AEW Fight Forever (PS4)
Refunded Purchase and it's a Shame...
This past week saw the release of the long awaited video game debut of wrestling promotion AEW with Fight Forever. I pre-ordered the Elite Edition off the Playstation Store on the premise that some of the DLC wrestlers would be available on launch. Before everything went wrong, let me tell you about what went right.
The opening video package was a nice hello to anyone who may not be familiar with the talent of the roster. It gave a solid intro to the antics of the company and the competitors. Upon finishing the video, I immediately went to the Custom Wrestler mode.
Within 20 minutes, I was able to make as close a version of myself as possible, complete with unique move set that’s believable to my capabilities, ring and entrance gear, my accurate bio, and entrance with music and pyro. The creation is punctuated with a *Your Character* is All Elite graphic.
I dabbled with my avatar in the exhibition mode, going up against Job Silver…I mean, John Silver of the Dark Order. I got to play out the mechanics, which if anyone played the AKI wrestling games for the N64, that muscle memory kicks in almost immediately. Whether it was WCW/nWo Revenge or WWF No Mercy, you know the mechanics as well as the familiar HUD.
One qualm I have with the match options is the lack of elimination modes to three-way and four-way matches. I grew up on ECW and always appreciated the logic behind elimination multi-man matches. A championship should not change hands without the current champion being pinned or submitting. This was the case with Retromania Wrestling. This concept should be the rule and not the exception.
Then, I jumped into the career mode, Road to Elite. Another decent intro video before the cutscene to set up your character. You could play as one of the members of the roster, including Owen Hart (RIP), which makes for an odd time paradox. But, I went as my custom.
You open as a competitor in the Casino Battle Royale. The card I drew put me in the number one spot. Not sure if it’s random, or if you’re put at number one and expected to lose. Yet, I beat the odds and surpassed the other 19 contenders, eliminating Christian Cage to win. My first day as an AEW wrestler, and I already had a title shot.
You go on tour, with each stop giving you some light RPG elements. You can work out, go sightseeing, and enjoy the local cuisine. You’ll run into other wrestlers, some who support you and some who push your buttons. You’ll get to take various photos with the wrestlers at the sights and restaurants. After putting about 5 hours into the game, I turned it off and was looking forward to picking it back up the next night after work.
After the first day, other than some minor glitches, my only complaint was the absence of some wrestlers noted in the Elite Edition blurb. I got FTR, Broken Matt Hardy, and regular Matt Hardy. Yet, no Bunny, Keith Lee, Danhausen, and Hook. Apparently, they would be available when the actual DLC drops, but that’s not what was advertised.
The next day at 5:30 pm, I jumped back on my PS4 and booted up Fight Forever. I check out the challenges to earn some of the in-game currency you earn by just playing the game. No microtransactions?! Whoda thunk it?! I see I can earn some game cash by playing an exhibition match with CM Punk. So I go to play a match with Punk.
I set up the arena and click to start the match. Then it happens. That blue screen that has become the bane of my existence. I’ve seen it a lot with other games, notably Fallout 4. So, I go ahead and restart the game. Cycle through the menus and set up another match. I go to start the match, and the blue screen happens again, and every time after. I kept getting the blue screen.
When a wrestling game doesn’t permit me to have an actual wrestling match, it’s a useless game. It is a waste of my drive space. When I finally figured out the hours for the PlayStation refund customer line, I made a call. I went with the call back option because I’m not staying on the line.
An hour later, I get the call. The gentlemen took the time to hear my issue. I know Sony normally has a no refunds policy after you download the game (try wrapping your head around that, Steam users). But, since the game was not working properly after multiple tries, they gave me my refund: $75 in PSN Credit and 3 dollars back in my bank account.
Will I buy the game again in a month or two and hope they fixed it? Absolutely! With the short time I had the game, I had a lot of fun with it. But, for next time, maybe tell Kenny Omega to sit out cosplaying as a developer and stick to playing video games.
In the meantime, I’ll be playing the games I bought with my refund. I purchased Deathwish Enforcers, an exploitation take on the arcade classic Sunset Riders. In addition, The Testament of Sherlock Holmes. How does it compare to Crimes and Punishment or The Devil’s Daughter? We’ll find out soon enough.
Until next time, this is Mackenzie Lambert. Have a good week folks.