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FIRE PRO WRESTLING WORLD
review | PLAYSTATION 4
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Publisher: Spike Chunsoft.
Developer: ZEX Corporation. Released: September 2018 (Europe). Genre: Wrestling. Other versions: PC. Posted 10th August 2026. By Shane Battams © 2026 |
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Fire Pro remains one of the longest-running series of wrestling games, seeing its first entry on the PC Engine in 1989. However, most gamers outside Japan will be unfamiliar with the name, as the series has largely remained exclusive to its homeland. The first entry to receive an English release wouldn’t launch until 2001 with the Game Boy Advance entry, with a PS2 sequel and Xbox Live Arcade entry also seeing a release in Europe. So, Fire Pro Wrestling World marks a notable excursion to Gaijin territories, and even brings the New Japan Pro Wrestling license with it. But was it worth the wait?
Wrestling World marks a return to form. The previous entry earned scorn from critics and fans alike for being overly simplistic and a far cry from previous entries. Returning to an isometric perspective, players can perform strikes, though a majority of the action comes from the grappling system. As two wrestlers come together, you enter a tie-up stance whereby pushing a button along with a directional input performs a move. This can be tricky at first, as it requires precisely timed inputs that, if missed, see you being countered or grappled, but it’s gratifying once you figure it out. Each wrestler has signature moves and finishers, and you have to manage stamina, as using big moves in quick succession tires your wrestler. Aerial offence can be performed from the top rope or outside the ring, weapons can be utilised, and pins and submissions can end the match, while mashing buttons helps you kick out or break free of holds.
A connoisseur's dream: FPWW offers an enormous array of customisation and match types, meaning its perfect for dedicated followers
It’s a deep experience, and also a rewarding one, as beating the AI on harder settings requires balancing moves with resting. Each bout offers an evaluation upon completion, adding a further layer to matches. You can of course pummel foes into paste, but your rating will be low. Instead, contests demand a mix of the elements that make wrestling great. Back-and-forth action, counters, aerial spots, outside brawling, weapon usage and blood all increase your percentage, while longer matches also result in better scores. This often plays a key role in Mission mode, a series of more than 50 challenges with specific objectives to complete. Whether it’s earning a certain score, beating opponents with specific moves, or simply beating tough odds, it’s a fun sequence of missions that offers some tutelage before scaling into tricky trials such as 3-on-1 handicap matches. Earning the S Rank with higher scores is even tougher, but new moves for creation modes certainly prove a just reward.
Outside of your own creations, the roster features a mix of original wrestlers and just shy of 40 stars from New Japan Pro Wrestling. Some may notice a few missing, but stars such as Kenny Omega, Tanahashi, and Okada are present and playable. They have a big presence in Fighting Road, an expansive single-player experience that mixes visual novel segments with grappling. As your custom character, training includes a brief foreign excursion with those original wrestlers from the Spike Wrestling Association, before returning to Japan. Dialogue options align players with one of four factions, including the Okada-led Chaos, and it changes the story branch along with your victories and losses. There’s a ton to uncover, with an initial finish rewarding only 17% of the scenario, which itself took far more than 10 hours. Between this, the mission mode and customisation galore, it’s a fully-featured wrestling game.
Outside of your own creations, the roster features a mix of original wrestlers and just shy of 40 stars from New Japan Pro Wrestling. Some may notice a few missing, but stars such as Kenny Omega, Tanahashi, and Okada are present and playable. They have a big presence in Fighting Road, an expansive single-player experience that mixes visual novel segments with grappling. As your custom character, training includes a brief foreign excursion with those original wrestlers from the Spike Wrestling Association, before returning to Japan. Dialogue options align players with one of four factions, including the Okada-led Chaos, and it changes the story branch along with your victories and losses. There’s a ton to uncover, with an initial finish rewarding only 17% of the scenario, which itself took far more than 10 hours. Between this, the mission mode and customisation galore, it’s a fully-featured wrestling game.
FOCAL POINT: CREATE-A-WRESTLING GAME
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Like previous entries, Wrestling World’s assortment of customisation options is staggering. Creating wrestlers offers a gigantic array of options, including parts that resemble classic wrestlers from federations past, such as Vader’s iconic mask. Each part of the body has multiple layers that let you add details to make each wrestler stand out. It’s complex, though handily, you can download wrestlers uploaded by other creators. You can create referees, ring skirts, belts, and even upload MP4s to use as entrance music. It goes even deeper: moves can be renamed, AI can be tweaked so wrestlers act more closely to their real-life counterparts, and even their factions and stables. There’s a ton of match types too, including MMA-style bouts, deathmatches and tournaments, meaning there’s huge scope to the fun you can have with your creations.
There are a few issues that can be levied at FPWW. The isometric perspective, which works well for the most part, occasionally leads to some awkwardness, such as lining up strikes. There are also occasions you’ll notice clipping and AI goofs, such as a wrestler’s head going through the cage or standing in a certain spot causing opponents to stand still. The presentation certainly won’t wow those expecting an upgrade from the PS4, but the 2D characters still have a lot of charm, and quality animations capture the moves well. The entrances are somewhat underwhelming though, feeling a bit static and lacking energy. However, it’s cool to wrestle in both the Sumo Hall and Tokyo Dome at least. The audio is decent, with strikes and moves sounding accurate while voice clips from your wrestlers or the referee are tolerable, despite their frequency during matches. The menu music and a small selection of themes do the job, too.
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Fire Pro Wrestling World might look quaint next to other PS4 wrestling games such as the WWE 2K series, but don’t let its retro appearance fool you. Spike Chunsoft’s return to series tenets results in one of the deepest iterations of the sport you’ll find, with a near-endless supply of customisation options to create your ultimate federation. Handily, matches themselves play a treat, too, despite some foibles breaking the immersion. With a lengthy list of match types, deep single-player modes and online for four players, it’s great value. If you have deep interest in the sport, especially for the minutiae of what makes a classic match, then it’s well worth grabbing.
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VERDICT
"Despite a few foibles, Fire Pro Wrestling World marks a return to form for its series, thanks to a near-endless supply of customisation options, deep modes, and fun gameplay that captures the minutiae of the sport." OVERALL: 8/10 |
OTHER WRESTLING GAMES REVIEWED
WWF Royal Rumble (2000, Dreamcast)
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WWE Smackdown! Shut Your Mouth (2002, PlayStation 2)
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