General Gaming AEW: Fight Forever | Showcase Trailer 2022

[Pikachu]

 

Quote

Watch Tony Schiavone and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. reveal AEW: Fight Forever at the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase!

 

The game combines that nostalgic arcade-wrestler feel with innovative All Elite Wrestling finishers and tandem offensive moves. AEW: Fight Forever brings the best of the best from their talent roster together in one game.

 

Career mode, mini-games and more – AEW: Fight Forever is coming soon to PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

 

[Remarkableriots]

That looked horrible.

[Chairslinger]

4 hours ago, Remarkableriots said:

That looked horrible.

 

 

Why can no wrestling game for the past 25 years avoid that janky clipping where the characters get close to each other, pull off a move, and then teleport into position for the move?

 

I swear No Mercy still has more fluid animation that conveys real "weight" than any game on all the infinitely more powerful hardware that have released since....

 

 

 

 

[SoberChef]

No Adam Cole Baybay!?

 

*EDIT* Whoopsie, guess Britt wants to just beat up her beau!

[Keyser_Soze]

Seemed ok. Would have been better without the banter between the two people though.

[Spork3245]

19 hours ago, Remarkableriots said:

That looked horrible.

 

Graphically, yes. Gameplay-wise didn't look worse or better than the WWE games IMO, but, there wasn't really enough to tell either way really.

[best3444]

[BloodyHell]

4 hours ago, Spork3245 said:

 

Graphically, yes. Gameplay-wise didn't look worse or better than the WWE games IMO, but, there wasn't really enough to tell either way really.

Yeah, I tried the WWE demo, and that game was not fun or interesting to me at all.

[Keyser_Soze]

 

[Spork3245]

44 minutes ago, Keyser_Soze said:

 

 

CM Punk is 6'1, Paul Wight 7'0. The height difference in the models is not very good.

[EternallDarkness]

On 8/12/2022 at 8:23 PM, Chairslinger said:

 

 

Why can no wrestling game for the past 25 years avoid that janky clipping where the characters get close to each other, pull off a move, and then teleport into position for the move?

 

I swear No Mercy still has more fluid animation that conveys real "weight" than any game on all the infinitely more powerful hardware that have released since....

 

 

 

 

 

N64 was the last system have decent wrestling games 

[Spork3245]

42 minutes ago, EternallDarkness said:

 

N64 was the last system have decent wrestling games 

 

I enjoyed WWE 2k13, but only because of the Attitude-Era mode.

[silentbob]

The fans look sharper then the actual fighters. I won’t lie, it looks an awful lot like the old N64 Raw game with slightly better graphics. 

[Keyser_Soze]

 

[Keyser_Soze]

 

[Keyser_Soze]

Game Information

Game Title: AEW: Fight Forever

Platforms:

• Xbox Series X/S (Jun 29, 2023)
• PlayStation 5 (Jun 29, 2023)
• PC (Jun 29, 2023)
• Xbox One (Jun 29, 2023)
• PlayStation 4 (Jun 29, 2023)
• Nintendo Switch (Jun 29, 2023)
  

Trailer:

Publishers: THQ Nordic, All Elite Wrestling, LLC

    Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 65 average - 34% recommended

Critic Reviews

 

Spoiler

CGMagazine - Joe Findlay - 9 / 10

AEW: Fight Forever is a triumphant return to the wrestling ring for THQ Nordic and Yuke’s, recapturing the magic of their original, simple gameplay and amazing customization with yet a third wrestling organization.

COGconnected - Jaz Sagoo - 86 / 100

AEW: Fight Forever is the best wrestling game since WWF No Mercy. There’s a visceral nature to every punch and slam which makes every physical match-up an absolute thrill. While the mechanics are deep and allows fans to master techniques, there’s also a pick-up-and-play ethos that is amplified through silly mini-games and over-the-top gimmick matches. The odd hit detection issue, basic creation suite and lack of community uploads are disappointing, however, they don’t take away from what is the greatest wrestling game in the past 20 years.

Checkpoint Gaming - Luke Mitchell - 4.5 / 10

AEW had the right idea in wanting to focus on the nostalgia of the wrestling games we played when we were kids, but at the end of the day, the seemingly low budget and lack of polish is something that should be left in the past. AEW: Fight Forever has some fine ideas and its execution of moment-to-moment gameplay and animations isn't terrible, but matches can be won with minimal effort or drama, presentation is missing key things that make wrestling special, and the story mode is repetitive, boring and self-masturbatory. Fight forever? In this game? No, thank you.

