WrestleQuest
- August 21, 2023
- Mega Cat Studios
- 2h median play time
A passionate love letter to traditional RPGs, pro wrestling, and upturned toy boxes.
"WrestleQuest" is a single-player arcade game with a compelling story and ingenious gameplay, featuring awesome graphics and good music. As an aspiring wrestler, upgrade your skills, learn new moves, and battle your way to the top in a pixel art universe inspired by real-life wrestling icons. Experience classic RPG combat with wrestling moves, match styles, and gimmicks, in wild realms full of exotic monsters and spandexed allies.
Reviews
- A unique blend of wrestling and RPG mechanics that offers a nostalgic experience for fans of both genres.
- The pixel art and graphics are beautifully crafted, creating a vibrant and engaging world.
- The game features a fun and humorous storyline filled with references to classic wrestling culture.
- Combat can become repetitive and overly reliant on QTEs, which may frustrate some players.
- The pacing of the story is slow, with excessive dialogue and backtracking that can detract from the overall experience.
- There are numerous bugs and technical issues that can disrupt gameplay, including soft locks and crashes.
- story456 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Wrestlequest" is a mixed bag, with some players praising its nostalgic charm and engaging character arcs, while others criticize it for being overly convoluted and padded with unnecessary content. Many reviews highlight the game's humorous and campy tone, infused with wrestling tropes, but also note that the narrative can feel disjointed due to frequent perspective shifts and side quests that detract from the main plot. Overall, while the story has its moments of brilliance, it often struggles with pacing and coherence, leaving some players feeling frustrated.
“Great story entwined with many wrestling tropes and easter eggs.”
“A story with characters that is crafted with care that clearly comes from a place of love for the sport.”
“The storyline weaves a web of drama, suspense, and emotion that keeps you invested from start to finish.”
“The story is just not interesting at all.”
“Unfortunately what Wrestlequest gives the player is a story that probably could have been told in 10 hours, and pads it out for damn near 40+.”
“The story and characters start off with minimal to no introduction to the world and you are just dropped into the middle of each location and groups of characters with nearly no introduction.”
- gameplay311 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Wrestlequest combines turn-based RPG mechanics with wrestling elements, offering a unique and nostalgic experience for fans of both genres. While the combat is generally accessible and features engaging mechanics like the hype meter and tag-team moves, many players find the repetitive quests and slow animations detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite its charming aesthetics and fun concept, some users express frustration with the pacing and execution of certain gameplay elements, suggesting that it could benefit from further refinement.
“The gameplay is simple to understand, combat is very easy to pick up, and it moves along at a nice pace.”
“Wrestlequest manages to strike a balance between accessibility and depth, making it easy for newcomers to get the hang of the gameplay.”
“The gameplay mechanics provide depth and excitement, making each match a tactical contest.”
“There's some very undercooked mechanics.”
“All of that would be okay if the gameplay was fluid, but the fight animations all take ages to finish.”
“However, the over-reliance on certain mechanics combined with just how long and padded out the game is very clearly makes fun battles become tedious.”
- graphics220 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of Wrestlequest have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant pixel art style, which evokes nostalgia while delivering a modern twist. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the immersive visuals that enhance the overall gaming experience, making it visually appealing and engaging. The combination of retro aesthetics with contemporary effects creates a unique charm that resonates well with both wrestling fans and newcomers alike.
“The game's art style and graphics caught my attention, which made me try out this game, and it's really fun!”
“Wrestlequest takes me on a journey down memory lane with its stunning graphics, smooth gameplay, and a fantastic ambience that screams nostalgia.”
“The graphics are a knockout - the wrestlers and arenas are beautifully detailed, making every match a visual treat.”
“The only good thing I can say about this game is the pixelated graphics.”
“Other than that, the graphics made me initially think of something made with RPG Maker (not a compliment), but that was an unfair assessment.”
“The different art style of some characters clashes like the contents of a toy box and animations aren't hard on the eyes.”
- music135 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy and energetic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, particularly during battles and key moments. However, some players criticized certain tracks as repetitive and bland, especially outside of the title screen. Overall, the soundtrack is noted for its nostalgic charm and ability to immerse players in the game's vibrant world.
“In addition to that, the music also enhances the game experience!”
“The pixel art and music make the world feel charming and fun to explore.”
“The music is also really good; I had a few times where I stopped playing just to listen and vibe to the soundtrack for a little bit.”
“And the music is awful!”
“All the music apart from the title screen music is bland 15-second loops that play over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over...”
“Almost every attack has at least one QTE, maybe more, including basic attacks, and even the ones that don't need the little characters to do their little song and dance every single time, which eventually, and by that I mean almost immediately, becomes tedious.”
- humor56 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it both clever and heartwarming, featuring quirky characters and funny dialogue that enhance the storytelling. However, some critiques point to one-dimensional jokes and repetitive gags, particularly regarding the main character's misunderstanding of wrestling's nature. Overall, while the humor can be hit or miss, it often succeeds in creating an enjoyable and immersive experience.
“You'll encounter quirky characters and stories that range from hilarious to heartfelt.”
“The writing is sharp and humorous, making it a joy to follow your character's journey from underdog to champion.”
“It's a delightful journey filled with humor, strategy, and unforgettable moments that will keep you coming back for more.”
“Really one-dimensional stuff, peppered with unfunny jokes and dumb references.”
