Summary
Fans of old school RPGs that may have been turned off by the departures taken in some of their favorite long-running series have been able to turn to the indie scene as of late to get their fill of games modeled after the genre’s all-time greats. In just a few weeks, Sabotage Studios will release it’s highly anticipated next titleSea of Stars, which proudly has itsChrono Triggerinspirations on full display. However, one week before that game’s release there’s another indie-developed RPG that absolutely should not be missed by fans of the genre. That game is none other than Mega Cat Studios’WrestleQuest.
Following in the footsteps of the great indie RPG-meets-sports gameGolf Story,Wrestle Questblends classic RPGgameplay akin toChrono TriggerorFinal Fantasy 6with an unabashed love for professional wrestling. Specifically, the game harkens back to the golden era of American professional wrestling of the 1980s where big personalities like “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, and the Ultimate Warrior reigned supreme and held the attention of millions of fans. Combining a solid understanding of the foundational elements that make the best RPGs shine as well as a clear love of its setting, source material, and aesthetic,WrestleQuestis another great indie RPG that fans should keep an eye on.
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WrestleQuest’s Combat Draws Inspiration From Another Classic RPG
While the visual presentation ofWrestleQuestcalls to mind some ofSquare Enix’s best output on the SNES, the game takes much of its combat mechanics from a later much-loved RPG series. Encounters inWrestleQuestare turn-based and aren’t controlled like a match inWWE 2K23.This is an RPG, after all. Instead, players select from a series of basic commands such as Strikes, Gimmicks, and Taunts. After successfully selecting a menu command in a turn-based battle, players have the opportunity to execute timed button presses that enhance the damage dealt to an opponent, just like in thePaper Marioseries.
And,just likePaper Mario, the timed button presses add a dynamic element to turn-based encounters that helps to make them more engaging. Combat animations are also over-the-top and humorous given the wrestling-themed action on display, and in a genre that features plenty of battling for leveling up and increasing player stats, having an engaging combat system is a massive boon.WrestleQuesteven features a setting-appropriate Hype Meter for players to maintain where keeping the crowd (and, by extension, the player) entertained improves performance in combat. All the elements work together in sync to create one of the most fun and lighthearted combat systems of any recent RPG, indie or otherwise.
The Setting and Presentation of WrestleQuest Give it an Undeniable Charm
Regardless of its mechanics, any RPG worth its weight will ultimately be judged on its ability to tell a captivating story. Thankfully,WrestleQuestgives players a lighthearted and humorous tale verysimilar to the tone ofGolf Storyin that the game doesn’t take itself too seriously while also showing a reverence for its source material. Additionally, the tale told inWrestleQuestis told through a framing device tailor-made for children of the 1980s and 1990s. Instead of taking place in the real world, the entirety ofWrestleQuestoccurs within the confines of a world of toys, allowing the developers to incorporate a wide range of iconic characters and toy lines from 1980s pop culture.
Players will, of course, navigate a sprawling world map split up into distinct biomes and enter cities and towns spread out across the map. There are main quests as well as plenty of NPCs that deliver side quests for Randy “Muchacho Man” Santos to complete, and the writing is all very tounge-in-cheek and self-aware. One of the main things that shines through inWrestleQuestis the care and appreciation for the toys and games of yore held by the developers, and the full game is shaping up to be verydifferent fromSea of Starsbut still equally worth any RPG fan’s time.
WrestleQuestlaunches on August 22 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
