Game: Legends of Wrestling
Publisher: Filsinger Games
Series: Champions of the Galaxy
Reviewer: Bryan Mackrell
Review Dated: 21st, November 2005
Reviewer’s Rating: 10/10 [ Breathtaking ]
Total Score: 11
Average Score: 5.50
Legends of Wrestling is a product of Filsinger Games, a gaming company dedicated to bringing its loyal fans both the distant future of wrestling and helping to preserve the rich history of professional wrestling in the real-world. Mr. Filsinger builds upon his love of professional wrestling and table-top card gaming by bringing hardcore (and even casual) wrestling fans something that has never before been seen in the realm of gaming. Legends of Wrestling uses real-life pro wrestling stars from the past and present (some as far back as the early 1900’s) as playable characters. Each licensed signing was officially Okayed and approved by the wrestler himself or his surviving family members. In fact, a portion of all sales go towards the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, an organization in New York dedicated to preserving the rich history of Professional Wrestling! The basic game comes with everything you need to get started playing. It includes 24 wrestlers (including the Road Warriors, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, Harley Race, the Sandman, and more!), charts to represent when a wrestler gets in to a situation like being thrown in to the ropes, out of the ring, or if his buddies join in the fray! You also get dice, instructions, and the whole package comes in an easy to store and carry case featuring artwork that will remind you of an old time fight card poster, used back in the day!
The game is simple to learn and very fun to play. It can be played alone, with a friend, or in large groups. You are given a collection of wrestler cards (24 in the introductory set) that is a mix of “good guys” and “bad guys” from different eras throughout the history of professional wrestling. You will see stars from the WWF, WCW, ECW, AWA, international stars and much, much more! In multiplayer modes, you could play one on one grudge matches or huge tournaments to crown a league champion! In individual play, you can act as the promoter of your own federation and schedule big fight cards and tournaments. As the slogan says, “It is up to you promoter!”
Matches can range from one on one to tag team to steel cages even! Supplemental editions provide the player with new legends to use in their federations such as Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Ravishing Rick Rude, the Midnight Express, Sabu, and more. Additional supplemental material also provides the players with new match types, referee charts, more complex rules and more.
I personally run my own federation and also use the cards to serve as a change of pace on regular gaming nights. My hardcore AD&D friends loved the cards and remembered a lot of the legends and loved getting to discover the other wrestlers they had never heard of before.
You can recreate old classic feuds or create new ones. You can team up father/son, brother/brother combinations or pit them head to head. You can have the dream matches you have always wanted to see but were never able to until now. I would best describe this game as the Strat-o-matic version of wrestling… only 100 times more fun!
You don’t need to be a hardcore fan of wrestling or even card games to try this game. The price is very affordable and very much worth the enjoyment you will receive in exchange. Mr. Filsinger is a very talented game designer and is very loyal and dedicated to his fans and followers. Filsinger games has built an empire of loyal game fans that post their own homebrewed characters on the internet and share their results through message boards and email. It truly is a way of life or a community, rather than just a game. Give Legends of Wrestling a chance if you have not already!