Cultured Vultures - Ashley Bates - 5 / 10

AEW: Fight Forever's good ideas can't save it from a paltry amount of content and somewhat inferior gameplay compared to its competition.

DASHGAMER.com - Dan Rizzo - 8.5 / 10

Its a great campaign to bring in those that aren’t yet familiar with AEW’s product, but also those that are but aren’t avid gamers. This is prime pro-wrestling video gaming at its best, and one I will be delving into for years to come. Goodbye, and Goodnight. BANG!

Daily Mirror - Scott McCrae - 3 / 5

AEW: Fight Forever nails what it's going for in evoking Nintendo 64 classics, but neglects a lot of modern features that even wrestling games in the PS2 era were nailing. If you're an AEW fan looking for an arcade-y pick up and play wrestling title to fill the void left by AKI's classics to play with some friends then you'll find what you're looking for with Fight Forever. But if you want an wrestling simulator in the vein of WWE games you'll need to wait a while longer.

Dexerto - Brad Norton - 2 / 5

Over time, there’s certainly room to build from this foundation. But with the asking price and the initial lack of substance, it’s hard to see value in AEW’s first game upon release.

Digital Spy - Joe Draper - 3.5 / 5

It's clear that a lot of love has been put into making AEW: Fight Forever fun and feel good to play. It's just a shame it falls short in certain areas related to story, features and creation. Despite this, there's a lot for AEW fans to like here and we definitely recommend it, because much like All Elite Wrestling is an alternative to WWE, it's nice to have an alternative in the wrestling game space too.

Digital Trends - Giovanni Colantonio - 2 / 5

AEW: Fight Forever will win over N64 nostalgists, but anyone looking for a modern wrestling experience may be let down by an unpolished, bare-bones package.

Digitally Downloaded - Alex Kidman - 3.5 / 5

There’s room for improvement, and it’ll be interesting to see how that takes shape, given that they’ve said the plan is not for annual sports game style releases, but instead iterative development over many years. Maybe adding in a cage match, smoothing out some of the games’ slightly rougher animations, even if they are hand-drawn, and adding commentary would be good for a start. Yes, I know, I’m asking for them to add in even more DLC, but it seems like that’s what they actively want to do here, and it might just be the right approach for the challenger brand.

Explosion Network - Buddy Watson - 7.5 / 10

From a pure gameplay perspective, AEW: Fight Forever nails it.

GAMES.CH - Olaf Bleich - German - 54%

AEW Fight Forever turns out to be a huge letdown. The overall experience suffers from the lack of gameplay-polish and the amount of bugs and glitches. While the game delivers some high recognition-value, it fails to live up to the promise of delivering a nostalgic arcade-wrestling-game.

GGRecon - Jack Roberts - 3.5 / 5

At its heart, AEW: Fight Forever feels like a celebration of the AEW brand and a culmination of the promotion’s achievements. While it may be hindered by its graphics and sparse career mode, AEW: Fight Forever shines when it is paying homage to the history of the company.

It may not be the game changer like the wrestling promotion it is based on, but it is certainly fun and feels like the classic wrestling games from a bygone era.

Game Informer - Marcus Stewart - 6.3 / 10

If nothing else, AEW: Fight Forever has potential. I’m happy to have a more arcade-style wrestling game, especially one based on a major promotion. The gameplay has a strong foundation, and when it's firing on all cylinders, the action channels the simple fun of the ‘90s and early 2000s. The rest of the package just needs to catch up. Until it does, even the most passionate AEW fans may have a hard time sticking around for this main event.

GameGrin - Mike Crewe - 7 / 10

Despite its lack of content and underwhelming career mode and creation suite, AEW: Fight Forever is a fun arcade wrestling title that harkens back to the golden age of the genre.

GamePro - Kai Schmidt - German - 82 / 100

Uncomplicated, fast-paced and immensely entertaining old-school wrestling, but a little bit of outdated technology stands in the way.

GameSpot - Jason Fanelli - 6 / 10

All Elite Wrestling's first match in the video game ring is a solid outing that doesn't quite live up to its real-world product.

GamesRadar+ - Ben Wilson - 3.5 / 5

An encouraging debut for the big new rival to WWE, with loads of welcome throwback nods to No Mercy and Fire Pro, and a career mode you won’t be able to resist playing through multiple times.

