RDLee Reviews WWE Legends of Wrestlemania

It seems like everyone has already posted their own reviews or thoughts of THQ's latest effort, WWE Legends of Wrestlemania. Some reviews were negative, some positive. Mine is gonna be mostly positive as I usually don't complain about any wrestling game I get. I want to share with you my thoughts on this game and the chance of DLC coming out down the line.

I got the game on Monday, only one day before release. I noticed that some folks like Aaron Wood, Legend Killer and even James Guttman already got ahold of a copy before I did, which really made me want it even more. Since most of you know I run a game store, its not uncommon for me to have a game usually a week early. Every year since I have been open, we have gotten Smackdown v.s. Raw super early. And anyone that knows me automatically knew that Legends was a game that I would have fought someone to get early. Why am I complaining about when I got the game you may be wondering?

Well, here it is, almost a week later, Do I feel justified after playing the game about my comments above? Should I really have made a big deal about getting it early? Was the Fake Kane really Festus?

The answer to all the above is yes! I love the game!

The second I popped it in, I played my first match of The Big Bossman v.s. The British Bulldog (the father of WWI's own Canadian Bulldog) and I enjoyed every second of it. The nostalga alone made this game worthy of a permanent place in my heart. When I hit that Bossman slam and won the match, I sat back and said this is gonna be a great day in video game history for me!

I see alot of folks complaining about the the graphics being too unrealistic but to be honest, they blew me away, While they are kinda cartoony and rather a little inaccurate, I could care less, When I was growing up the guys looked larger than   life to me, just like the way the game presents them, so I wasn't bothered at all by the exaggerated character models. I know now that Andre the Giant didn't have the body of a greek god statue, but in my mind as a child, He sure did! So I can forgive that well known complaint because I, unlike many others appreciate the fact that this game even happened at all.

The next complaint I read alot about is the lack of characters... They give us 38 legends and the ability to import the SVR roster which ups the count to around 90 characters.... That is fine with me! Sure I would love to have had Randy Savage, Demolition and Razor Ramon, but I also realize that THQ cannot do everything we ask because in this case it's out of their hands. And why is it that no one thinks it's possible that down the line we won't be getting DLC with any of the characters they left out? I think we WILL be getting DLC and I will go ahead and tell you who I believe will be in it..

I think DLC pack number one will include any combination of the following:

Tito Santana

Earthquake

I.R.S.

Bushwackers

Don Muraco

Demolition

Ricky Steamboat

Rick Martel

Marty Jannetty

Maybe even a new manager like Kim Chee or Virgil

Those are my picks of the DLC characters we might get by the end of this year, THQ knows we want more, and according to several unconfirmed sources, a pic of Don Muraco was seen by people a few monthes ago AND a guy from a PS3 website got a tip from the inside that Earthquake will be in the game as DLC.

I also want to touch up on the gameplay, which like TNA iMPACT was easy to pick up and play but slightly harder to master. This game limits you to using only the 4 face buttons on the controllers and often times forces you to go through these God of War type mini games to execute reversals and random wear down holds. I enjoy the fresh feel the game has, as it's not just SVR with a fresh coat of paint on it like most people were expecting. Although I prefer SVR's way of doing finishers and signature moves, I won't kick this game to the curb just because I don't get my way for everything I can imagine.

The negatives to the game are not as bad as everyone is making the out to be, I think that people expected this game to be a SVR clone and when they got something different with a true OLD SCHOOL theme and layout they got upset. The Royal Rumble match features new animations which are a throw back from the old days of the RR bouts and do not feature any grapple moves or finishers... I actually like it, because up until recently, when did a RR consist of anything put punches and kicks anyway? I think it captures the spirit of the Rumble in that era quite well. I was not very happy about the lack of CAL preset moves and entrances. If you create a Razor Ramon or Randy Savage, there is not way to give them their correct finishing manuvers. That is a small negative that I think could be easily fixed with a run of DLC down the line.

The SVR import feature is a highlight of the game. I read that alot of people are unhappy with the fact that you couldn't import the released WWE stars such as Snitsky, Cade and Murdoch... And you cannot import the DLC characters either, I say "big deal" were you really clamoring to have a Boogeyman v.s. Greg Valentine match? Just be happy that they even added that cool feature at all. lol.

Now to finish up my thoughts and review of the game, I just have to mention that for me, a wrestling fan since I was a baby, That this game fires on all cylinders. The second I went thru the Relive matches and got to the WM6 bout between Warrior and Hogan, I knew this game was worth every penny. It also gave me the easiest 1000 point achievements I have achieved in a while which is also good. The replay value is good for those of you who are like me, a hardcore fan that loves old school through and through.

Sure there are a few things that can be added, or fixed to make this game perfect but really, how many games have played in your lifetime that are "perfect"? I hope you at least pick up this game as a rental and try it out if you are unsure of if you would like it.

Welcome to the latest edition of "RDLee Free Insanity"... This one might be the biggest and best one yet!  It will be hard to top this one...

J oining me today is a man, who needs no introduction, he is the man behind the curtain at worldwrestlinginsanity.com and RDLee is about to tear that curtain down! My guest is the writer of the recently released book Shoot Now, Ask Questions Later", he is founder of Worldwrestlinginsanity.com and ClubWWI.com, he is the only known hero of Chuck Norris... some people call him "JG", some people call him "Smitty" for some reason, but I call him Mr. James "Friggin" Guttman!!!

RDLee: Thanks for joining me today "JG" or James Guttman, if that even is your real name...

