Full disclosure to start off with: the reason I’m not doing a formal scored review of Wrestlequest is because I did a stint of remote freelance writing for the developer, Mega Cat Studios. It wasn’t anything glamorous, but I got the opportunity during one of the lowest points in my life. COVID was in full swing, and I had lost my job. It helped me hold onto a shred of self-worth for a while. I faded off shortly after, but I enjoyed the time I spent collaborating with them.

I didn’t work on WrestleQuest, though. The closest I came was when I was asked if it looked like one of the crowd members was flipping the middle finger. I didn’t even remember that until I noticed that same crowd member.

Anyway, the real reason I’m playing WrestleQuest is because of Macho Man Randy Savage featuring prominently. He was one of the finest entertainers of all time, absolutely captivating whether he was dropping elbows or hocking nitrite-filled meat sticks. Sometimes you just have to load up one of his promos to feel better. Unfortunately, WrestleQuest doesn’t carry the same macho charisma.

[caption id="attachment_398014" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

WrestleQuest (PC [Reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, Switch)
Developer: Mega Cat Studios
Publisher: Skybound Games
Released: August 22, 2023
MSRP: $29.99

While WrestleQuest is chiefly an RPG in the Japanese style of wrestling, it has another wrinkle in the fact that it’s all communicated through toys. While everything is kept legally distinct, you’ll no doubt spot a few classic playthings scattered around the thematic world.

However, the most important part of the toy theme is that it allows for a divorce from actual wrestling history. It certainly taps into the ebb and flow of the industry and alludes to things like Vince McMahon Jr.’s crusade against smaller promotions in forming the WWF. However, the protagonists are all (mostly) original characters, and the events of the game don’t require any knowledge of wrestling to know what’s going on.

You play as alternating parties that you switch to throughout the story. Macho Man heads none of them, but one of them stars a Mexican counterpart named Muchacho Man. It works. The story about the protagonists taking different routes to rise in the world of professional wrestling is enjoyable.

At the same time, you’ll see greats like Andre the Giant and Junkyard Dog mixed in as summons. It’s a decent tribute to pro wrestling while also allowing for unique storytelling.

[caption id="attachment_398015" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Cuppa coffee in the big time

As a game, however, Wrestlequest is just okay. It uses a Super Mario RPG system where you can improve the effects of your attacks and defenses with timed button presses. The downside is that these are presented more as QTE, and some attacks are absolutely useless (or don’t work at all) unless you manage to pull off the QTE. It’s okay, at first, but having to repeat these sequences every time you want to use a move gets really tiresome.

Your characters also wind up learning way too many special attacks. One character learns multiple different versions of the same attack, each with a different elemental effect. However, if enemies are weak against certain elements, I never really found a good example of it. I mostly just rotated between them, trying to figure out if they were weak against fire or microwave.

The difference between attacks was often mystifying to me. What benefits did each hold? I could never tell. For every other character, out of the dozens of moves they learned, I’d often just stick to two or three that seemed to have the best effect.

The dungeons are another matter. I appreciate the fact that there are no random encounters and a dead enemy stays buried, but I feel like Wrestlequest’s wonky difficulty makes it necessary to fight everything. Or not. There were sections where I had to tip-toe between encounters to keep my party alive and others where it felt like I was extremely overpowered. I guess that’s the scripted nature of wrestling.

[caption id="attachment_398016" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Spice so nice, brother

I also feel like Wrestlequest doesn’t cash in on the wrestling theme very well. There are custom walk-ons, a hype meter where you excite the crowd for bonuses, and special goals in some matches where you have to put over your opponent to increase the drama. However, only the hype meter is present in smaller battles.

I think it would have been more beneficial to Wrestlequest’s mechanics if it focused more on boss battles. Less combat would have made the QTEs more tolerable and got more mileage out of the theme and the mechanics built around it. Even if some bosses repeated, it would still feel more like wrestling.

