AEW Fight Forever Review - A Worthy First Entry

I’ve been a fan of wrestling video games for as long as I can remember. My love started with the old WWF Super WrestleMania game on Sega Genesis and then WWF Raw in 1994. From there, it snowballed into an obsession. I remember buying each game the day it was released. War Zone, Attitude, ECW Hardcore Revolution, the original SmackDown, the list goes on and on. And then I played WrestleMania 2000, the first game after WCW/nWo Revenge. Both games created the foundation for what I consider the best wrestling game of all time, WWF No Mercy. That game was incredible and took everything I loved about WrestleMania 2000 and created a legend. My obsession continued into the SmackDown series. And, most recently, the 2K series, but my love for World Wrestling Entertainment slowly faded. And then an alternative started: All Elite Wrestling.

AEW Fight Forever Review

Not only did AEW re-ignite my love for pro wrestling, but it felt much more like the Attitude Era I grew up admiring. So, when I heard they were planning to create a wrestling video game developed by Yuke’s (No Mercy) and distributed by THQ Nordic (SmackDown), I was hooked. Then, we started to hear that the game would feel like a modern-day No Mercy, something we’ve all hoped for at one point or another in our lifetime. My obsession reached new heights. Unfortunately, the legal issues between AEW and GCW regarding the “Fight Forever” trademark and a long stretch with minimal movement on the game’s status killed some of that hype. But in recent weeks, with more and more details emerging, I was finally ready for the release of one of my most highly anticipated games in recent memory, AEW Fight Forever.

What I Like

Gameplay

When it comes to Fight Forever’s gameplay, No Mercy’s inspiration is evident from the very first bell. The momentum meter at the bottom of the screen, the way players move and feel, and the animations that are hand-drawn are beautifully executed. But it’s not only No Mercy where Yuke’s draws inspiration from. If one were to ask me how Fight Forever plays, I’d describe it as a hybrid between the classic Nintendo 64 wrestling game and SmackDown: Here Comes the Pain. And although FF leans slightly more towards the arcade side of things, there’s plenty of realism throughout.

Each wrestler has roughly 20 different moves. Lightly tapping the X button (PS5) will do a light grapple. You can then push any direction on the left analog stick and the X button to perform a move. Doing this and pressing square will perform a striking attack. Most light grapples are basic wrestling moves like a suplex, headlock takedown, or power slam. The same configuration holds true when doing a strong grapple, which can be performed by holding down the X button. These moves will be more wrestler specific. They even brought back chain wrestling, which some may or may not have missed in recent games. As a veteran of wrestling video games, all of this feels natural. But gamers can change the configuration if they don’t like the default button setup.

Lots of Signature Moves

As the match continues, your bar will slowly progress from shades of green to yellow and eventually red before turning into a signature move. These moves are specific to each character, and each wrestler will have a few different moves in their arsenal. These signature moves are performed by using a strong grapple plus the directional buttons. Omega has four signature moves: a variety of dragon suplexes and two V-Triggers. For his most common signature move, Omega performs a powerbomb, rolling his opponent over and following it up with a V-Trigger.

MJF does a double undertook shoulder breaker. He also has his heat-seeking piledriver and the iconic headlock takedown he used to beat Darby. Twice! Orange Cassidy does his trademark Superman punch or a diving DDT. And “Hangman” Adam Page will perform a pop-up powerbomb, among others. The list goes on and on, and the library of moves is far more extensive than I initially anticipated. They even added a plethora of tag-team moves including finishers . The first time I saw Omega and Page hit their Buckshot/V-Trigger combo, I jumped out of my seat. There’s a nice variety of moves for each wrestler.

After you perform a signature move or two, those who have played No Mercy know what’s next! With a flick of the right stick, your wrestler will perform a taunt, and now it will be time to perform your finishing move.

Finish Them!

Like signature moves, finishers or “special” moves are what truly separate each wrestler from one another, and each animation looks great. I particularly like the impact effect and instant replays they use throughout the match. It enhances each move and makes you realize how big of a moment it is. Much like I said above with signature moves, there’s an array of different finishers for each superstar. Kenny Omega, for example, has a few different V-Triggers and even an Avalanche One Winged Angel off the turnbuckle. He also had his standard OWA that no one has ever kicked out of — except at Forbidden Door this past weekend when he kicked out of Ospreay’s at one.

