Fire Pro Wrestling World

‘Sports entertainment’ doesn’t come into this: Fire Pro Wrestling World scores a pinfall victory as the most authentic wrestling title on the market. Not for the casual fan.

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"Fire Pro Wrestling World" is a professional wrestling game that allows for full customization of wrestlers, matches, and even the ring itself in your quest for the championship. Play online with others around the world, and mix up the rules with deathmatch, no-holds barred, and SWA homebrew modes. With realistic simulation mechanics, give your created wrestlers personalities and see them come to life in the ring.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,596 reviews

gameplay237 positive mentions

stability36 negative mentions

Incredible depth of customization options for creating wrestlers, moves, and arenas.
Engaging gameplay that emphasizes timing and strategy over button mashing.
Active community support with a vast library of user-generated content available through the Steam Workshop.

Steep learning curve that may frustrate new players unfamiliar with the timing-based mechanics.
High cost of DLC, which is often necessary to access a wider range of content and features.
Limited built-in match types and modes compared to other wrestling games, lacking a comprehensive career or story mode.

gameplay
672 mentions
35 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Fire Pro Wrestling World is characterized by its deep, timing-based mechanics that require skill and strategy, making it distinct from traditional button-mashing wrestling games. While the learning curve can be steep for newcomers, many players find the gameplay rewarding once they master the controls, complemented by extensive customization options and community-generated content. However, some users note that the game could benefit from improvements in hit detection and additional match types, as well as a more polished online experience.
- “Once you get used to the play mechanics, the variety of play modes and endless amount of player-made fighters and assets make this game well worth the money!”
- “The gameplay is where Fire Pro Wrestling World really shines.”
- “The gameplay captures the feeling of wrestling very well, it mainly focuses on grappling and locking up with other opponents and instead of being able to do your strong grapples/attacks right out the gate you have to work your way up from light to medium to finally strong attacks, just like you would see in most wrestling matches.”
- “While the 2D graphics and animations are quaint and different enough to set this game apart from many others, once you learn the mechanics of the game's wrestling (which is purely timing based) there's almost zero challenge from an NPC and apparently no one actually plays this multiplayer online anymore.”
- “There is a pretty steep learning curve and quite frankly, a lot of the controls do not make a whole lot of sense, and the game itself really doesn't do you any favors in explaining how to perform a lot of the important mechanics such as how to tag partners in, enter and exit rings, or perform maneuvers at the turnbuckles.”
- “Horrible controls make the gameplay a miserable experience.”
graphics
397 mentions
20 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro 2D style that some players find charming, while others consider them dated and lacking compared to modern titles like the WWE 2K series. Despite the simplistic visuals, many reviewers emphasize that the game's depth of customization and engaging gameplay more than compensate for its graphical shortcomings. Overall, while the graphics may not appeal to everyone, they contribute to the game's unique aesthetic and nostalgic feel, making it a favorite among dedicated wrestling fans.
- “I love the retro look and, at first being skeptical of the graphics, they really are nice and you can make out emotions on the faces of the wrestlers as they take blows, taunt their opponent or play up to the crowd.”
- “Despite the (very charming imo) 2D graphics, this is by miles the most complete wrestling game on the market.”
- “The graphics may not be the best, but it works in its benefit, since it allows for a lot more characters, with 0 drop in performance.”
- “The graphics are awful, the animation is spazzy, your hits never seem to connect, there's no meters to tell how you are doing, hated this game.”
- “What planet are we on that you pay over $150 for a wrestling game (includes all DLC) with controls that just suck featuring 16-bit Super Nintendo graphics in 2020?”
- “Unfortunately this game's graphics look very dated... :( but to me the crusty graphics add to the aesthetic.”
story
343 mentions
11 % positive mentions
79 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is a mixed bag, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of a comprehensive story or career mode in the base game, which is often seen as a standard feature in wrestling games. While some enjoy the simple narrative provided by the "Fighting Road" mode and the upcoming NJPW DLC, others feel that essential story elements should have been included from the start rather than locked behind paywalls. Overall, the community-driven storytelling and customization options offer some satisfaction, but many players still long for a more robust and integrated narrative experience.
- “The NJPW story mode is top-notch, adding depth and excitement to the gameplay.”