Actually, a lot of its design would have been better if it was smaller. I put dozens of hours into Wrestlequest and still haven’t seen the ending. I’m not sure I ever will. It’s certainly ambitious to try and meet the runtime of games like the genre greats like Final Fantasy VI, but it resulted in a lot of bloat that is difficult to sort through.

[caption id="attachment_398018" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Art thou bored!?

It feels like a lot of time was spent on crafting a big game, and not enough of it was spent tightening up what was there. At the very least, its themes and visuals help it stand out from the glut of Kemco JRPGs on digital marketplaces.

To be certain, Wrestlequest isn’t a bad game, but it doesn’t quite feel like the main event it should be. There are a lot of great ideas mixed in here, but they’re piled on by unnecessary bloat. An infectious love for the subject matter doesn’t quite manage to hide all the flaws. It’s got the spice, but not the execution.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post WrestleQuest brings the spice but fumbles the execution appeared first on Destructoid.

Mega Cat Studios’ WrestleQuest has turned heads thanks to its gorgeous pixel art world that blends RPG fantasy exploration with wrestling action. Though it was originally slated for an August 8 release, the game has since been delayed to August 22 on all platforms.

https://twitter.com/skyboundgames/status/1688712585175261184

It is a brief delay triggered by a slight bug developers found. As a Tweet by Skybound Games explains, it was “discovered that it was possible for players to lose their save game progress when playing WrestleQuest on multiple different devices.”

[caption id="attachment_360115" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Mega Cat Studios.[/caption]

WrestleQuest gets pushed back a few weeks

The delay may be disappointing, though the stated reason for it is understandable. WrestleQuest has hours of content, taking players on a journey to become the greatest pro wrestler. The tweet also suggests that WrestleQuest will have cross-save capabilities.

Early impressions of the game have been mostly positive, with critics praising the art style and its engagement with the wrestling world. A few real-world wrestling superstars also make an appearance, including Andre the Giant, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and Jeff Jarrett.

The delay may have been necessary, but it does push WrestleQuest into quite a busy time in gaming. It launches in the same week as Immortals of Aveumn and Armored Core 6. Sea of Stars, another pixel art game, releases the following week on August 29.

The post WrestleQuest delayed to August 22 appeared first on Destructoid.

That's 'delayed' to you and I

[Update: A new update from Mega Cat Studios states that WrestleQuest will now launch August 8 on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and (newly announced) iOS and Android platforms.]

Skybound Games and developer Mega Cat Studios has announced that the colorful pro-wrestling RPG WrestleQuest will no longer meet its May release window and will now step into the ring sometime this summer.

In a shoot-worked promo posted to Twitter, Mega Cat Studios spoke of its excitement with the title so far, but notes that a recently secured "partnership" has forced the studio to push back the title's launch. This seems to suggest that the delay is a positive one, and will allow the studio to implement whatever benefits the new partnership has allowed for. Mega Cat notes that it expects to announce a new release before May is done and dusted.

https://twitter.com/megacatstudios/status/1658095888227770370?s=20

"While we are disappointed that we couldn’t share the entirety of WrestleQuest with you sooner like we hoped," concludes the studio, "we firmly believe this is the right choice with respect to our players and the sweat, sweat, and more sweat we have poured into building the best game we have ever made. We can’t wait to get your hands on it!"

WrestleQuest, as we have previously reported, combines the wild spectacle of golden age wrestling with the stat-based strategy of turn-based RPGs. Players will guide custom superstars through the territory system of the 1980s, aided or hindered by a roster of over 30 real-world wrestlers including “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Koko B. Ware, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, The Road Warriors, Sgt. Slaughter, and Andre the Giant. Jeff Jarrett is also in the mix, because he can't stay out of fucking anything.

WrestleQuest is currently in development for PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

The post (Update) WrestleQuest has been future endeavored until August 8 appeared first on Destructoid.

Cream 'o' the crop, rise to the top, yeeeah!..

Skybound Entertainment has made a committed financial investment in indie studio MegaCat Studios, the developer working on fun-looking, ring-rocking RPG WrestleQuest.

