Fire Pro World Info: PS4 Version and NJPW DLC 8/28 Worldwide
Jul 17, 2018 0:01:53 GMT
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Post by sofia on Jul 17, 2018 0:01:53 GMT
WHAT IS FIRE PRO WRESTLING?
Glad you asked! Fire Pro Wrestling is a long-running 2D wrestling game series developed and published by Spike Chunsoft (formerly Spike and Human Entertainment). Unlike the licensed titles of its time, both in Japan and worldwide, Fire Pro Wrestling boasted a massive roster spanning all of the major promotions of its time. Furthermore, the individual wrestlers in each game had far more personalized move lists.
As of Super Fire Pro Wrestling 3: Final Bout, the series introduced a mechanic that set it apart from almost everything else on the market, a feature that other games of its time imitated but could never quite improve upon: Edit Wrestlers. Also known these days as Create-a-Wrestlers, Fire Pro popularized the feature, with the option to mix and match heads and palettes to create real-life stars who were omitted from the main roster, or create your own representation of yourself. Wrestler attributes and moves were also able to be picked freely, something that even close imitators like Gekitou Burning Pro Wrestling couldn't replicate.
What sets Fire Pro's creation tool apart from everything else, even to this day, is CPU Logic, which is a percentage-based system of AI programming. Even with the few wrestling games that let you modify AI behavior, nowhere else is it this specific -- or daunting to new users -- than Fire Pro. Once you get the hang of the system, however, it allows for some highly satisfying customization.
WHAT IS FIRE PRO WRESTLING WORLD?
Released on PC as a Steam Early Access title in July of 2017, Fire Pro Wrestling World is the first new game in the Fire Pro series since 2005's Firepro Returns (released in the US in 2007). Featuring a mix of up-scaled graphics from Returns and brand new parts, Fire Pro World was the first game in the series to feature online sharing of player creations, such as their edit wrestlers, referees, and ring logos. It's also the first game in the series with online play, allowing for up to four players at once.
Although Fire Pro World is the first game to omit the series' notorious roster of wrestlers with fake names that sound just different enough to avoid legal action; with the announcement of the Playstation 4 version on January 3, 2018, Fire Pro World is the first game in the series to include the real-life license for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Featuring an initial roster of 39 New Japan stars, referee Red Shoes Unno, and an authentic cerulean mat with brand sponsorships, the New Japan content comes with the PS4 version when it launches on Aug. 9, 2018, in Japan; and Aug. 28 in North America. The PC version of the New Japan content will be available on PC in September for $19.99.
Since Spike Chunsoft has to partner with a different publisher, Koch Media will be releasing Fire Pro on PS4 to the European Union on September 28, 2018.
Besides the real life wrestlers, the New Japan Pro Wrestling collaboration introduces a new mode to the game, Fighting Road -- a multi-path single-player story mode where you rise up the ranks of the New Japan roster, joining one of the company's factions, and eventually making your way to Wrestle Kingdom to challenge your rival to the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Mixing dialogue scenes, traditional fire pro gameplay, and Jikkyou! Powerpro-style life simulation stat management, Fighting Road is designed to be played multiple times over.
HOW DO I GET IT?
Fire Pro Wrestling World is available on Steam right now for $29.99. You can find the store page here! At the moment, there is no price announced for the New Japan Pro Wrestling DLC.
The Playstation 4 version is available for preorder at any brick and mortar game store, as well as from Amazon. In the US, the MSRP will be $49.99. If you order through Amazon Prime, you will also receive a small discount! If you want a digital version of the game, it is officially available on the Playstation Network in the US for $44.99. There is also a preorder option for a Digital Deluxe Edition that includes the season pass, for $79.99 total.
The Japanese version of the game on PS4 is also available for preorder; sites that will ship preordered games globally include play-asia and amiami. If you want a digital version of the game, it is also avaiable for preorder on the Japanese Playstation Network (with a Japanese PSN account). If you do that, there is a Digital Deluxe Version that will automatically give you all the new DLC as it comes out, a price of about 10,000 Japanese Yen before sales tax. If you're especially impatient (and can read Japanese...) this version will be released on August 9, 2018, ahead of the G1 Climax finals!
DLC?! WHAT!?
Spike Chunsoft will be releasing three DLC packs for both the PC and PS4 versions of the game throughout the next several months. No release dates have been announced as of yet.
- Fire Promoter - a business management mode based on Final Fire Pro's Management of the Ring mode. You run a promotion of your choosing and try to become the top company in the world. Suggested Japanese MSRP is approximately 2,000 Yen, or $20 USD. Its expected launch date is Autumn 2018.
- A Junior Heavyweight route for Fighting Road. Few details have been released as of yet, but it will include a number of new wrestlers, including Will Ospreay, Roppongi 3K and Rocky Romero; CMLL luchador Dragon Lee; and ROH/NJPW mainstay Barreta, among others. Its suggested MSRP is 1,500 yen or $15 USD. Per Spike Chunsoft, it is expected to be out before the end of 2018.
- A third DLC pack is announced, but no further details have been confirmed.
The three DLC packs will be made available in a Season Pass for $50. As mentioned earlier, preordering the Digital Deluxe Version of the game on PlayStation Network includes the Season Pass contents in the price tag.
Additionally, since December 2017, the PC version of Fire Pro World has a $2.99 charity DLC that features an official version of wrestler Yoshihiro Takayama; and his infamous Spirit Punch Rush, based on the rapid-fire strike exchange he had with MMA fighter Don Frye in a match for the PRIDE Fighting Circuit. All proceeds go to the TAKAYAMANIA! fund, to assist in the payment of Takayama's hospitalization and rehabilitation fees.
Besides that, game director Tomoyuki Matsumoto says he intends to release regular free content for the game for the next 12 months following the game's PS4 release; including new moves and possibly new match modes.
