Legends of Wrestling II

Legends of Wrestling II has arrived on the Game Boy Advance with a huge list of ring warriors from pro wrestling's glorious past.

Masters of the Mat

It takes more than bulging muscles and spandex to make a legend, although they're a pretty good start. It also takes charisma and style, characteristics that are shared by all 40 wrestlers in Legends of Wrestling II. Top names include Hulk Hogan, Andre The Giant, and Rowdy Roddy Piper.

The menus and controls will feel similar to the Nintendo GameCube version of the same game. You can strike your opponent with a variety of attacks, but the real action begins when you grapple. Once you have entered a grapple, the brutal moves begin, including body slams, submission holds and the dreaded Back Breaker.

Reversals and Combos are all performed by a well-timed button press when a special icon appears below your health meter. There are special moves to learn for each wrestler, but only dedicated players will be able to distinguish them. The combination of timing and quick button presses gives Legends of Wrestling II an arcadey feel typical of hand-held wrestling games.

Game Modes

Select Exhibition Mode to leap into the squared circle with any unlocked wrestler. In this mode, you can play a standard Versus Match or opt for a Tag Team, 3-Way Dance or 4-Way Dance. There is no multiplayer support, so all rivals will be CPU-controlled.

The action can get quite hectic when wrangling with multiple computer opponents, but you can switch the focus of your gladiatorial attentions with a tap of the L Button.

In Career Mode choose a region to compete in, then win matches to gain popularity. After earning and defending several regional belts you can compete for the fictional World Belt. In this mode you will be faced with all types of matches. If you become champion you will unlock a new wrestler for use in any mode.

In Tournament Mode, choose from Versus or Tag Team, then battle your way to the top of the ladder. You can choose from three difficulty levels.

Trivia-obsessed wrestling fans will want to scrutinize the electronic cards with key statistics for each unlocked wrestler. Once you complete Career Mode with a wrestler, a bio will also appear on his card. Did you know that Bam Bam Bigelow hails from Bruce Springsteen's hometown of Asbury Park, N.J.?

A two-fisted blast from the past, Legends of Wrestling II lets you live out your wrestling dreams with the champions of yesteryear.

Last updated on 10 December 2007