Hangman can do the Buckshot Lariat from the ring apron, but he’ll do the Deadeye when standing in the ring. Cassidy had his Orange Crush. However, not all wrestlers have the same number of finishers and trademarks, but there are plenty of options for everyone.

However, I do have one minor gripe with how effective finishers are. I know they’re called finishers for a reason, but regardless of how the match seems to go, it’s nearly impossible to kick out, no matter how much skin you tear off your fingers trying. It’s the same for the computer, although I saw a few 2.99 counts, which was awesome. I wish players had more control over kicking out than randomly smashing buttons. But then maybe it’s my fault for playing on hard difficulty.

For a game built from the ground up with some fans cautious about how it may play, the gameplay in AEW Fight Forever is excellent and a foundation for the franchise’s future.

Weapons, Weapons, And More Weapons

There are a ton of weapons in Fight Forever. More than 40 different weapons, to be exact. Some of the weapons I’ve experienced during my time with the game include trash cans, barbed wire bats, title belts, football helmets, skateboards (which you can ride), wet floor signs, tables (which can be set on fire), “a little bit of the bubbly,” a pizza box, fire extinguishers, a tire, thumbtacks, kendo sticks, a propane tank, ladders, stop signs, chairs, a barbed wire broom, and so much more.

Fight Forever’s massive variety of weapons can make falls count anywhere and Lights Out matches entertaining and unpredictable. I got overly excited when I first pulled a bag of tacks out from under the ring apron. Falling on these tacks will cause you or your opponent to bleed instantly, as will any barbed-wire-wrapped weapons. In another match, I pulled exploding tacks out from under the ring, and nothing felt more rewarding than hitting a top-rope One Winged Angel onto the explosive debris.

At times, tables can be hard to keep standing and break in half with random moves. But there’s a lot of freedom to pull off some epic stunts. And I especially love that a piece of the table is left behind, which can also be used as a weapon. Another helpful feature with weapons is that Fight Forever makes them transparent when you’re moving around, so they don’t interfere with the match. And let’s not forget about the ability to use the guardrail and steps at ringside.

The possibilities are endless in Fight Forever, and there are more weapons than even BCC’s Jon Moxley knows what to do with.

Road To The Elite

Like most wrestling career modes, you can use a create-a-wrestler or one of the game’s already-established characters. I chose Kenny Omega because he’s the best wrestler in the world and his move set is nice. The mode begins with AEW announcing that you are “All Elite”! Shortly after, you will receive a phone call from Tony Khan inviting you to the Casino Battle Royal at All-In. Fight Forever doesn’t have commentary during matches, but there are some voiceovers throughout Road to the Elite that enhance the story. Jim Ross will occasionally talk, as does Tony Khan during his phone call. But for the most part, it’s all quirky dialogue.

I lost the Casino Battle Royal, which set me down a path toward the tag-team titles. One would assume, had I won the Casino Battle Royal, I would’ve been next in line for a title shot. Nevertheless, it was time to start gaining some momentum. There are four blocks or months in Road to the Elite. Each block has 4-6 matches. Before each Dynamite, you will have the opportunity to do four tasks. These options include working out, sightseeing, dinner, and a mini-game. Working out will build specific attributes while draining energy. Sightseeing and eating dinner will restore some of your healthy, and mini-games can bring a huge bonus, but I always fall short of defeating Adam Cole (Bay-Bay).

I liked the details of each destination. Eating out would bring you a staple dish from each town. For example, a cheesesteak in Philadelphia or avocado toast in California. There’s even the option for a vegetarian diet. But back to what matters, the wrestling.

Becoming The Best In The World

Each week your wrestler will be in one match, leading up to the PPV at the end of the month. As your career progresses, you will have opportunities to fight additional matches on Dark and Rampage to bolster stats and earn more virtual currency. In my first match, I defeated Christian Cage in front of his peeps. We’d later tag and become the Tag Team Champions, but to my surprise, this was the last it was brought up. I never even had the chance to walk out to the ring with my belt around my waist. Sad. Next up, Wardlow, who was accompanied by the AEW Champion, MJF.

