AEW: Fight Forever, for better and for worse, is exactly what was promised. On the positive end, the moves hit hard and the core gameplay is a blast, with the accessibility being worthy of praise since players can get an idea of the mechanics after just one match. However, the game is certainly not perfect, with the extremely limited create-a-wrestler mechanics being a disappointment and a flawed kickout system ensuring that matches end too quickly. While these features can be improved in this game via patches, another game would be necessary to improve uponFight Forever’s presentation.
To be clear, there are some elements ofAEW: Fight Forever’s presentation that are excellent, like the show-accurate name cards during entrances and the arenas on offer. The taunts and character-specific dodges also feel terrific, going a long way to make each wrestler feel distinct and letting them move around just as they do in the real world. However, there are three big areas where a sequel can and should attempt to improve: graphics, entrances, and commentary.
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How The Next AEW Game Could Fix Fight Forever’s Shortcomings
WhileAEW: Fight Foreverfully leans into the casual fun of old school wrestling games likeWWF No Mercy, that is not always for the best. Many have pointed out how the graphics are lacking, and while visuals are hardly the most important feature for a wrestling game, it is impossible to deny thatAEW: Fight Foreveris lacking in this area - particularly on next gen consoles since so much more can be done. While the cartoony graphics somewhat suit the arcade style, they are not a must to maintain that vibe, and the game would be just as fun to play if its wrestlers looked a bit better. Implementing the facial scans of theWWE 2Kseries could be a good way to accomplish this, as that system has had a positive impact on the character models in those games.
Aside from some better graphics, entrances could use some work. While it is true that many players will start to skip entrances a few weeks into the life span of awrestling game, some love watching them. Though the goal of five-second entrances was likely to get players into the fighting more quickly, they are just a bit too short, as players do not get the proper buildup that a quality entrance can provide.
There is a happy middle ground betweenAEW: Fight Forever’s entrances and those intheWWE 2Kgames, as players do not need to see the often uninteresting walks to the ring. However, seeing a wrestler exit AEW’s heel or face tunnel should be something included in the entrance system, as it would only make the entrances a bit longer but would ultimately make them feel more grand. This extra time would allow players to make better use of the controllable pyro while also letting them hear a bit more of their favorite wrestler’s entrance music.
However, the biggest presentation-related improvement that the next AEW video game should make is commentary. InFight Forever, there is almost no commentary, with only a brief snippet coming before the actual match begins, as someone like Jim Ross can be heard hyping up the contest with one line of dialogue. While being able to listen to a few hundred AEW tracks during the matches is a fun workaround that also feels like a retro wrestling game, the lack of commentary could be a dealbreaker for some. On television, Excalibur adds a lot tothe AEW experiencewith his rapid-fire naming of moves, with his commentary style being a natural fit for a video game. Taz adds some great humor to the mix as well, so the pair could make matches a lot more enjoyable if they were included. Letting players choose between commentary or music would be the best of both worlds, with AEW satisfying all its fans.
AEW: Fight Forever’s arcade styleis a refreshing change of pace, but it could add some elements of realism to improve the presentation without becoming a borderline simulator like theWWE 2Kseries. Slightly longer entrances, the option to turn on commentary, and more accurate character models for the AEW roster are all improvements that the next game can make without losingFight Forever’s focus on fun.
AEW: Fight Foreveris available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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