Welcome to NSports, if we feel that you as a sports fan will be interested in a game or peripheral, we will give it coverage right here on NSports. If you enjoy other genres of games in addition to sports, then be sure to visit NAdventures and NShooters in order to get your fill of gaming content. Check out http://hub.ngenres.com for the highlight stories from each genre.

Preview  Legends of Wrestling
- By Mike Ryan


Those of us who have been fans of wrestling since the early-to-mid 80’s should be as happy as former wrestling manager Brother Love, because Acclaim is officially bringing Legends of Wrestling to various next-generation video game consoles, including the Nintendo GameCube. This game is a wrestling fan’s dream come true. Many of the most famous men from the early eighties to today will be featured in this cornucopia of only the best wrestlers in the business.

Developed by Acclaim Studios out of Salt Lake, Legends of Wrestling boasts more than 40 playable wrestlers including Bret “Hitman” Hart, George “the Animal” Steel, and Jerry “the King” Lawler. Acclaim says that they are developing the game’s engine completely from scratch, taking a note from THQ’s wrestling games. So those of you who found Acclaim’s control schemes for its WWF and ECW games uncomfortable, you’re in for a treat. And those of you who were comfortable with ‘em...well you’re just going to have to get used to the change.

Acclaim is definitely taking the right steps in the development of Legends of Wrestling. Perhaps the most important step they took was signing Terry “Hulk” Hogan, the definitive legend of wrestling, to be the official spokesperson for the upcoming game. And of couse we can expect Mr. Hogan to be a playable character. Not only does the game have the stamp of approval by the Hulkster himself, but wrestling icons “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart and Captain Lou Albano will be providing match analysis and career guidance to help you gain the championship belt. Not all of the legends in the game have been revealed, but those we do know of include King Kong Bundy, “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, the Iron Sheik, Nicolai Volkoff, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, and the Road Warriors. This game includes some pretty hefty features, included linkable moves for lethal combos, different gaming options, including special guest referee and three- and four-way dances, and the ever-present Career Mode. And of course Acclaim, the innovators of the “Create-a-Wrestler” option, are including this in Legends of Wrestling. The “Create-a-Legend” feature is said to be the most in-depth creation mode featured in any wrestling game.

Arriving for the GCN in February 2002, Legends of Wrestling is sure to bring back a sweaty smell of nostalgia for long-time fans of the sport, and give newcomers a glimpse into what made wrestling what it is today. I for one hope that we’ll see Captain Lou Albano’s Super Mario outfit that he wore on the Super Mario Bros. Super Show.

- 10.29.2001