I would beat Wardlow, which led to me being jumped after the match by MJF. Thankfully, Rey Fenix rushed to the ring to save me, leading to Death Triangle asking me to join their stable. I declined, and that was a bad idea. Pac challenged me to a Lights Out Match, and I’m not even kidding when I say it was a 3-on-1 beatdown. Pac, Penta, and Fenix were relentless and annihilated me. Later on, I teamed up with Darby Allin to take on Moxley and Kingston. After our victory, there was a cutscene of Omega landing a Coffin Drop to Eddie Kingston inside a coffin. So much more happens, but I think I have said enough about The Road to Elite.

It will likely lose its lore after another two or three playthroughs, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. And look forward to finding all the different storylines and secrets within.

The Little Things

One thing that really stood out in Fight Forever is the extra attention to detail they put into everything. Whether it be in Road to the Elite where Doctor Britt Baker D.M.D. reminds you to “brush your teeth,” or Penta removes his glove mid-match and throws it at his opponent’s face, or even Orange Cassidy fighting with his hands in his pockets and performing some off-the wall-moves, there’s just so much to like about Fight Forever.

This isn’t exclusive to taunts and dialogue from the story mode, however. Being able to ride around on a skateboard and performing 360 “kicks” into your opponent never gets old. Lighting tables on fire is great, placing trash cans over your opponent’s head to disorient them is hilarious, and using a mop to wipe up the blood that is splattered all over the ring is random and delightful. You can even launch your opponent into the ringside guardrail and steel steps. The same can be done to the LED board at the top of the ramp, which after being smashed into for a third time, will lead to the screen breaking completely.

You even have the option to customize entrances with unique pyros and camera angles. This may not mean a lot to some since they’re only 10 seconds long, but it’s a unique spin on something that we’ve seen done so many times in the past. And let’s not forget the pre-match graphics and lower thirds for each wrestler.

What I Dislike

Graphics

One of the biggest gripes I see on social media surrounding Fight Forever is its graphics. Some say it belongs on PlayStation 2. Others wrinkle their nose at some of the wrestler’s character models. I’m here to say I get it, but it’s not that bad. The difference between how some characters look compared to others can be night and day. For example, some wrestlers look incredibly realistic. Thunder Rosa, Adam Cole (Bay-Bay), Kenny Omega, Miro, Cody and Dustin Rhodes, Jon Moxley, Sting, Kris Statlander, Darby Allin, and the list continues. But some wrestlers could use some work: Ricky Starks, Eddie Kingston, and even AEW World Champion MJF are a few examples that come to mind.

Fortunately, the graphics don’t take anything away from the game itself. If it weren’t for some of the character models, I’d have no problem with how the game looks. It makes me feel nostalgic. When it came to No Mercy, part of what made it such a unique game was the over-the-top characters. Some of that can be credited to the N64’s limitations, but I think a lot of what we see with Fight Forever is by design.

Roster

Some may have an issue with the graphics in Fight Forever, and I get it. But for me, the biggest disappointment is how many of my favorite wrestlers are missing from the game at launch. The cutoff for the roster is somewhere around Bryan Danielson and Jeff Hardy. And sure, it makes sense why they couldn’t add everyone into the game before release as only so many people were devoted to the game, and there were far more critical things the developers had to focus on. But to have guys like Evil Uno, Butcher and the Blade, The Gunn Club, The Acclaimed, Jamie Hayter, Saraya, Toni Storm, Swerve, Keith Lee, FTR, and many others not in the game is a bit disappointing. Not to mention all the wrestlers that came after, like a personal favorite of mine, Jay White. Thankfully, it seems like a lot of DLC is planned in the coming weeks, including an FTR pack, HOOK and Danhausen, and a few others.