Gaming Nexus - Nathan Carter - 6.5 / 10

No Mercy this is not. It's got good intentions and the right idea, but the game is not there just yet. I understand this is their first game, but there is just not enough meat on the bone to justify paying full price for this. The story mode is short, repetitive, and nothing you do matters. Matches are way too short, the creation modes are ridiculously limited, and we don't even have basic match options like turning on and off DQs or elimination rules in multiman matches to keep exhibition mode interesting. Maybe after a year or so of updates, this will feel more like a complete package, but I would recommend waiting for a sale or some major updates before picking this one up.

GamingBolt - Shunal Doke - 8 / 10

AEW: Fight Forever offers the perfect combination of simple, fun gameplay that can be learned in a couple of minutes, but has incredible depth. Pair that with an excellent roster, a fun career mode, and an incredible amount of match types and unlockables, and the game ends up being a dream come true for fans of the fun, arcade-styled wrestling games of the past.

Gert Lush Gaming - Jim Smale - 8.2 / 10

I won’t Smackdown the other games in the genre and instead keep it raw by saying AEW is the real deal and that’s the bottom line.

God is a Geek - Chris White - 7 / 10

Matches in AEW: Fight Forever are a ton of fun to play, with a career mode that takes inspiration from Yakuza in the best kind of way.

Hey Poor Player - James Davies - 4 / 5

Comfortingly, AEW: Fight Forever fits into a snug middle-ground, where it’s neither a huge triple-A feast, nor a dainty indie curiosity. It’s just a pretty damn cool wrestling game, delivering arcadey grappling, awesome minigames, and an enjoyably moreish Road To Elite career mode. The simplified fighting systems may feel lightweight next to the competition, but they allow Fight Forever to feel like a proper pick-up-and-play wrestling game. As long as you don’t go in demanding a gigantic roster, an exhaustive list of moves, and plenty of match types, this will be the wrestling videogame you’ve waited a very long time for. Like the tag team of Max Caster and Anthony Bowens, AEW: Fight Forever is The Acclaimed.

IGN - Jarrett Green - 6 / 10

AEW: Fight Forever may have the audacity to challenge the current king of wrestling games, but despite its fun-loving spirit, strong sense of style, and solid fundamentals, it fails to execute on a level that comes anywhere close to its potential.

Impulsegamer - Gareth Newnham - 3.5 / 5

At the core of AEW Fight Forever is the No Mercy Successor wrestling fans have been waiting for. The question is whether you want that. I know I do.

Jump Dash Roll - Ant Barlow - 7 / 10

‍AEW: Fight Forever is a throwback to classic wrestling games and a proper alternative for wrestling fans. The in-ring action is great, but its more repetitive elements and some strange choices stops it from being true world champion material.‍

Last Word on Gaming - Alex Richards - 6 / 10

AEW: Fight Forever is a solid first step into the gaming world for All Elite Wrestling. They’ve already got the gameplay down and have something they can expand on in future games to really make their mark. It is, however, a game that lacks any real depth, and with the CAW options being so bare they’re going to be relying on multiplayer fun to carry the game’s momentum. With some minor improvements and polish, they could make an exceptional follow-up but their first foray into gaming is merely a solid entry that will leave single-player users without much to do after a few days.

Nintendo Life - Chris Scullion - 7 / 10

As a self-proclaimed spiritual successor to WWF No Mercy, AEW had big wrestling boots to fill. While it doesn't quite surpass THQ's classic N64 grappler in terms of pure gameplay, it's nevertheless a highly entertaining wrestling title with a pleasantly silly story mode and some frankly ridiculous weapons-heavy match types. Performance on the Switch leaves a lot to be desired, but it's still the best wrestling game on the system for now.

Operation Sports - Josh Houtz - Unscored

AEW Fight Forever is a winner, and I'm excited to see what THQ and Yuke's have up their sleeves in the coming months.

PCGamesN - Dave Irwin - 5 / 10

AEW's first foray into videogames has much room for improvement across its odd-looking character models, slim game mode offerings, and poor AI balancing. That said, in the right crowd, you might enjoy it for its schlock and solid controls.

PlayStation LifeStyle - Tyler Treese - 4 / 10

AEW: Fight Forever tries its best to invoke one of the most beloved wrestling games, but it’s a pale imitation that doesn’t live up to that legacy.

