Original Release: Activision, 2001, PlayStation
An odd late-life exclusive for the PS1, The Simpsons Wrestling disappointed those expecting a real wrestling title in its time but has attracted something of a cult following for its comedic jank
The Simpsons Wrestling (PS1, Activision, 2001)
Where to Buy: Amazon
How to Emulate: coming soon!
Review by: C. M0use
Lacking refined gameplay, or even most of the core elements of wrestling, all Simpsons Wrestling has to offer is absurdity. Groundskeeper Willy beats Lisa to unconsciousness with a rake. A brawling two-fisted Ned Flanders calls down God’s lightning on foes while repeatedly exclaiming “Hidey ho!” All of the characters enjoy huge, floaty jumps that allow you to bounce on an opponent’s head repeatedly a la Super Mario harassing some poor turtle. And, with the addition of a ref seemingly too much of a graphical challenge, characters count their own pins but are always sure to keep it fair!
Technically the game’s matches take place in wrestling rings, but it’s more like Springfield has caught Fight Club mania. There are some grab moves, but rarely do they lead to wrestling maneuvers. You can kinda bounce off the ropes but it doesn’t seem to help anything. No climbing the turnbuckle, going out of the ring, or slapping on submissions whatsoever. If not for having to pin a foe with a shoulder button once you’ve depleted their life bar, it would really be much more of a fighting game.
From a marketing perspective it definitely would have been better off packaged as a basic brawler (of a more sloppy but amusing “mascot fighter” bent) and an intentionally loose and imprecise party game. It’s mostly acceptable that way too, save for the weird attack system. A very rudimentary stamina bar is included that simply depletes whenever you attack and refills gradually when you’re not doing anything. You have three attack types of varying power, but it takes quite a bit of inactivity to build up to the two more powerful options. With no real defensive gameplay there isn’t much to do but run about the ring trying to avoid attacks if you want to use your more powerful techniques.
The developers were also entirely new to both fighting and wrestling and had no idea about “balance,” though it’s a matter of personal perspective whether that’s for better or worse. Ned Flanders is famously (and disgustingly) OP with his homing lightning and Bible boomerang attacks, but at least he’s an advanced unlockable. The starting crop of characters has its balance issues too, with Willy’s rake range being hard to contend with and Apu having a unique and cheap grab move that siphons opponent health.
Speaking of unlocking characters, there also isn’t much else to do for the single player. There are a few “circuits” to play that are basically the same sequence of random matches against other characters in Street Fighter 2 style, but at the end of each there’s a new “boss” to be unlocked as a playable (Bumblebee Man, Ned, etc). Other than that there isn’t much to do but random matches just for the hell of it, though.
Simpsons Wrestling has famously become the “worst rated” Simpsons game on various Metacritic-esque sources, but I’d personally contend some of the crap NES and handheld platformers and PC shovelware titles are far worse. This at least captures the look and spirit of the show, has a bunch of new voice acting from the cast and decent music, and while the gameplay is probably too crummy for single-player enjoyment it can be goofy fun for multiple players.
Links
Videos
Gameplay Video
Interview with the developers