reflects a title still in its developmental stages, and is thus is a little janky, Yuke’s recognizable wrasslin’ game style peeks through.
From the chunkier, “action-figure” look of the character models to the exaggerated, thunderous impact created by the moves themselves,AEW Fight Foreverwants to recall the glory days of Yuke’s earlier work, such as theToukon Retsudenseries, and the formative releases in theWWE SmackDown!line. WhileAEW Fight Foreverisn’t quiteShut Your Mouthjust yet, this early footage shows promise.
There is a lot riding onAEW Fight Forever, at least in the hopes of wrestling game fans. A lot of players have found themselves severely disfranchised with pro-wrestling games for many years, as 2K Games’WWE 2Kmoved fromstagnation to abomination. While the excellentFire Pro Wrestling Worldcan be held up as a shining light in regards to a dedicated sandbox wrestling game, some players are still looking for that semi-casual, fun, party feel of classics such asWWF No MercyandWWE Here Comes the Pain —both of which push two decades old.
WithAEW Fight Forever, there is, at least, a glimmer of hope. A possibility that wrestling games can return to the knock-down, drag-out days of yore, before everything got too dry and cumbersome in the name of “simulation”. Though it should be noted that 2K Gameshasmade a strong effort to combat the doldrumswith its most recent entry,WWE 2K22, a lot of players have already long passed the point of burnout, and are looking for a savior to provide them the entertainment they desire. Art imitating life, I suppose.
AEW Fight Foreveris currently in development at Yuke’s and AEW Games.
