For most American wrestling fans, the Raw vs. SmackDown! series is pretty much the only option out there as far as quality wrestling games go.   For those who want a different kind of wrestling experience, however, a look through the used Game Boy Advance section of your local game store might be worth the effort.  That’s because you might be lucky enough to find a copy of Fire Pro Wrestling.  

For those that don’t know, Fire Pro Wrestling has a history in Japan that stretches all the way back to the TurboGrafX 16, though only the GBA and PS2 have seen American releases.  Shunning modern conventions like licensed wrestlers, 3D graphics and tolerable music, Fire Pro has stuck to its formula of stripped down, 2D sprite-based action and an incredibly deep and challenging wrestling engine.  This combination works perfectly on the GBA, allowing for some of the most thrilling and dramatic matches ever seen in a wrestling game.  While the mechanics aren’t as complex as those seen in the WWE games, there is a level of depth that the American titles can’t match.  The heart and soul of the gameplay is the grappling system.  Rewarding split-second timing over button mashing, FPW requires you to decide your move and hit the appropriate button combo at the exact second your hands touch your opponent’s hands.  It sounds simple, but facing the enemy AI on higher levels can be extraordinarily challenging, especially with more than two combatants in the ring.  Most every other convention of the wrestling world is present as well, including high flying moves off the turnbuckle, dirty tricks when the ref’s not looking and even blood-spilling weapons.

Just about every match type you can conceive of is playable in FPW 

There are no licensed wrestling companies or superstars, but there are approximations of them and they are all customizable.  The Rock is not in the game, but Joe ”The Salesman” Moricci is.  And with a few quick color swaps and a name change, it’s pretty easy to smell what this guy is cooking. Most of the pre-created wrestlers are from Japanese companies, but there are plenty of Americans as well, ranging from legends like Andre the Giant and Ric Flair to current stars like Matt Hardy and Triple H, and while it’s fun to see these guys in action, the real strength of Fire Pro lies in the creation of your own warrior through the enormously deep customization tool.

After 5 minutes of tweaking, you're ready for the Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin. 

Character customization is so deep and full of options, it can be downright overwhelming to newcomers of the series.  There are no facial contortion options, no slider bars for weight, height or nose length, but the hundreds and hundreds of body part, faces and costume choices available make it possible to create faithful recreations of just about every grappler imaginable.  Besides physical options, you’re also be able to tweak just about every aspect of a wrestler’s behavior, from how long he takes to re-enter the ring to how often he taunts opponents.  The options available really are staggering, especially considering the platform. 

In Japan, these resemble celebrities.  No, seriously. 

Anyone looking for a wrestling title with a different perspective than what they’re used to should check out Fire Pro Wrestling or its sequel, Fire Pro Wrestling 2.  Sure, the graphics are ten years old, the music is just short of unbearable and the box art is atrocious, but for fans with patience and a love of the “science” of pro wrestling, there’s a hell of a lot of content to enjoy here.