PlayStation Universe - Tommy Holloway - 5.5 / 10

Other than playing as some of my favourite wrestlers, I struggled to find many redeeming qualities with AEW Fight Forever. The game is lacking in modes, match types, wrestlers, and creation suite options. Combined with a generic and alarmingly short career mode, AEW Fight Forever is far from elite.

Press Start - Brodie Gibbons - 7.5 / 10

AEW: Fight Forever's focus is clear right out of the gate. It sacrifices things it can't deliver due to budget to serve up a wrestling video game that is so shamelessly rooted in Iwashita's genetic code with No Mercy. Despite its shortcomings, Fight Forever feels as time-honoured and classic as Hulk Hogan's trunks.

Pure Dead Gaming - Craig - 8 / 10

Those two stick around more than half a dozen hours will likely just be playing exhibition matches with friends or against the AI. If that doesn’t sound like enough, AEW Fight Forever may not be for you. However, if like me you are here for the gameplay then you will likely get many hours of grappling fun from a title that successfully pays tribute to the golden age of wrestling games.

Push Square - Ben Potter - 5 / 10

AEW: Fight Forever is an incredibly faithful tribute to 90's wrestling gaming, and it's clear that a lot of love has gone in to ensure the presentation, gameplay, and atmosphere all harken back to that time with unyielding accuracy. But the world has moved on, and more importantly, wrestling games have moved on, and the dogged determination to honour what came before has resulted in a title that will ultimately prove incredibly divisive. Most egregiously the game feels decidedly budget while demanding a decidedly not-budget price tag, and while the product may improve with updates and time, in its current state, it's hard to recommend Fight Forever to anyone but the most hardcore of AEW's fans.

Saving Content - Scott Ellison II - 3 / 5

Fun is at the forefront of AEW: Fight Forever and should be celebrated for achieving that. This is unfortunately a game that has its issues, and whether intentional or not, is a dated experience. The arcade wrestling is great, and such a different experience to what else is out there. It’s clear this was made with the purest of intentions, and is an honest to goodness game. I think as the name implies, AEW: Fight Forever will have a long life, but the next iteration will have to see some serious improvements to be competitive. AEW: Fight Forever is a newcomer game from a veteran developer, and while there’s room for improvement, this is a solid start for what is still a must-play wrestling game.

Shacknews - TJ Denzer - 6 / 10

I’ll give AEW Fight Forever this: When I was playing actual matches, many of my problems faded into the background. The actual wrestling is a good time and up to four players can throw down in a massive variety of ways with a huge roster or their own created characters. It’s when I came away from the squared circle and had to look at other parts of the game that its flaws were hard to ignore. Even so, I think THQ Nordic, Yuke’s, and AEW have a good start here. They’ve made a game that is at least fun to play and feels good in the ring, which is arguably the most important part. If there’s another AEW game, I’d like to see Create-a-Wrestler, crossplay, and the overall presentation of the game rise to meet the gameplay. For now, I’ll just try not to spend too much time outside the squared circle in Fight Forever.

Spaziogames - Nicolò Bicego - Italian - 6.5 / 10

AEW: Fight Forever is a good callback to some of the more arcade-styled wrestling games of the past, but it lacks much of the gameplay and content improvements added over the years by the same developers to their previous games.

Sports Gamers Online - Kevin Finley - 7.8 / 10

AEW: Fight Forever effectively takes after its parent company AEW in that it’s young but with a rich pool of potential, of which many are anticipating great things in the future. While it certainly impresses in its first outing, the game somewhat struggles to find its third and fourth gear late in the game.

Stevivor - Jam Walker - 4.5 / 10

AEW Fight Forever isn’t exactly a stupid idea from bad creative, it’s just a product scoped so small that asking a AAA new release price tag for it feels criminal. Matches are fun and entertaining, for a while at least, but absolutely every facet of the thing feels hugely undercooked. WWE 2K has been sorely in need of some real competition for years just as WWE itself has, but unfortunately AEW just haven’t pulled it off here as well as they did on television.

The Beta Network - Samuel Incze - 5 / 10

AEW Fight Forever struggles to find its place with its first entry into the world of video games! Whilst it tries to set itself apart from WWE’s flagship series, with a lack of creativity and variety, it just ends up becoming a bit monotonous. There may be something here for die hard fans, but unfortunately beyond a few matches in exhibition and a lacklustre career mode, AEW Fight Forever does not do enough to be an enticing wrestling game! Unfortunately, unlike the actual AEW brand, the game just can’t compete with its WWE counterpart!