As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, Skybound Entertainment has not released a figure for its investment, but the site's sources believe it to be in the "multi-million" region. As a publisher Skybound currently holds IPs such as The Walking Dead and Escape Academy, while also owning physical distribution rights for titles such as Cuphead, Psychonauts 2, Untitled Goose Game, Gang Beasts, and more recently Striking Distance Studios' The Callisto Protocol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtpjlXOviKA&ab_channel=SkyboundGames

Pittsburgh-based MegaCat Studios has released several low-key titles in its young life, including games for retro platforms such as the NES and the Sega Mega Drive. WrestleQuest represents the indie outfit's biggest and most promising title to date, blending strategic RPG combat with the Day-Glo, territory-era world of pro wrestling. Alongside a roster of original characters, WrestleQuest will also star real-world grapplers such as The Road Warriors, Sgt. Slaughter,  Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Andre the Giant, and Macho Man Randy Savage.

It is reported that MegaCat intends to use Skybound's investment to help with the financial side of project development, while also noting that the partnership will give the small studio access to IP and publishing resources. With the release of WrestleQuest just four months away, this exciting venture looks set to propel MegaCat well into 2023 and, hopefully, beyond.

WrestleQuest launches May 2023 on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

Skybound makes multimillion-dollar investment in Mega Cat Studios [GamesIndustry.biz]

The post Skybound invests in WrestleQuest studio MegaCat Games appeared first on Destructoid.

Dig it!

Publisher Skybound Games has announced a release window for the intriguing and spectacularly silly-looking wrestling RPG WrestleQuest — As reported during yesterday's Nintendo Indie World Showcase, the day-glo grappler will launch on PC and console platforms in May 2023.

As we have previously reported, WrestleQuest is a unique spin on the typical RPG adventure title, as will charge players with taking their custom superstar through the territories in a bid to become the pro-wrestling king of the 1980s. Along the way, the rookie will team with, (or oppose), a who's who of 30 genuine pro-wrestling legends, including "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Koko B. Ware, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, The Road Warriors, Sgt. Slaughter, and Andre the Giant.

Also, Jeff Jarrett is in the mix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtpjlXOviKA

WrestleQuest incorporates fun pixel visuals, as well as a novel "Hasbro figure" look to each of its ring legends. As you can see from the above trailer, matches play out in turn-based fashion, with a wide variety of strikes, holds, throws, and specials available to our roster of ring-rockers. One gal even shows up on a motorbike, which might be considered cheating, all things considered. Another fun moment sees Andre show up to bodyslam the entire ring! Good work, boss.

As the player progresses through their star-spangled career, they will be given the option to customize their wardrobe, gimmick, and entrance to ensure that they become the talk of the town... or at least The Observer. With its tongue firmly stuck in its cheek, and some rad-looking visual design. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing whether this underdog delivers a five-and-a-half star matchup when it finally emerges from the locker room.

Add Bull Nakano and this is going to be my GOTY 2023.

WrestleQuest launches May 2023 on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

The post WrestleQuest brings macho madness to PC and consoles May 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're looking to try something new, here are a few good options

The Steam Next Fest demo party is currently on, with many studios showcasing their upcoming games. From big to small, solo devs to publisher-backed projects, there's a lot to explore.

I took a browse through the selection over the last day or so, and now I'm back with a list of some demos that seem worth checking out. Keep in mind: this is, by no means, an exhaustive list. There are a ton of demos to find, and if you're looking to fill a specific need like "deck-building roguelike" or something, Steam's tag system will get you there.

These are just the ones that caught my eye, and might catch yours too. Some I've even already played, as you'll see in the writeup, at previous expos and demo fests. But with the selection here, there are plenty of cool upcoming games to try out.

Without further ado, let's start with the spooky.

Metal: Hellsinger

The rhythm-FPS genre is quickly filling up, but Metal: Hellsinger has been garnering some attention for its extremely metal approach. I imagine many people who played Doom (2016) found themselves entering a Zen state of chugging guitars and splattering demons, and Hellsinger is the meeting point of the two. It's currently set to launch in full on Sept. 15, 2022.

