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Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes del Ring review: Suicide dive
Wrestling fans are a forgiving bunch. We excuse the industry's numerous problems -- the high mortality rate, intelligence-insulting storylines, John Cena -- whenever two guys do a really good job of not actually hurting each other. As long as a match is exciting, with consistent psychology, believable near-falls and a well-told story, nothing else matters. It's the same with wrestling video games; they're only as good as the matches they let you experience, which means Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes del Ring translates to "no bueno." %Gallery-90096%
Wii version of Lucha Libre AAA delayed
Publisher Slang has put the Wii release of its wrestling game Lucha Libre AAA in a sleeper hold. Formerly set to be released on October 12 (a date that already represented a delay) alongside the PS3, Xbox 360 and DSiWare games, the Wii version has been pushed "into the November 2010 timeframe." Slang CEO Abraham Bautista said, "The slight delay will help to ensure that the game will provide fans with the best possible experience mixing the sport's rich tradition and over-the-top action with a fantastic arcade combat style." More disappointing is the fact that the pre-order bonus for all versions, a real luchador mask, will no longer be offered due to safety certification concerns. Slang is working to figure out a replacement bonus, but it's not a wrestling mask -- so it's guaranteed to be disappointing.
Lucha Libre delayed, new release date pinned down in October
Originally set for release on August 9, Slang's Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes of the Ring has been delayed until October 12, 2010 on PS3, Xbox, Wii and DSiWare, with the PSP version launching at an unspecified later date. While additional development time was cited as one reason for the delay, the announcement primarily frames the release bump as a marketing strategy. "Based on the positive feedback we received at the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo we decided to push the launch of Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes del Ring closer to the upcoming holiday shopping season," Slang president Abraham Batista said. "The additional time provides us with several key benefits, including the ability to market to a larger audience, build greater street buzz with consumers and continue the development cycle." Of course, given the October release date, we believe the "holiday shopping season" to which Batista refers is Halloween. What better time for a game about masked men? %Gallery-90096%
And the winner of the Lucha Libre AAA boxart battle is ...
... Dr. Wagner! Take note, budding luchadores: you have to engage the crowd. The doc bested three other masked men this afternoon in a wrestling ring plunked down on the E3 show floor to "achieve immortality" on the Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes of the Ring game cover. Check out the highlights from the four-man free-for-all in the gallery below. %Gallery-95583%
Hands-on: Lucha Libre: AAA Heroes of the Ring
Konami is no stranger to the stranger side of wrestling games. After all, it was the company that brought us the all-girl Rumble Roses. Now it has picked up publishing rights to Lucha Libre: AAA Heroes of the Ring, which delves into the wild world of the Mexican luchadores and their masked in-ring antics. Playing an early build of the game at last week's Konami Gamers Night, I couldn't help but notice that, underneath all of the focus being placed on the type of wrestling going on, the game itself already feels like a competent wrestling title. I had a chance to enter the ring one-on-one against another human opponent and what followed was a well-paced match, albeit not the most exciting to look at -- but only because we were both just learning the ropes. %Gallery-90096%
Lucha libre game coming to America
If your thirst for over-the-top brawling wasn't quite quenched by UFC 2009: Undisputed, perhaps you should turn your attention to a fighting style with a bit more Latin flavor -- we speak, of course, of the divine art of Lucha libre, featured in the new project from young publisher Slang, titled AAA: El Videojuego (that's Spanish for "the video game," dontchaknow). The debut trailer for the game is posted after the jump. The game's being developed for Xbox 360 and PS3 by Immersion Software and for Wii, PSP and DS by Argentine developer Sabarasa Studios. The 360 and PS3 versions are due out in late 2009 or early 2010, with all others following shortly thereafter. The game focuses on the action and the stars of the AAA wrestling league -- our personal favorite is La Parka, who's known for his Flying Eagle Kick maneuver, as well as his proclivity for delivering cans of gasoline to stranded motorists.
Six new Luchador-tastic Champions Online screens
There are a vast array of costumes a person can create in Champions Online, but why would anyone want to be anything other than the majestic super Luchador? We ask you this in earnest: Could you knowing not create a superpowered practitioner of lucha libre? Certainly not, although there are other options beyond the inescapably amazing power of the mysterious masked liberator of the people.For instance, you could make an... um, Japanese animation inspired robot? A robotic Luchador! All right, that didn't work for us -- but maybe you can overcome our insatiable need to don a glammored mask and cape.Check out the gallery if you need some creative inspiration, or just want to make googely eyes are pretty, shiny screenshots.%Gallery-17946%
Virtua Fighter 5 only for PS3 next spring
There was a time when Virtua Fighter 5 was considered a strong candidate for an arcade port to the Xbox 360, but that multiplatform hope's been dashed with the official announcement that VF5 will appear only on PS3 in the spring of 2007. Sega's technical fighter is a Sony exclusive once more.While home-console online play remains doubtful at this point, next-gen PlayStation owners can now securely look forward to facing off as El Blaze and Eileen (the new luchador and monkey kung-fu artist, respectively) along with the other 15 fighters, decked out in all sorts of items purchased in the in-game store with prize money earned through in-game matches.VF5 will support up to 720p HD resolution and will be featured in game footage in the SEGA booth at E3 (South Hall, Booth #946) later this week.[Thanks, Matt; also via Joystiq]
Virtua Fighter 5 a PS3 exclusive
Sega has announced Virtua Fighter 5 exclusively for the PlayStation 3. The newest installment in the franchise will feature 15 returning fighters, along with two newcomers, Eileen (monkey kung-fu) and El Blaze (lucha libre). Sega did not confirm online multiplayer support, but did reveal a new game concept where players earn virtual currency for winning matches. The money can then be used to purchase goodies at an in-game shop, which will include costumes and "attachable items."Virtua Fighter 5 is due out next spring.
