The big new rival to WWE has made an encouraging debut, featuring numerous nostalgic references to No Mercy and Fire Pro.

Additionally, its captivating career mode will undoubtedly entice you to play through it multiple times.

Pros

• Offers an incredible amount of enjoyable and exhilarating gameplay
• Features impressively detailed character models and outstanding weapons
• The Road To Elite mode is engaging and encourages multiple playthroughs

Cons

• The roster is lacking notable names like Samoa Joe and Toni Storm.
• The DLC policy is disappointing and fails to capitalize on a significant opportunity.
• The game lacks the level of polish and depth seen in WWE 2K23, particularly in terms of commentary.

Breathless. The term I’m using to describe AEW Fight Forever is “explosive.” It perfectly captures the combination of high-flying maneuvers and intense weapon-filled chaos that makes it one of the greatest finishes in wrestling history.

In this arcade-inspired brawler, the action moves quickly with a series of punches, kicks, grapples, slams, pins, and kickouts.

There’s very little time to think as the intense combat repeats until the end. It is improved as a result.

Yuke’s, the developer, dedicated 20 years to creating the predecessors of WWE 2K23. With such a significant investment of time, one would anticipate that AEW Fight Forever would be a simulation game focused on realism and characterized by a gradual pace.

On the contrary, it is the opposite – and this surprising change of direction is a brilliant move. Drawing inspiration from classic games like No Mercy and Fire Pro, this game is comparable to what Wardlow is to AJ Styles in the WWE series. Everything is large, confident, flashy, and somewhat foolish.

There is not much to worry about, except for focusing on building your momentum bar in order to earn signatures and finishers.

The key focus of the fighting style is on punches and kicks, while successfully executing grapples relies on timing your grab before your opponent’s.

It is important to be mindful of potential damage to body parts, although this brawler primarily focuses on offense rather than defense.

Finishers are executed with a powerful impact, ranging from Jade Cargill’s Jaded, which results in a face-plant, to CM Punk’s GTS, known for its skull-cracking effect, to Kenny Omega’s One-Winged Angel, which can cause significant damage to the shoulder.

Chaos everywhere in AEW Fight Forever Review

There is not much to worry about, except for focusing on building your momentum bar in order to earn signatures and finishers.

The key focus is on punches and kicks, while successful grapples depend on timing your grab before your opponent’s.

It is important to be mindful of potential injuries during combat, but this brawler primarily focuses on offense rather than defense.

Finishers are executed with a powerful impact, ranging from Jade Cargill’s Jaded, which results in a face-plant, to CM Punk’s GTS, known for its skull-cracking effect, to Kenny Omega’s One-Winged Angel, which can cause significant damage to the shoulder.

The movement can feel a bit janky, and it is disappointing that there is a lack of commentary.

However, despite these drawbacks, it is still incredibly enjoyable to play around in. Some examples of hilarious weapons are a fire extinguisher that can be sprayed and a skateboard that can be ridden.

There are various items such as football helmets, golf clubs, thumb tacks, and even flaming tables. Exploding barbed wire death matches take the excitement to another level, featuring additional elements such as fire, copious amounts of blood, and thrilling moments that will have you cheering or laughing, or even both.

Honestly, the act of writing all of this is making me want to close my laptop and play it again immediately.

While Fight Forever may not possess the subtleties found in WWE 2K23, it does excel in certain aspects of authentic wrestling.

For example, the artificial intelligence of the teammate surpasses that of its high-budget competitor.

During a game of tag, the matches sometimes turn into chaotic four-way brawls as each pair tries to outmaneuver the others and gain an upper hand.

Even better, when you go for a pin, your buddy will quickly enter the ring to prevent it from being broken up.

This is a great improvement compared to 2K23, where it is nearly impossible to finish eight-man tag matches because opponents easily interrupt the pin while your buddies stand frozen on the apron, looking clue less

Pursuing the Elite

AEW Fight Forever features an exciting Road To Elite career mode that adds to the overall enjoyment of the game.

The gameplay is divided into four-week blocks, spread out over a calendar year, with each block leading up to a Pay-Per-View event.

Each week, you have the option to choose one activity from a variety of options, including going to the gym, sightseeing, or dining out. Different activities have varying effects on your character.

Engaging in sightseeing increases momentum, while dining out replenishes energy. Interestingly, dining out also allows you to savor local delicacies.

The addition is quite adorable. There are some hilarious Mario Party-style mini-games included, such as Penta Says, where you attempt to match the luchador’s dance moves with the buttons, or the self-explanatory AEW Pop Quiz.

It is evident that at least one member of the development team was a passionate fan of Virtua Tennis, and their dedication deserves commendation.

During certain activities, you may encounter another member of the group and have the opportunity to take a photograph together.

This photo will be saved in your Snapshots folder. I completed my initial playthrough as Wardlow in just three hours.

However, I was immediately motivated to start a second playthrough as Baker to collect various pictures.

I cannot say for certain if this will still be the case after six or seven playthroughs, but currently it is an interesting way to hint at its lasting appeal.

I am not currently experiencing any boredom. Each pay-per-view offers three distinct storyline paths, each of which is engaging and unique. During one episode, Brodie Lee and John Silver attempted to recruit Wardlow as a member of the Dark Order.

At the same time, Baker found herself involved in the ongoing conflict between Chris Jericho and MJF, as they vied for leadership of the Inner Circle.

The cut-scenes are skillfully woven together with footage from actual AEW events that served as inspiration for each story, including the unforgettable moment of CM Punk’s debut on Rampage. The experience is fully immersive and, thanks to its well-designed structure, it is also fast-paced.

Fight Forever’s lack of long-term modes beyond Road To Elite raises a significant question mark.

After enduring it repeatedly for two months, do you think those thrilling exhibition matches will be sufficient to maintain your interest?

There is some uncertainty regarding certain match types (such as handicap and four-way ladder bouts) as they are only available in career mode.

Additionally, the AEW Fight Forever roster is noticeably limited. Despite the availability of DLC, the total number of playable characters is less than 60.

It is not possible to import custom wrestlers in the same way as WWE 2K23’s Create-A-Wrestler feature. I am concerned about that.

Expensive Add-Ons

One aspect of AEW Fight Forever that raises concerns is the approach taken by Yuke’s and THQ Nordic towards downloadable content.

The roster does not include longtime AEW superstars such as Matt Hardy and FTR, unless you are willing to pay an additional fee.

The decision is quite perplexing and it diminishes the carefree enjoyment that is otherwise evident throughout Fight Forever.

The overall package feels like a grand celebration of AEW, except for this particular aspect. In addition to the current absence of champions like Toni Storm, Buddy Matthews, and Brody King, there are further complications with the roster as these individuals have been completely omitted.

However, we should not allow those decisions to overshadow a highly promising debut. The arrival of AEW Fight Forever is both brash and bold, offering us a unique choice in console gaming with two top-tier options in the squared-circle genre.

This is the first time in two decades that we have such distinct offerings to choose from. Every wrestling fan should play it.

With a larger roster and expanded creation-sharing options, this hilarious one-off has the potential to become an annual phenomenon.