Find the demo on Steam here.

Signalis

Maybe arena shooters aren't your thing. Maybe you prefer your nostalgic, retro-vibes games more in the vein of Resident Evil, with a twist of existential cosmic dread and cyber-horror. Well, Signalis has it in spades. It's atmospheric, moody, utilizes shifts in perspective and audio pips extremely well, and is easily one of my most-anticipated indies headed into later 2022. And it's slated just in time for Halloween, on Oct. 27, 2022.

Find the demo here.

Cult of the Lamb

Okay, so maybe dark-and-creepy is your vibe, but you want a splash of cute. Maybe some isometric roguelite action, and a surprisingly compelling base management system. You should head over to the Cult of the Lamb, Massive Monster's adorably chaotic game about a cute lil' lamb starting a cult. Slay the false prophets, reclaim the forest, and convert the critters to your belief system so they can work while you're away. Cult of the Lamb arrives on Aug. 11, 2022.

You can find the demo here.

Gloomwood

Okay, dark and grimy, but maybe a little more immersive sim. How about a survival horror game with a heavy heaping of the Thief series in Gloomwood? It's set in a dark Victorian city where guards with bright, glowing eyes patrol. Plan your route, escape with stealth and ingenuity, and deploy all kinds of fun tools along the way. Just don't get caught.

Find the demo here.

Escape Academy

Okay, I get it. Let's lighten the mood a bit, while sticking with the escape theme. Escape-the-room games have always been quite popular, but Escape Academy brings a little something extra to the table. It's got a narrative twist, as you're a new student at the titular school for escape artists, learning to get out of any sticky situation and meeting classmates and professors along the way. What I really dug about the demo, which is one of my favorites in the Next Fest lineup, is that it has online co-op. It was remarkably easy to hop into a room with a friend in another state and play through the demo together, and we had a blast. The release date is right around the corner on July 14, but I can't recommend this demo enough for co-op folks looking to try something new.

Find the demo here.

Potion Permit

Sometimes, you just want to hang out, hunt for some ingredients, and brew some potions. Potion Permit is one of the cozier games in the Steam Next Fest, and I really dug its small-town alchemist sim setup. It's definitely one of the slower starts compared to other games on this list, but if you want to just hang out and brew some potions with your dog, who's a very good boy, then Potion Permit seems up your alley.

Find the demo here.

Terra Nil

This city builder that's actually a nature builder has been top of my to-watch list for some time, and for good reason. Free Lives turns terraforming and restoring the scorched earth into an extremely pleasant experience. With each new installment and fixture, you get some gorgeous animations of grass flowing out across the soil, or water filling desolate canyons. Then, when it's all said and done, you pack up and leave. Terra Nil is beautifully serene and definitely worth your time.

Find the demo here.

Anger Foot

And now for something completely different from Free Lives, it's Anger Foot. Jordan recently declared this might be Devolver's most unhinged game yet, and after playing the demo, I'm inclined to agree. That's not a bad thing, though. Anger Foot has powerful kicks and speedy runs through brutal, blistering chaos, but its bass-pumping, pulse-pounding pace can really put you in the zone. It's fast and bizarre, and might be a bit much for some, but I have to admit I do love how the gators break it down after bringing you down.

Find the demo here.

Naiad

Okay, wheel it back around. Let's go back to the comforts of nature. Naiad is a gorgeous, almost dreamy game about being a river guardian and hanging out with your river pals. HiWarp has crafted some incredible visuals here, and it makes the whole experience wonderfully serene and flowing in a way that really sticks. Naiad was a Day of the Devs standout, and I'm happy to see it's got a demo in the Next Fest.

Find the demo here.

Goodbye World

Another Day of the Devs standout for me was Goodbye World, from solo developer Yo Fujii. It is a narrative adventure about the life of two indie developers, who struggle to make their hit game while juggling part-time jobs. Interspersed throughout, you actually get to play their game, a cute little puzzle platformer. It's a great concept with wonderful art and huge potential for drama.

