Ultimate Muscle: Legends vs. New Generation

Little rubber toys become cel-shaded wrestlers in this grappler by veteran wrestling developer AKI.

A cel-shaded wrestling game based on an anime based on tiny collectible rubber eraser?lookin? figures from the past? Sure, why not?! Add Ultimate Muscle to the growing list (two, at last count) of wrestling games for people who don?t normally like wrestling games. It boasts a fun engine, endearingly weird characters, and funny voices and sound effects, but lacks a few key customization options that keep it from becoming the ultimate champ.

Ultimate Muscle is developed by AKI (Def Jam Vendetta), an elite developer that had its heyday back in the N64 era. Lots of AKI touches are here (the dynamic camera angles, fast moves, the wrestlers? Final Fantasy Summon?like ultimate moves, and the way the wrestlers sell the pain), but the fighting system is definitely a bit simpler. Some wrestlers are faster and others are slower, and some are better grapplers than others. Ultimately, though, once you know one character, you know them all?meaning Ultimate Muscle is easy to learn, but quick to get old. Some collision-detection problems make the graphics unconvincing as wrestlers? holds frequently clip through their opponents? bodies.

Ultimate Muscle?s Story mode is fun, enabling you to unlock a web of new characters as you play through each wrestler?s weird little tale; the create-a-wrestler feature, however, isn?t nearly as robust as THQ?s WWE games? Ultimate Muscle?s is just a mix-n-match-a-thon of 20 whacked-out coconut heads and funny naming options?but hey, at least it?s there. While Ultimate Muscle isn?t as good a wrestler as Def Jam, it?s equally absurd in its own happy way?another solid, simple, and fun alternative to the WWE juggernaut.

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