- “Fighting Road gives matches a purpose with a story, which is told using old-school Nintendo 64 style text conversations highlighted with occasional pictures.”
- “The added story mode has a lot of thought put into it, and the NJPW roster, with their voices, moves, and parts are excellent.”
- “The lack of a story mode or career mode means that there's not much to do outside of creating your own matches or tournaments.”
- “What a shame, bought it when it was early access, turned out it's incomplete game and does not even have a season/story mode.”
- “My main gripe is the story mode should come standard with the game and should not have to be purchased.”
music
174 mentions
10 % positive mentions
85 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of original soundtracks and the ability to import custom music, which many players appreciate for enhancing their experience. While the default music is often described as minimal and repetitive, the extensive customization options for entrance themes and background music allow players to tailor the audio to their preferences, significantly boosting enjoyment. Overall, the inclusion of custom music support is a standout feature, though some users express a desire for more variety in the game's original soundtrack.
- “The ability to create moves, taunts, and entrances (complete with wrestler theme music) is just hours of fun alone.”
- “You can import your own music, which is a huge bonus for someone like me who produces music.”
- “Custom soundtrack support alleviates this somewhat, as any music you put in the game's install folder works as both match background music and 30-second clips for wrestler entrances.”
- “Music isn't really a big feature of this game.”
- “Sadly, there isn't much variety in background music currently, with a theme song for the game's menu, for the select screen and results screen, and a small handful of both in-game match music and default entrance themes.”
- “The menu and in-game music get annoying.”
stability
38 mentions
0 % positive mentions
5 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, crashes, and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some acknowledge that minor issues are typical for early access titles, many feel that the game is not worth its full price due to these persistent problems. Overall, players express frustration over the lack of proper fixes and the impact of these bugs on gameplay.
- “They charge full price for it and their DLCs without properly fixing some of the many bugs that can lead to crashing, data loss, freezes, and other issues.”
- “The shell of a phenomenal game is there, but hidden behind an absurd paywall that they made PC owners wait far too long to see and even then it is a buggy, broken mess that heavily discourages fan mods that used to work.”
- “I have no clue, but after purchasing this game back in January, it stopped working and hasn't since March, no matter how much troubleshooting I go through.”
replayability
36 mentions
44 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, largely due to its deep customization options and robust Steam Workshop integration, allowing players to access an endless array of user-generated content. While modes like Fighting Road enhance the experience, some players feel certain paths may feel incomplete. Overall, the combination of addictive gameplay and extensive community contributions ensures that players can enjoy countless hours of varied content.
- “The steam workshop integration makes it easy to find and download user-created content, and adds a lot of replayability to the game.”
- “The creation suite is insanely deep, the ability to import textures for custom rings is amazing, belt and ref creators are great touches, and the game itself falls beautifully into that easy to learn hard to master zone that makes it endlessly replayable and fun.”
- “Replayability: 10/10 (with steam workshop support the number of wrestlers is unlimited), gameplay is close to perfection, and each match can be played in the way you like, and since each match is short, it is an ultimate on-the-go bite-sized game.”
- “This is the same as every other Fire Pro Wrestling game ever made and doesn't have much in the way of replayability given the lack of meaningful game modes.”
- “I wish they had better graphics like in the King of Colosseum games, but the replay value of this game makes that easy to overlook.”
- “Imho you can get away with poor presentation and graphics if you have replayability/depth and vice versa.”
humor
22 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highly praised for its customization options, allowing players to create and use a wide variety of funny characters, including non-wrestling icons like Earthworm Jim. Players report experiencing hilarious in-game events and matchups, showcasing the game's potential for comedic moments. Overall, the humor is seen as a significant aspect that enhances the enjoyment and creativity within the game.
- “I've had some hilarious events unfold within the ring such as Jay White shooting on Shingo Takagi and others in a battle royal after Takagi no-sold the Blade Runner.”
- “The game is very enjoyable and with a plethora of creation options, almost only limited by your sense of humor or imagination.”
- “With all of the created wrestlers in the workshop, there are limitless possibilities of dream matchups and hilarious sights alike.”
optimization
20 mentions