Find the demo here.

Frogun

Another nostalgic surprise is Frogun, a throwback 3D platformer about a girl with a frog gun. This seems like it should be on the radar of anyone who dug the Nintendo 64 or PlayStation 1 era of platformers. But the bonus is now, with modern technology, we've got a frog-themed grappling gun. Molegato's game seems both adorable and pretty interesting for platformer fans.

Check out the demo here.

WrestleQuest

I'm sorry, did you think I'd write a whole Steam Next Fest demo roundup and not include wrestling RPG WrestleQuest? I was pretty surprised and entertained by the demo I played at PAX East 2022. Mega Cat Studios is combining the world of wrestling with action figures and Super Mario RPG-style combat for something that, somehow, works. Works pretty darn well, actually. Pump up the hype and pin some fools (or be pinned, if need-be) in RPG fashion.

Find the demo here.

Those are all the games I'm keeping an eye on and checking out. But if you've got any cool demos you like from the Steam Next Fest, please shout them out in the comments! Summer showcases are always a landslide of info, but these demo fests are a really great opportunity to test the waters, expand horizons, and add some cool new indie projects to your Steam wishlist.

The post Steam Next Fest: 12 cool demos you should try out appeared first on Destructoid.

Some of the coolest upcoming games we saw at the show

PAX East 2022 was a strange one. It was my first time attending the show since the pandemic shuttered in-person conventions. And it was nice, getting to see old friends, new faces, and plenty of interesting indie games in Boston again.

Throughout my four days, I wandered the show floor, checking out plenty of games along the way. And to be clear, I didn't see everything. Despite best efforts and a slimmer-than-usual year, there was still plenty on the floor I never got a chance to check out.

But among the list of what I did see, a few in particular stood out. So without further ado, here are some games worth keeping an eye on from PAX East 2022.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyhz-HBx9wI

Lucid

Take a little bit of every platformer you've dug in the past, mix it together, and you're somewhere in the ballpark of Lucid. It's got a little Celeste and Metroid, plus some time-trial speedrunning influence, and a Hyper Light Drifter-adjacent style.

But comparisons don't really do justice to seeing it in motion. It ties this all together into a game that, even in a behind-closed-screens hands-off demo, looked tight and fast. This small indie project was one of my favorites of the weekend, and though I only saw a little slice, I'm incredibly interested in seeing what developer Eric Manahan has in store for the future.

Find it on Steam here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h66fgPv1EnM

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge

What more do I need to say? TMNT: Shredder's Revenge turned out exactly as I'd hoped it would. It's energetic, upbeat, easy to pick up and a blast to master.

It's full of charm, the way you'd want a Saturday morning brawler to play. The turtles, Splinter, and April all feel unique and worth swapping around the roster to check out. I'm glad this retro brawler is shaping up so well.

Find it on Steam here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avX_SrXRyTk

Cursed to Golf

Someone in the comments section of my preview asked why so many indies are tackling golf in particular. It's been a few days since, and I feel like Cursed to Golf provides the answer.

Golf itself is a malleable sport. You have clubs, a ball, and a hole you have to whack the ball into. Everything in-between is completely up to the designer; the course can take whatever twists and turns it wants. Cursed to Golf does just that, turning a grand ol' game of golf into a platforming, puzzle-solving, route-planning roguelike full of challenge and fun characters. It's a clever reinterpretation in the vein of Golf Story and What the Golf, and worth keeping an eye on.

Find it on Steam, with a demo, here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxvpJ1g54sY

Signalis

The demo I tried out at PAX East 2022 was actually the same one I played last year, so I don't have much new to report on the Signalis front.

That is also an incredibly good thing, as I was more than happy to play that excellent demo again and still be just as excited for the full game. This lo-fi, sci-fi survival horror with classic Resident Evil vibes is high on my watchlist. If you like horror of the technologic, extraterrestrial variety, don't let Signalis slip by.

