AEW: Fight Forever is a unique game that caters specifically to fans of the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) franchise and its fans. The game very clearly expects you to be a fan of AEW going in, and this emphasis on the AEW universe may keep the game from resonating with audiences unfamiliar with the wrestling promotion. Fight Forever doesn’t seem to care, however, and caters to its audience unapologetically. If you’re not a fan of AEW, you probably won’t get as much out of this title.
Besides being a love letter for AEW fans, Fight Forever certainly does things its own why, creating a feeling I just haven’t felt in other games in a long time. While the controls might feel strange at first, Fight Forever employs a unique style of arcade fighting that I haven’t seen before. AEW: Fight Forever manages a sort of quirky charm, and with it’s cast of AEW fighters, the personalized wrestler creation, and an outstanding licensed soundtrack that sets it apart from other games in the genre. I can certainly say that AEW fans and newcomers alike are in for something interesting with this one.
One of the standout aspects of AEW: Fight Forever is its departure from the typical fighting game formula. Unlike traditional fighters where the primary objective is to wail on the opponent until their health bar depletes, this game introduces a novel approach more reminiscent of a wrestling match. Instead of focusing solely on inflicting damage, players engage in matches where the aim is to perform impressive moves and gain buffs from stylish combos, grapple opponents, and eventually pin them. Building up a bar through combos allows you to unleash signature moves, which are certainly the big selling point of the matches.
If I’m being totally honest, with plenty of matches into the game I’m still having trouble understanding exactly how the fights work, and I mostly get by with well-timed smacks on the computer. What I can say for sure is that the game feels different to other fighting games, focusing less on perfectly executed combos and insane reflexes and more on flashy fights that make the crowd cheer. This unconventional concept adds an element of showmanship and entertainment, capturing the essence of professional wrestling.
The game’s control scheme might initially confuse players, particularly those accustomed to more straightforward fighting games. AEW: Fight Forever employs a unique control layout that demands a a bit of a learning curve, especially when you’re playing on the keyboard. The amount of unique buttons you need to press in a match based on what moves you’re facing is definitely unorthodox, and I would go as far as to say is unnecessary and a bit absurd.
Where the game is definitely going to lose a lot of fans of wrestling video games is in the graphics. The trend in this genre is to go for as close to real as possible when it comes to graphics, and for a game all about fans playing their favorite wrestlers this makes sense. AEW: Fight Forever however goes for a much lower quality, almost cartoonish look. It certainly isn’t ugly, but it looks better in some places than others. One of the places where it’s the weakest, for some reason, is with the custom wrestler creation.
AEW: Fight Forever allows players to create their own wrestler, an exciting feature for fans that promotes personalization and creative expression. The ability to select your defining movesets and finishing maneuvers is an area where players have considerable freedom to craft a character tailored to their preferences. The game presents a range of special moves to choose from, enabling you to unleash breathtaking and high-flying actions that reflect the AEW style of wrestling.
While the wrestler creation aspect is a great idea, AEW: Fight Forever falls short in terms of visual customization options. The available choices for facial features, hairstyles, and clothing are disappointingly limited, leaving you with a somewhat restricted range of appearances. The game also doesn’t take advantage of its virtual medium, which could have allowed a wider range of clothing and personalization that might be inconvenient in real life, but not so much so as to break the suspension of disbelief. Instead, you’re given a short range of highly generic, unexciting articles of clothing to make your supposed dream wrestler.
This lack of character customization options is definitely my biggest fault with Fight Forever. Although the game compensates for this shortfall with its emphasis on the in-ring action, expanded customization options would have enhanced the overall experience and allowed for more individuality in the player’s wrestler.
One area where AEW: Fight Forever undoubtedly excels is its exceptional soundtrack. The game features a curated selection of licensed music, perfectly capturing the energetic atmosphere of professional wrestling events. The inclusion of popular tracks from various genres adds an additional layer of excitement and authenticity to the gameplay, and frankly just kept my head bobbing as I navigated menus trying to figure out what exactly I was doing. This exceptional use of licensed music allows AEW: Fight Forever to stand out and provides a unique vibe that few other games can replicate.
AEW: Fight Forever caters explicitly to fans of the AEW franchise, offering an experience that I’m sure resonates with their passion for the wrestling promotion. From the inclusion of popular AEW wrestlers and references to storylines, the game immerses players in the world they love. However, the game’s narrow focus on the AEW universe might limit its appeal to those outside the fanbase, as they may find it difficult to connect with the content and fully appreciate the game, as the issues are far more glaring when you’re not a fan of the franchise.
The Final Word
AEW: Fight Forever is undeniably a unique and unconventional game. The game’s charm lies in its distinctiveness, using its captivating licensed soundtrack and departure from traditional gameplay mechanics to make something strange and unique. The unusual control scheme, cartoony graphics, and limited player customization may deter newcomers and those outside of the target audience from picking it up, but the game was made for fans, and for those fans I say go ahead and give it a try.
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Try Hard Guides was provided with a PC review copy of this game. Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles in the Game Reviews section of our website! AEW: Fight Forever is available on Xbox, Playstation, Steam and Nintendo Switch.