The Outerhaven Productions - Karl Smart - 4.5 / 5

AEW: Fight Forever brings me back to the "glory days" of wrestling video games with its easy-to-learn but hard-to-master controls, fun and entertaining graphics, and a KISS match selection that gives you just enough of a taste of what All Elite Wrestling is about. AEW: Fight Forever might not have the complex simulation look and feel that we've come to accept because of WWE video games over the last 20 years, but it's FUN, something that the WWE games tend to forget about.

The Punished Backlog - 7.5 / 10

AEW: Fight Forever has some small issues, but there is nothing here that affects the moment-to-moment gameplay. I would like to see more varied options in the creation suite, but I look forward to the continued support and DLC for this game. This is one I can see myself putting a significant amount of time into. Fight Forever, much like AEW itself, is a welcome alternative and a damn good time.

Try Hard Guides - Erik Hodges - 6 / 10

AEW: Fight Forever is undeniably a unique and unconventional game. The game’s charm lies in its distinctiveness, using its captivating licensed soundtrack and departure from traditional gameplay mechanics to make something strange and unique. The unusual control scheme, cartoony graphics, and limited player customization may deter newcomers and those outside of the target audience from picking it up, but the game was made for fans, and for those fans I say go ahead and give it a try.

Use a Potion - 7 / 10

AEW Fight Forever offers a fun wrestling experience that feels satisfyingly old-school in design, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement in this debut release for the company. The outdated roster, the limited creation options, the lacking presentation (both visually and with wrestlers’ entrances) – whilst these issues don’t stop the game from being entertaining to play, they will leave some AEW fans feeling a little underwhelmed.

Still, there’s no denying that the game captures the absurd over-the-top nature of AEW perfectly, whilst modes like Road to the Elite and the Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match show that there are some really cool ideas on show that you won’t find elsewhere. Let’s just hope that the inevitable sequel is a bit more fleshed out to keep players hooked in for the long-term.

Wccftech - Nathan Birch - 7.5 / 10

Like the promotion it’s based on, AEW: Fight Forever can be a bit rough around the edges, but the game is also a welcome breath of fresh air. Fun, approachable in-ring action and an endearingly-quirky career mode largely make up for scruffy visuals and some missing content. AEW: Fight Forever won’t be for everyone, but if you’re looking for an alternative, feel free to push your chips All In.

We Got This Covered - Dwayne Jenkins - 3.5 / 5

AEW Fight Forever's excellent wrestling and robust customization options are unfortunately hampered by a distinct lack of meaningful modes or features to give the game a long lifespan.

WellPlayed - Adam Ryan - 7.5 / 10

Hearkening back to the good old days of arcade wrestling games, Fight Forever is an accessibly fun and awesomely faithful title that's sure to entertain from bell to bell, despite its numerous shortcomings.

WhatIfGaming - Aim Nario - 7 / 10

AEW: Fight Forever is a return to the glory days of arcade wrestling games, and is a lot of fun. With a surprisingly engaging story mode, deep customization, and plenty of game modes to try out, this is the AEW gaming package you've been waiting. Unfortunately, it doesn't reach its full potential because of sluggish controls, often unresponsive inputs, and mixed presentation.

Worth Playing - Cody Medellin - 7.5 / 10

Fans of the promotion and wrestling games in general will find themselves partially satisfied with AEW: Fight Forever. The flaws are noticeable, such as the truncated introductions, limited arenas, and a smaller roster compared to the competition. The presence of creative tools gets hampered by the lack of a built-in way to share them, and the absence/trimming of match types can feel off. While the story mode is goofy in several ways, it is the strength of the wrestling engine that keeps the game fun to play, match after match. If the rumors are true, then this good game can get much better with patches and downloadable content for years to come. Otherwise, if this potential series follows a more traditional development cycle, this title is a very good base to work with for a hopefully more ambitious and meatier sequel.

XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 8.3 / 10

AEW: Fight Forever rekindles the flame of the classic N64 wrestling titles.  Featuring a fantastic mix of nostalgia and new it is only let down on occasion by budget and scope constraints.  I hope this is the start of a new, long-running series that takes this excellent foundation and adds more variety on top of it for years to come.