Find it on Steam here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlwimDp1eqw

Cult of the Lamb

This was one of the big surprises for me. Not because I wasn't aware of Cult of the Lamb; I'd seen it pop up in showcases and trailers. But I did not think I was the target demographic for this one.

Behind the admittedly fun contrast of cute and grim, beyond the roguelite action, there's a base-building management side that captured my attention. Building a cult means building, after all. And I'm very eager to build my own adorable animal following when Cult of the Lamb finally drops.

Find it on Steam here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJQjQ-nfJRY

Lego Bricktales

Few games have captured my childhood like Lego Bricktales, a game about physics and Lego bricks in equal measure. It's a fun adventure through a dioramic world that lets you problem-solve with batches of plastic bricks.

Snap them together, then send across the robot and see if it holds. It's a surprisingly simple concept that works very, very well in the world of Lego. Keep an eye on Bricktales if you want more hands-on building in your virtual Lego experiences.

Find it on Steam here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYPSoSsOCrU

Rusted Moss

I managed to catch a spot on the Rusted Moss set-up in the PAX Rising area between appointments, which was a surprise in and of itself. It garnered quite the crowd there, and after playing some, it's easy to see why.

Rusted Moss has elements of bullet hell, Metroid, Contra, and even Bionic Commando. It looks great, feels great to play, and swinging across gaps with my barrel blazing down on enemies felt incredible. It ticks an incredible number of boxes and, even in a short demo, made a long-lasting impression.

Find it on Steam, with a demo, here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNsmLahKQE4

Potionomics

The way Potionomics mixes multiple genres I really enjoy together into one cohesive brew is pretty astounding. Sell potions to meet people, date those people, get their cards, and haggle better at the store. Build decks, seek rarer ingredients, and meet the needs of a town full of adventurers and mysteries.

Throw in a dash of quite excellent character design and animation, and Potionomics seems to be coming together quite well. I'm excited to mix, socialize, and sell later on this year.

Find it on Steam here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMotjq4Dltg

Demon Throttle

The pitch for Demon Throttle is pretty different from your usual game. It's a physical-only game, for the Nintendo Switch. And while I'm cautious on the approach, I do admit, it's a pretty fun game to play.

Demon Throttle is a pretty tough top-down shooter for two (or one person with character switching). It's got some RPG elements in the mix, and a lot of fun jokes. The pair of heroes seek revenge against a demon: the vampiress because it took her chalices, and the gunslinger because it slept with his wife. It's funny, very retro, and very fun. My one worry is more folks won't be able to play it, as it's currently sold out on the site. Hopefully manufacturing doesn't get in the way of a good time with Demon Throttle.

Update: Developer Doinksoft has reached out to clarify that pre-orders are currently capped to let the manufacturer know how much to make in the initial run. The game will start shipping in "July or August," and during that time, sales are expected to re-open. Their intention, Doinksoft says, is to ensure Demon Throttle is "continuously available" to buy after launch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXQMkQ71F_M

WrestleQuest

Wrestling and RPGs turn out to be an incredible mix in WrestleQuest. At first glance, it's easy to get taken in by the pixel art and turn-based battles where several fighters are duking it out in the ring.

Show up for that, but stay for the surprisingly good storytelling and tackling of darker subject matter. The narrative in this isn't pulling punches, and it's got a star-studded lineup of wrestling legends to boot.

Find it on Steam here.

And one last note, special PAX East 2022 shoutouts to Match Point, a four-player competitive Pong-alike that's already out and was extremely fun to play; and Tough Love Arena, a free-to-play browser-based fighting game. They're both already released, but very much worth your time.

_{This article has been updated to clarify Doinksoft's manufacturing plans for Demon Throttle.}

The post PAX East 2022: 10 of our favorites from this year’s show appeared first on Destructoid.

Wrestling and turn-based battles make for a surprisingly good combination

The world of wrestling is filled with starry ideals and crushing defeats. The in-ring athletics and backstage politics form a theater that's all its own, wrapped up in layers upon layers of performance and genuine moments. With WrestleQuest, Mega Cat Studios wraps all of that up and puts it into an RPG.