- grinding39 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its repetitiveness and tedium, with many players finding the combat mechanics, particularly the reliance on quick time events (QTEs) and mini-games, to be monotonous. While some appreciate the classic RPG elements and the potential for character customization, the overall experience is marred by poor pacing, finite enemy encounters, and a lack of engaging challenges, leading to a frustrating gameplay loop. Players who dislike grind-heavy mechanics may want to reconsider their interest in this title.
“If you dislike the repetitiveness and grindy nature of JRPGs, then you might want to give this a miss.”
“The core gameplay is boring and tedious.”
“The game is kinda fun but mostly a tedious slog.”
- character development20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by detailed and unique character designs that enhance authenticity and foster player connection, particularly through customization options. While many reviews praise the immersive world-building and nostalgic pixel art, some critiques point out a lack of meaningful character progression, with certain gameplay elements feeling linear and dialogue uninspired. Overall, the game offers a mix of engaging character interactions and a desire for deeper development, especially for the main character.
“The game's rich world-building, character development, and vibrant graphics create an immersive environment, and the customization options foster a strong connection with your wrestlers.”
“Wrestlequest is a fantastic wrestling RPG adventure with fun and satisfying exploration, combat, and character development.”
“This isn't an RPG at all; the game is on rails. All you do is read uninspired dialogue with no character development.”
“I like the main character; I want to see his character development.”
“The character designs were detailed and unique, making each wrestler feel distinct and adding to the overall authenticity of the game.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its vibrant graphics and unique designs, creating an engaging and laid-back environment ideal for relaxation. Players appreciate the blend of turn-based gameplay and an exciting storyline, enhanced by nostalgic music and sound effects that perfectly complement the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both charming and reminiscent of classic wrestling, making it a delightful choice for unwinding.
“This game offers a unique blend of turn-based gameplay, an engaging storyline, and a laid-back atmosphere that's perfect for unwinding.”
“The developers have nailed the atmosphere, creating an experience that's both exciting and reminiscent of the wrestling world I grew up with.”
“The catchy tunes perfectly complement the game's atmosphere, adding an extra layer of nostalgia and charm.”
- stability11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent glitches, particularly in the latter part of the game, and problems with the save/load system that require players to restart the game to access their most recent save. While it runs well on some platforms like the Steam Deck, the overall polish is lacking, making it difficult to recommend without reservations.
“Also runs great on my Steam Deck!”
“Even loading games is buggy, because when you restart your game (can't load games inside the game, only from the title menu) and press continue, it loads the topmost save game from your three slots instead of your most recent one. Then you have to alt-f4 (no way to quit the game inside the game), re-launch it, and then pick load game.”
“The demo was so fun and fresh, but the full game is quite buggy, despite an emergency release delay.”
“Right at the first dialogue, the game glitches and I cannot go further.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its quirky characters and a blend of hilarious and heartfelt stories, fostering a strong connection with players as they cheer for the characters in their wrestling journeys. While it offers a wholesome experience with fan service for classic wrestling enthusiasts, its appeal may be limited to a specific demographic. However, some players express concerns about technical issues that detract from the overall experience.
“You'll encounter quirky characters and stories that range from hilarious to heartfelt.”
“You'll find yourself emotionally connected to the characters, cheering them on as they battle their way through the world of professional wrestling.”
“It also has tons of fan service for those who might be into classic wrestling, and tells a few interesting and heartwarming stories along the way, all wrapped up in a fun aesthetic.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for poorly balancing later characters against enemies, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. Additionally, players report numerous performance and gameplay bugs, as well as ineffective settings, which detract from the overall experience. Minigames intended to extend playtime are also seen as tedious rather than enjoyable.
“Characters that you get later on are simply not optimized for the enemies, the minigames that help pad out the length become tedious, and there's no sense in several fights the game gives you.”
“Not to mention a variety of performance bugs, gameplay bugs, and some settings that just do not work.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the engaging pixel art and soundtrack that encourage multiple playthroughs, others criticize the lack of challenge and exploration elements, leading to a consensus that the game has limited replay value.
“The game features gorgeous pixel art and a banger soundtrack from the get-go, along with over-the-top characters, making it a joy to replay.”
“With its engaging gameplay and diverse character options, the replay value is fantastic.”
“Each playthrough offers new challenges and experiences, ensuring that I keep coming back for more.”
“The action is not challenging, there are no exploration elements, and the game has no replayability.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is not clearly communicated in its advertising, leading to potential confusion among players regarding its toy-themed content.
Critic Reviews
WrestleQuest [PC] | REVIEW
WrestleQuest is a wonderful love letter to the world of wrestling, but some repetitive combat and awkward mechanics hold it back from stardom. It’s a shame because there are some really cool ideas on show that give a greater emphasis to the wrestling aspects of the RPG adventure, but the execution doesn’t always hit the mark – especially when you’ve got to complete awkward objectives in what can already be challenging combat scenarios. It’s certainly not a bad game and it’ll definitely keep a big jolly smile on the faces of wrestling fans, but I can’t help but to feel like WrestleQuest is more of a mid-card showdown as opposed to a main event spectacle.
65%WrestleQuest (PC) Review
WrestleQuest is an easy recommendation to any professional wrestling fan, or RPG fan, and may be the champion of bridges between the two.
80%WrestleQuest Review
Putting wrestling and turn-based RPGs in a can they co-exist tag team style was an excitingly bold move that unfortunately ends in a heel turn and a crowd leaving early to beat the traffic.
55%