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It has been almost three years since AEW announced their debut wrestling title – having done so back at the AEW Games 1.0 Special Event in November 2020 – and having waited patiently since then, the time has now come to jump into the ring with Jon Moxley and the gang. However, rivalling the long-standing WWE 2K series of games is no mean feat, so this game has a big task on its hands.
The first thing to note is that, if you’re looking to get your hands on a hyper-realistic wrestling simulation, then this isn’t it. AEW Fight Forever has opted for a somewhat arcade-style approach, one which gives the nostalgic feel of the WWF titles released in the early 2000s. Less is more, so they say.
Initial impressions are basic and it’s quickly apparent there aren’t a vast array of modes and options to choose from. There are the standard Exhibition Matches, ranging from 1v1 through to 4v4, as well as the Casino Battle Royale, Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match, and Ladder Match.
Each mode had plenty to enjoy, but the Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match – as you may assume, given the name of the mode – was by far the most enjoyable. Again, you must suspend disbelief here because Fight Forever isn’t aiming for realism in the slightest… evidently, once you see the entire ring explode at the end of a two-minute countdown. For that duration, you must avoid touching the explosive barbed wire that surrounds the ring, which is easier said than done.
This is the mode where AEW excels, because it’s so over the top. There’s lots of blood, plenty of slow-motion replays and – unlike the somewhat underwhelming ending seen in the Jon Moxley vs Kenny Omega Death Match back in 2021 – a huge explosion to match. It’s not just the Death Match that brings endless joy when it comes to the outrageous use of weapons too, as there are plenty of tools at your disposal, such as fire extinguishers, wet floor signs, or even exploding gas canisters which will set the ring alight.
However, while the modes AEW offers are enjoyable, there aren’t quite enough options to keep you coming back over and over again – especially if you’re playing solo, as the AI is predictable and easy to overpower when you have momentum on your side. Additionally, the lack of skill involved in attempting to escape a pin fall is underwhelming – you must spam the face buttons on the controller – and equally frustrating as the game offers no indication as to how effective your button bashing has been.
Career Mode – known as Road to the Elite here – is the mode which will excite most players, and it’s also the most realistic offering, though that’s not saying much. The story centres around an AEW star of your choosing, one whom you will take to the top table in the company. It begins with a call from AEW President Tony Khan inviting you to take part in a Casino Battle Royale match, and relies on your decisions to take you to stardom.
For anyone who isn’t an AEW lore expert, the way the game tells the story so far through AEW History clips is a welcome addition. Developer Yuke’s is well aware that plenty of players will experience Fight Forever as existing WWE fans, so this method of catching up on all the important beats is much appreciated – though certainly not required to enjoy the game.
As for the storyline, every decision you make and every match you partake in will lead you down a different route to success. This means that while you may struggle in your first Road to the Elite campaign and take a little longer to get to the top than you may have liked, you can then replay the campaign at a later date and things will pan out differently.
Road to the Elite is all about living the life of a wrestler, so you don’t just jump from one fight to the next. You can go out to dinner, go sightseeing, and spend some dollar on new gear, but none of this is particularly engaging until you encounter the minigames. This is where AEW Fight Forever really embraces its arcade approach, offering you the opportunity to earn extra skill points by partaking in some bizarre games, including gathering casino chips in ‘Chip Gather’, copying the slick moves of Penta in ‘Penta Says’, or channeling your inner Hikaru Shinda by slamming some home runs in ‘Shinda’s Slugfest’.
AEW Fight Forever does an excellent job of ensuring that there is a personal feel to each of the superstars included. And that’s not just in the use of the personalised mini-games, but also in the ring itself. There is a unique feel around each of the wrestlers, all of whom have adopted traits that have made them so popular in the AEW universe.
Fan favourite MJF has the ability to sarcastically beg for mercy mid-fight while the high flyers such as Bryan Danielson and Jeff Hardy can mount the top turnbuckle seamlessly, allowing you to make full use of their skillset from the top rope. But for those who aren’t clued up on the finer details of those available in-game, there is the option to learn the full list of traits for each superstar by heading to the ‘Wrestler Info’ section of the settings menu. This is an important addition for the newer wave of AEW fans, as Yuke’s opted against giving each wrestler an overall rating in the game as you’d find in most other sports titles.
While you can build your own wrestlers, teams and arenas in-game, there isn’t an awful lot of originality when it comes to customisation. Everything here feels rushed and deserves a little more time, though it doesn’t detract from the actual gameplay. While there is enough for some variety in custom wrestlers, AEW has opted for a carbon-copy of what has been available in WWE 2K for years – with additional AEW branded clothing, of course.
As far as elite sporting titles go, AEW Fight Forever isn’t one of them. However, we’re not sure that it wants to be. Fight Forever will provide you with all the nostalgia of the peak PlayStation 2 wrestling scene, whilst allowing AEW fanatics to take to the ring with the biggest and best stars in the business for the very first time. There is room for growth, but the package on offer here is solid, if a little barebones. Provided there will be continued support and updates, this is an excellent foundation which the wrestling community will no doubt appreciate.