JG: Of course. Because when thinking up a snazzy and slick fake name, "Guttman" is the natural choice.

RDLee: So first things first, why don't you tell all your fans out there what's going on in the world of James Guttman these days?

JG: In my world, I have x-ray vision and change into InsanityMan at night – to fight the forces of evil. All of that was supposed to be a secret, but you asked. So there. I'm a superhero. Now I have to kill you, I think.

RDLee: Obviously after writing 2 successful books now adored by many, do you feel like you're a bit of a celebrity yourself now?

JG: Well, I drink pretty heavily and wear sunglasses all the time. Other than that, I'm the same person.

Oh, I also bought a dead horse and had a taxidermist stuff him with gold coins. It's displayed in my sitting room. Other than that though, I'm the same person.

Well, there's also the people I pay to draw my bath and fan me dry. But I had them before the books…

RDLee: Following up on the last question, has anyone famous asked for your autograph besides me? (Which I sent you mine in return)

JG: So everyone here knows that you're not kidding – that story's true. I make it a point to never sign books for people in the industry unless they ask me to. A few of them have and that was pretty awesome. 

RDLee: What are the chances of completing the trilogy? And would you consider making the third one (if it happens) a picture book with nothing but the super funny pictures included with each edition of JG's Raw Insanity?

JG: Just the super funny ones? A three page book?! HAHAHAHAHA! Ah. Ahhhh.

I don't know about a third, but like they say, "Anything can happen in the World Wrestling Federation."

Although that doesn't really apply here. Definite maybe, Randy.

RDLee: I understand that out of the over 100 guests you have had on Radio Free Insanity that Ole Anderson set the bar for most bitter of all the guests so far. Why do you think he elected to do the interview in the first place then?

JG: I think for Ole, it was a fun conversation. You roll with the personalities. That's the funny thing about him. While he was gruff and, well, nuts for a lot of it, he never seemed angry. I would imagine anyone else my age that tried to have a 40-something minute discussion with him would deal with the same thing. In fact, the biggest chunk of that interview that people bring up – and is transcribed in the book – started based on him having the same conversation with a kid he works out with. I feel really bad for that kid. At least I was on the phone.

RDLee: Is there anyone out there that you haven't gotten to interview yet that you won't stop pursuing until you get them on RFI?

JG: Initially, it was Sean Mooney. That one took years. After that, it was Dangerous Danny Davis – which finally came true last month. At this point, I'd say either Giant Gonzalez or Nailz. I'm not kidding either. So if you know where they are – send 'em my way.

RDLee: In your opinion, now that Koko B. Ware is in the Hall of Fame, does that mean Mike Adamle or Beaver Cleavage have a chance now too?

JG: Yes. It means that you have a chance too. We all do. 

To be honest, I sort of liked Koko until he did that mult-colored hair deal. That hairdye was definitely his jump-the-shark moment. Once he put on the High Energy pants, it was all over.

RDLee: On the Insanity message boards there has been a legendary war going on between Canadian Bulldog and Aaron Wood for quite a while now, what are your thoughts on this rivalry? And who are you secretly rooting for?

JG: Harry Smith is on our message boards? I don't know who the other guy you mentioned is.

RDLee: Since we both know Mike Rickard is our official wrestling historian, is there anyone out there that can match his knowledge in your opinion? Yourself maybe? And would you be willing to have a wrestling trivia faceoff on a future audio against him?

JG: Sure. There's a strong chance that I'll just remain silent during my portions of the audio. Then, after it ends, I'll go to Wikipedia and then dub my answers in afterwards.

In fact, I’m on Wiki right now. Hey! I was the Black Scorpion?!

RDLee: With Zah on hiatus, and Matt Dawgs filling in on fridays, how much exactly are you paying Matt to do the column? More than you pay Crazy Uncle Ralph?

JG: No one pays Uncle Ralph. He's actually well-off enough that he doesn't need money. How? I have no idea. He's never had a job, but he has tons of money. When I ask him how, he laughs and says "Pimpin', bitch!" I'm starting to think it's not a joke. One time he called me at 2am to see if I wanted to come over and slap someone around. It's an adventure every day.

As for what I pay Matt Dawgs, that's between me, him, and the good people at Purina Dawg Chow.

RDLee: What would go down if you had both Uncle Ralph and Ole Anderson on a 3:10 (To Yuma?) audio countdown?

JG: What would we countdown? Top Ten Guesses As To What Ole Anderson Made In 1983?

If that ever happened, I'd let someone else host it. Bob Uecker maybe?

RDLee: I've always wanted to ask, "Yo Guttman, What's The Ish?".... so what is the ish?

JG: It's about 20 bucks a gram.

RDLee: Finally, turning the tables on you, if you could work with anyone, may it be someone you never crossed paths with or someone currently out there that you think you could make good money with, who would it be and why?

JG: If it's someone to interview, I'd say Brian Pillman. That ECW arena debut speech was one of the greatest things ever in wrestling. He walked into the center of the Lion's Den and stuck is thumb in the collective eye of that "tough audience." He was just a tremendous talker and I would have loved to hear his theories on the wrestling business.

If it someone I could make money with, I'd pick Blackjack Mulligan. 

Haha. Google that one.

RDLee: James, any last words to all the little and big Guttmaniacs out there?

JG: Tell your girl to stop paging me.

RDLee: JG, I would like to say thanks for joining me today on the number 2 rated RFI aka "RDLee Free Insanity"

I actually think you're number three. Don't forget about the Ric Flair Interview-o-Rama.