15 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its surprising optimization, with continuous updates improving performance and stability. While some users report minor menu lag on older PCs and a less user-friendly UI, many have experienced solid performance without significant issues, even on lower-end hardware. The game is recommended for those who appreciate a wrestling game focused on timing and performance.
- “Decided to risk getting it in early access and haven't been disappointed so far, not having come across any performance issues or bugs on either my desktop or laptop in the brief time I've spent with it.”
- “The foundation of the game engine is solid and performance is great, even using Boot Camp on a 2011 MacBook.”
- “If you like a wrestling game based on timing and performance, this one is for you.”
- “The UI is functional but neither pretty nor user-friendly, and there are still optimization issues that cause some menu lag on older PCs.”
- “You will update your roster however you like without having to buy overpriced, microtransaction and bad optimization-ridden 2K sports games.”
- “I am hoping for more match types, tag-team moves, and network optimization.”
grinding
14 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly when it comes to organizing created content, managing workshop downloads, and manually editing wrestlers. The repetitive nature of these tasks can lead to frustration, as the lack of streamlined features makes the process time-consuming and prone to errors. Despite these issues, some users still recommend the game overall.
- “The way you have to tediously, manually put in or take out edited wrestlers from stables is not only ridiculously tedious; it's annoying.”
- “I do recommend this game, though the developers don't usually fix things, and doing some things on the menu is tedious, such as deleting workshop downloads. If you downloaded too many at first, it will take hours to delete them.”
- “The import feature from the Steam Workshop is very tedious and prone to error when importing multiple wrestlers.”
monetization
12 mentions
25 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
42 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the reliance on paid DLC for mod downloads and labeling it a cash grab. However, others appreciate the absence of intrusive microtransactions and advertisements, contrasting it favorably with other titles in the genre. Overall, opinions vary significantly, highlighting a divide between those frustrated by the monetization model and those who find it acceptable.
- “No microtransactions.”
- “Microtransactions: none.”
- “So it turns out you can't download parts as mods for this game unless you pay for the DLC; how this game has good reviews with such awful microtransactions is beyond me.”
- “So it turns out you can't download parts as mods for this game unless you pay for the DLC. How this game has good reviews with such awful microtransactions is beyond me...”
- “Nothing but a cash grab now.”
- “[Story is essentially an advertisement for New Japan Pro Wrestling; customization menus need to be condensed.]”
emotional
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a desire for deeper emotional investment in the game, noting that while it offers a unique and wholesome wrestling experience, the additional DLC aimed at enhancing emotional engagement is seen as overpriced and lacking in quality. Overall, the game is praised for its realism, but the emotional depth could be improved without requiring costly add-ons.
- “No other wrestling game comes close to what this game offers.”
- “For curious new players - if you're a wrestling fan and you want a wholesome, realistic experience in the squared circle, then look no further.”
character development
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for its lack of depth and progression, with users noting that there is minimal build-up or narrative growth akin to traditional wrestling programs. While the character design feature allows for some customization, it falls short compared to previous iterations, leaving players feeling disconnected from their creations.
- “I then proceeded to recreate my old high school backyard wrestling persona and spent an hour and a half in the character designer before I even realized it. Then I watched him get murdered in a CPU match and went back to work on him for another hour.”
- “The character development really allows you to connect with your persona, making every match feel personal and engaging.”
- “I love how the character progression feels rewarding, as you see your wrestler evolve and grow with each match.”
- “It doesn't have as much customization, especially in the character design, compared to the old one.”
- “There is, in no way, shape or form, build up, character development, or any semblance of what watching a wrestling program is like.”
- “I then proceeded to recreate my old high school backyard wrestling persona and spent an hour and a half in the character designer before I even realized it; then I watched him get murdered in a CPU match and went back to work on him for another hour.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is effectively crafted through visuals that, while not photorealistic, successfully enhance the narrative of intense in-ring confrontations, immersing players in the experience.
- “The visuals may not be photorealistic, but they perfectly build the story and atmosphere of a heated in-ring confrontation.”