Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Power Move Pro Wrestling delivers a robust and varied combat system built around twelve distinct wrestlers, each boasting a unique fighting style, signature moves, and cinematic finishers. Whether you prefer the brawling power of a heavyweight or the lightning-fast tactics of a high-flyer, the roster caters to different playstyles. The core versus mode allows you to face off against the CPU or a friend in split-screen action, capturing the spirit of arcade wrestling in the home.

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Beyond simple one-on-one matches, the game offers multiple specialized modes that extend replayability. The 12-man Gauntlet pits you against wave after wave of opponents, testing endurance and strategy under pressure. Championship mode lets you chart a title run, while League and Tournament modes simulate season-long rivalries or knockout brackets, respectively. Each mode feels distinct, with the ebb and flow of victories and rivalries adding emergent narrative to your playthrough.

Controls are intuitive yet offer depth: grapple, strike, and counter inputs are responsive, allowing for quick reversals when timed correctly. A welcome innovation for its time is the fully rotatable camera, which you can swivel to any angle around the ring. This not only enhances spatial awareness during pins and out-of-bounds brawls but also gives you cinematic replays from every vantage point, injecting a dynamic flair into each match.

Graphics

As one of the first fully 3D wrestling titles on its platform, Power Move Pro Wrestling makes a strong visual statement despite hardware limitations. Character models are blocky by modern standards, yet they breathe life through colorful attire, exaggerated move animations, and distinct ring entrances. Each arena is rendered in polygonal detail, complete with turnbuckle pads and rope sag, offering a tangible sense of space.

The camera system, while innovative, occasionally exposes clipping issues when wrestlers collide at certain angles. Nevertheless, being able to rotate and zoom the view in real time was a breakthrough feature in the genre. Replays capture close-ups of your finisher in crisp detail, and the simple crowd background adds atmosphere, even if the spectators themselves remain largely static.

Textures are modest but serviceable, conveying the shine of sweat, the grain of the ring mat, and the distinctive gear of each competitor. Framerate dips can occur during intense sequences—particularly in four-player matches—but overall performance remains stable. For its era, the game pushes the boundaries of what early 3D hardware could achieve in sports entertainment.

Story

While Power Move Pro Wrestling does not present a traditional narrative with cutscenes or voiced promos, it crafts its own drama through the ebb and flow of tournament play. Each wrestler’s distinct persona—ranging from stoic technicians to boisterous showmen—fuels the tension in every bout. Players imagine rivalries, underdog triumphs, and championship glory as they progress through various modes.

Championship and League modes effectively simulate a season-long arc, complete with rising stakes and escalating challenges. In League mode, you face each opponent in round-robin style, where points and match outcomes tell a story of ascension or heartbreak. The emotional payoff of a hard-fought title win or a narrow defeat becomes the game’s unscripted narrative, driven purely by player performance.

For fans of authentic wrestling lore, the original Japanese release—Shin Nihon Pro-Wrestling: Tōkon Retsuden—shifts the focus to twelve real New Japan Pro-Wrestling stars. While the core gameplay remains unchanged, locking in actual rosters and logos amplifies immersion, giving enthusiasts a taste of genuine pro-wrestling drama without altering the game’s fundamental approach to story crafting.

Overall Experience

Power Move Pro Wrestling stands as a landmark in wrestling game history, offering an accessible yet nuanced combat system that holds up surprisingly well for a late-’90s release. Its pick-up-and-play design makes it ideal for casual sessions, while the depth of modes and unique wrestler arsenals invite longer stays in Championship and Tournament brackets.

Local multiplayer remains the highlight—nothing quite matches the thrill of a friend turning the tide with a perfectly timed finisher after a back-and-forth exchange. The rotating camera, though occasionally prone to awkward angles, gives matches an energetic presentation unmatched by contemporaneous 2D counterparts. Mode variety and unlockable match types ensure you’re never short on challenges or fresh experiences.

While modern wrestling titles boast photorealistic graphics and extensive licensing, Power Move Pro Wrestling retains a nostalgic charm. It captures the raw excitement of arcade wrestling, and its milestone status as an early fully-3D entry grants it a special place on any retro gamer’s shelf. For collectors, genre historians, or anyone curious about the evolution of virtual sports entertainment, this game delivers both historical significance and enduring fun.

Retro Replay Score

6.5/10