I got some hands-on time with WrestleQuest at PAX East 2022, where I got to see how this combination plays out. The story follows several wrestlers, with two in particular taking the lead. They live in the toybox world where everyone is into wrestling in some fashion. The idealistic Randy "Muchacho Man" Santos believes in the ring, working to achieve his goals with his own two hands. Meanwhile, Brink Logan is a jobber; he takes the fall for other wrestlers, buying into the world in hopes that his dedication will pay off.

Through these two lenses, I got to see the world Mega Cat is creating for WrestleQuest. And so far, I'm very intrigued.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXQMkQ71F_M

RPG rumble

To be clear up-front, I'm not an avid wrestling fan. I've watched a few of the big shows, and it's really hard to exist in this industry without knowing at least a bit about wrestling. I've even played a pretty decent number of wrestling games, though those have struggled to give me what I want out of a virtual wrestling experience.

WrestleQuest feels like the answer. It's about the world of wrestling, in RPG form. Turn-based battles act out the matches, as your party of wrestlers can choose between basic strikes or a variety of moves, ranging from simple grapples to high-flying stunts or more.

The battle system itself feels very similar to Mario RPGs, like Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, or even more recently Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Pick an action from a menu and act it out, and hit the quick-time button prompt for a follow-up. Sometimes enemies will get sent to the ropes, allowing a chance for a follow-up. You can also get blasted back, and hit the button prompt for a recovery.

Wrestling mechanics still seep into the battle system in the form of pins. While knocking a character out is an option, so is a pin. Once an enemy has taken enough damage, they drop to the ground, allowing the player to attempt to pin them. It's the classic chase bar, where the pinner has to try and stop a moving arrow on the fleeing bar representing the pinned. Nail it three times, and they're out; mess it up, and they pop back up with some extra health.

What gets really cool is how actual wrestling story plays into these matches. In one tag-team rumble, my manager wanted me to lose, and wanted it to look heroic for the other guys. So I had to complete a certain set of objectives, like pinning someone and failing to secure it, to "win."

A wider world

It's ideas like this that really jumped out at me. WrestleQuest seems set to grapple with the realities of wrestling, and not just the exciting acrobatics and feats of strength. One of the developers described a later quest to me where a wrestler is found all busted-up.

After finding his tag-team partner for help, the player finds out the partner wants the injured wrestler to use glue—the toybox equivalent of steroids. And in this moment, you'll be able to decide whether to endorse this or say it's better to succeed without it. Not only does this count towards your status as a "face" (hero) or "heel" (villain), it also provides some interesting insight into what Mega Cat is grappling with for story.

WrestleQuest can actually deal with discussions of staged matches and "kayfabe." It can have a character who is wide-eyed and believes in real victories, while another is a jaded brawler who's constantly used as a stepping stone for others. It can dig into complex topics because it doesn't necessarily have to be the front-facing game for a wrestling program.

Bringing the action to action figures

It helps, with darker material, that the world itself is all action figures. And lighthearted contrast isn't the only way WrestleQuest uses the setting. It also really chases the idea of playing with wrestling figures, the same way one might have when they were younger.

A kid might not have had a full lineup of every WWE wrestler. So maybe instead of two wrestlers rumbling, maybe it's Macho Man versus a Gundam in a business suit. Or a giant lizard. It's a world made up of toys, not just toy wrestlers.

Speaking of, plenty of big names are signed onto the project. Jake the Snake Roberts, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, and Andre the Giant are all set to appear. Jeff Jarrett has been consulting on the game, even.

For those who want something a bit different out of their virtual wrestling, WrestleQuest genuinely seems like the answer. Even those who haven't been interested in the idea before, might get interested now. It reminded me of how Golf Story got so many folks into the sport, even though they'd never go near a PGA Tour.

You can wishlist WrestleQuest on Steam here. No release date's been set just yet.

The post PAX: WrestleQuest finds a beautiful harmony between RPG and pro wrestling appeared first on Destructoid.