Fire Pro Wrestling Returns
Encyclopedia
Fire Pro Wrestling Returns (ファイプロ・リターンズ) (FPR) is a professional wrestling
video game that was released in 2005 in Japan, and was released on November 13, 2007 in North America and February 8, 2008 in Italy. The game is part of the Fire Pro Wrestling
series.
As the title suggests, the game marks Spike's return to 2D wrestling games. Some time after Spike released its 3D "King of Colosseum
" wrestling game for the PlayStation 2
, the publisher announced their 2003 PlayStation 2 title Fire Pro Wrestling Z would be the end of the Fire Pro Wrestling
series.
series, Fire Pro Wrestling Returns distinguishes itself from other wrestling games by focusing on timing and complex strategy, as opposed to the button-mashing tactics with which most wrestling gamers are familiar for 2-D games. Agetec released an official North American port of the game on November 13, 2007. Fire Pro Wrestling Returns offers a roster of 327 wrestlers from a variety of real-life wrestling companies. Using a sophisticated design mode, the game also allows players to build and wrestle with or against 500 additional characters. Players can create custom wrestling rings, belts, promotions, and referees. One of the best-selling Fire Pro Wrestling
games in the series.
Unlike a number of previous Fire Pro titles, Returns does not imitate rosters of American wrestling companies like World Wrestling Entertainment
, although the AWG Organization in the game does have many characters that look just like various known legends from WWE
, WCW
, ECW
, and TNA
. Also, the game's hefty stockpile of template heads, bodies, clothes and accessories has allowed American wrestling fans to recreate many of their favorite wrestling superstars accurately with great ease, and make them available for download online. As reported by IGN, Returns supplies new customizing tools, such as a "Face Layer" feature that allows players to create a wrestler's face using multiple objects. Hundreds of wrestler faces are available, including those of many historical wrestlers. Players can add up to two layers of facial accessories, including hair styles, visors, beards, helmets and tattoos. "One example starts with a base face, adds a mohawk... and finishes off with a colorful mask," IGN.com's review stated. Returns provides 1,649 wrestling moves to choose from when customizing a character and the game's engine allows you to give the character complicated logic instructions dictating how an AI version of the character behaves in a variety of situations.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
video game that was released in 2005 in Japan, and was released on November 13, 2007 in North America and February 8, 2008 in Italy. The game is part of the Fire Pro Wrestling
Fire Pro Wrestling
Fire Pro Wrestling is a long-running professional wrestling video game series originating from Japan, started in 1989 by Human Entertainment and continued by Spike in 2000.-History:...
series.
As the title suggests, the game marks Spike's return to 2D wrestling games. Some time after Spike released its 3D "King of Colosseum
King of Colosseum II
King of Colosseum II is a professional wrestling video game featuring wrestlers from New Japan Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Zero One, Pro Wrestling Noah, World Japan and freelance wrestlers...
" wrestling game for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, the publisher announced their 2003 PlayStation 2 title Fire Pro Wrestling Z would be the end of the Fire Pro Wrestling
Fire Pro Wrestling
Fire Pro Wrestling is a long-running professional wrestling video game series originating from Japan, started in 1989 by Human Entertainment and continued by Spike in 2000.-History:...
series.
Features
Like other titles in the Fire Pro WrestlingFire Pro Wrestling
Fire Pro Wrestling is a long-running professional wrestling video game series originating from Japan, started in 1989 by Human Entertainment and continued by Spike in 2000.-History:...
series, Fire Pro Wrestling Returns distinguishes itself from other wrestling games by focusing on timing and complex strategy, as opposed to the button-mashing tactics with which most wrestling gamers are familiar for 2-D games. Agetec released an official North American port of the game on November 13, 2007. Fire Pro Wrestling Returns offers a roster of 327 wrestlers from a variety of real-life wrestling companies. Using a sophisticated design mode, the game also allows players to build and wrestle with or against 500 additional characters. Players can create custom wrestling rings, belts, promotions, and referees. One of the best-selling Fire Pro Wrestling
Fire Pro Wrestling
Fire Pro Wrestling is a long-running professional wrestling video game series originating from Japan, started in 1989 by Human Entertainment and continued by Spike in 2000.-History:...
games in the series.
Character customization
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, although the AWG Organization in the game does have many characters that look just like various known legends from WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, WCW
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
, ECW
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
, and TNA
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
. Also, the game's hefty stockpile of template heads, bodies, clothes and accessories has allowed American wrestling fans to recreate many of their favorite wrestling superstars accurately with great ease, and make them available for download online. As reported by IGN, Returns supplies new customizing tools, such as a "Face Layer" feature that allows players to create a wrestler's face using multiple objects. Hundreds of wrestler faces are available, including those of many historical wrestlers. Players can add up to two layers of facial accessories, including hair styles, visors, beards, helmets and tattoos. "One example starts with a base face, adds a mohawk... and finishes off with a colorful mask," IGN.com's review stated. Returns provides 1,649 wrestling moves to choose from when customizing a character and the game's engine allows you to give the character complicated logic instructions dictating how an AI version of the character behaves in a variety of situations.
Other new features
- The game allows the player to create up to 500 wrestlers (not including modified preset wrestlers).
- The creation of custom titles is now possible as a new belt editing feature is added.
- The number of custom logos is increased to six.
- Up to 10 custom rings can be designed in the new ring editor (where colors and turnbuckle type, but not contrast can be modified).
- The belt editor now has brightness/contrast options to add a "shine" to created belts.
- Smaller indy promotionsIndependent circuitIn professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
and wrestlers are featured in the default roster. - Factions can be adjusted to reflect heelHeel (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
or faceFace (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
alignments. - Up to 4 preset match setups for most game modes can be saved.
- Steel Cage Match (replaces the electrified cage from previous games).
- New death match types (electrified barbed wire, landmine).
- The "Octagon Ring" used in Gruesome Fighting now has 12 sides.
- Post-match attacks make a comeback as players can continue to attack their opponents after the match has ended.
- Sprites are designed larger than in previous Fire Pro games.