Where the DLC ends is still unknown. Will we get a Ring of Honor pack with a “Death by Dishonor” arena, titles, and guys like Claudio Castagnoli, Athena, and The Brisco Brothers added? Maybe a New Japan pack with Okada, Will Ospreay, and Tanahashi? Certainly, they’ll add a Collision arena and the International Championship at some point, right? There’s a ton of DLC I’d like to see eventually added, but that’s a tall task and something fans may have to temper their expectations on.

Create-a-wrestler is also underwhelming. On release, there will be 8 different faces, 5 eyebrows, 17 hairstyles, 8 facial hair styles, and 4 body types. It’s still nice to have the option, and it’s easy to make some of your favorite wrestlers, especially with so many current wrestlers’ signature moves, taunts, and entrances available. But not having the opportunity to go online and download others’ creations feels like a miss.

Mini Games

Speaking of match types, there are three mini-games available at release. Trivia, where you try your best to answer questions based on All Elite Wrestling’s history. Chip gatherer, where you and three other wrestlers frantically run around a ring trying to collect as many poker chips as possible — but watch out bombs are also added, like some new-aged Mega Man. And lastly, Penta Says, which is exactly how it sounds. Penta El Zero Miedo will do a combination of taunts in different sequences, and you must try your best to keep up with it. Honestly, these don’t move the needle for me, but they can be fun if you play co-op with family and friends. They also play a factor in Road to the Elite.

I’m also basing this off of the three mini-games that I’ve been able to play. We know there are a few other games that will become available from the trailers that were released. One is a home run derby, which is something I’m incredibly excited about. And if you believe the internet, there may even be an online 30-player Stadium Stampede mode coming in the future, but that’s all speculation…for now.

Replay Factor

I may be turning full heel here, but I wish Fight Forever had more match types to choose from. Don’t get me wrong, the ones they have in the game are incredibly fun. The exploding barbed wire death match is incredible, and I think the Lights Out Match is even better. But one of the things I believe makes AEW so unique is its creative match types. We’ve seen steel cage matches, parking lot brawls, bull rope matches, Blood and Guts, and even that weird mimosa match between Jericho and Orange Cassidy. The company also has 6-man tag titles that we see House of Black defend occasionally, but there is no option for that in the game.

Some of this stuff may be added later. And again, I understand with everything they were up against this wasn’t an easy task. But if we’re being fair, there’s a laundry list of things I believe could be added to enhance Fight Forever’s replay elements. Additionally, as much as I enjoyed the Road to the Elite’s story and think there are still several different storylines I’ve yet to see, it still feels like I’m close to maxing out its potential. And with no “universe” mode or ability to book your own stories, it may leave fans wanting more.

Thankfully, gamers can build their own “universe” by creating their own storylines and defending belts in exhibition mode, but it’s not the same. The online play worked well, but I’ve never been into playing wrestling video games online. However, to get the most out of Fight Forever, I may need to start. Additionally, matches can feel one-sided at times, and even hard and elite difficulties can be over in a matter of 2-3 minutes.

The Bottom Line

For it being All Elite Wrestling’s inaugural video game, I think they knocked it out of the park. The gameplay is fun and exactly what I wanted when I continued to hear the words “No Mercy” thrown around time and time again. The game is easy to pick and play, no matter how much experience you’ve had with wrestling games in the past. The number of match types may feel light, but the ones in Fight Forever are fun and extremely well done, especially Lights Out and exploding barbed wire death matches. I never had so much fun finding new ways to inflict pain on my opponent. Road to Elite is great and transforms me back to the things I loved about the wrestling story modes of old — even if you don’t play through more than two or three times.

But what separates AEW Fight Forever from WWE 2K23 and other games on the market is its gameplay.

If you’re not a fan of All Elite Wrestling, it might be best to wait for the game to drop in price. But for me, a dude who really enjoys AEW and has played wrestling video games from the day I first picked up the sticks, I couldn’t be happier. It won’t put an end to WWE 2K, but it’s a much-needed alternative. One that fans who love pro wrestling, All Elite Wrestling, and the little things we’ve been lacking in wrestling video games will thoroughly enjoy.

AEW Fight Forever is a winner, and I’m excited to see what THQ and Yuke’s have up their sleeves in the coming months.