WWE All Stars
Encyclopedia
WWE All-Stars is a professional wrestling
video game published by THQ
and developed
by THQ San Diego for the PlayStation 3
and Xbox 360
systems and Subdued Software
for the PlayStation Portable
, Wii
, Nintendo 3DS
and PlayStation 2
systems. The game features current and former WWE wrestlers competing in fast-paced wrestling matches. It was released on March 29, 2011 in North America
and April 1, 2011 in Europe
.
's Attitude Adjustment, in which he leaps high into the air, Triple H
's Pedigree with shock waves running across the ring and Bret Hart
's Sharpshooter with a slow motion smile and finger pointed towards the crowd for a few seconds, prior to the same. The game features present WWE wrestlers such as Kofi Kingston
, Randy Orton
, Triple H
, The Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, Big Show, John Morrison and John Cena and past (WWE/WWF) wrestlers such as The Ultimate Warrior
, Hulk Hogan
, Bret Hart
, Jake the Snake
,Eddie Guerrero
and the "Macho Man" Randy Savage
, as well as commentary from Jim Ross
and Jerry Lawler
, who is also a playable character.
It also features a Path Of Champions mode where players choose a WWE Legend or Superstar to either become the WWE Champion (Randy Orton's Path), the World Heavyweight Champion (Undertaker's Path) or the WWE Tag Team Champions (D-Generation-X's Path)The game also has options for using alternate attires for the WWE superstars from the past and present.
was made at E3
in June 2010 by THQ
, shortly followed by an interview with gaming website GameSpot
.
WWE All Stars is the first WWE game to be produced by THQ San Diego. Many of the team's employees had worked Midway San Diego, the studio that developed the first TNA Impact!
professional wrestling video game. It is the second WWE game produced by video game designer, Sal Divita
, the first being WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game
.
Many DLC
characters were confirmed. Honky Tonk Man
, Dusty Rhodes
and Cody Rhodes were released in March and April 2011. Million Dollar Man
and Ted DiBiase Jr. were included in preordered versions of the game and were released to the public in June. On June 27th THQ announced the release date of the next DLC packs. On July 6, 2011, R-Truth was released for free and the "All-Time Greats" Pack including Chris Jericho
, The Road Warriors
and Jerry Lawler
were also released. On August 2, 2011, the "Southern Charisma" Pack was released, which included Big Boss Man
, Michael Hayes
and Mark Henry
.
On August 30, 2011, THQ announced that the game is coming to the Nintendo 3DS on November 22, 2011 in North America and November 25, 2011 in Europe. The game will get 2 new game modes and all the DLC characters.
GameZone
gave the game a 7.5/10, stating "A fresh branch of World Wrestling Entertainment video games, THQ has done a fantastic job of cherry-picking the best elements of wrestling with some of the most recognizable characters and stars in a visually fantastic package."
XBoxAddict gave the game 86%, stating "This game works to recapture some of that (arcade) magic...and if any game would have ever dethroned Wrestlefest as king of the arcade mountain, this would have stomped a Steve Austin-esque mudhole into that title.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
video game published by THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
and developed
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
by THQ San Diego for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
systems and Subdued Software
Subdued Software
Subdued Software is a video game publisher and developer. They are most famous for developing WWE All-Stars for THQ.- Games :* Battle Chess - Developed by Subdued Software, published by Interplay Entertainment...
for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
, Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
, Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo. The autostereoscopic device is able to project stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or any additional accessories. The Nintendo 3DS features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS series software, including Nintendo DSi software...
and PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
systems. The game features current and former WWE wrestlers competing in fast-paced wrestling matches. It was released on March 29, 2011 in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and April 1, 2011 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Gameplay
In contrast to the simulation-based WWE SmackDown vs. Raw series, WWE All Stars features arcade-style gameplay along with over-the-top animation and wrestlers bearing a more exaggerated look. The game is a combination of a fighting game and a wrestling game, with combos playing a major factor in gameplay, both on the ground and mid-air. Characters will perform exaggerated moves, such as John CenaJohn Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
's Attitude Adjustment, in which he leaps high into the air, Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
's Pedigree with shock waves running across the ring and Bret Hart
Bret Hart
Bret Hart is a Canadian on-screen personality, writer, actor and Semi-retired professional wrestler. Like others in the Hart wrestling family, Hart has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling at Ernest Manning High School and Mount Royal College...
's Sharpshooter with a slow motion smile and finger pointed towards the crowd for a few seconds, prior to the same. The game features present WWE wrestlers such as Kofi Kingston
Kofi Kingston
Kofi Nahaje Sarkodie-Mensah , is a Ghanaian American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Kofi Kingston. He is currently signed to WWE and works on its Raw brand where he is one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions with Evan Bourne as Air Boom...
, Randy Orton
Randy Orton
Randal Keith "Randy" Orton is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE wrestling on its SmackDown brand...
, Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
, The Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, Big Show, John Morrison and John Cena and past (WWE/WWF) wrestlers such as The Ultimate Warrior
Warrior (wrestler)
Also see Warrior .Warrior is an American retired professional wrestler who notably performed under the ring names The Ultimate Warrior and Warrior...
, Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
, Bret Hart
Bret Hart
Bret Hart is a Canadian on-screen personality, writer, actor and Semi-retired professional wrestler. Like others in the Hart wrestling family, Hart has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling at Ernest Manning High School and Mount Royal College...
, Jake the Snake
Jake Roberts
Aurelian Jake Smith, Jr. is a second-generation American professional wrestler, the son of former wrestler Aurelian "Grizzly" Smith...
,Eddie Guerrero
Eddie Guerrero
Eduardo Gory "Eddie" Guerrero was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into the Guerrero wrestling family. He wrestled in Mexico and Japan for several major professional wrestling promotions...
and the "Macho Man" Randy Savage
Randy Savage
Randall Mario Poffo , better known by his ring name "Macho Man" Randy Savage, was an American professional wrestler, best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling .Savage held twenty championships during his professional wrestling career and was a...
, as well as commentary from Jim Ross
Jim Ross
James William "Jim" Ross is a professional wrestling commentator, former professional wrestling referee, restaurateur, occasional wrestler, and former company executive of WWE, where he currently works as a commentator on the WWE Raw brand...
and Jerry Lawler
Jerry Lawler
Jerry O'Neil Lawler is an American professional wrestler, wrestling commentator, musician, businessman, commercial artist and film actor, known throughout the wrestling world as Jerry "The King" Lawler. He is currently signed to WWE, working on its Raw brand as the color commentator and occasional...
, who is also a playable character.
It also features a Path Of Champions mode where players choose a WWE Legend or Superstar to either become the WWE Champion (Randy Orton's Path), the World Heavyweight Champion (Undertaker's Path) or the WWE Tag Team Champions (D-Generation-X's Path)The game also has options for using alternate attires for the WWE superstars from the past and present.
Development
The first official announcement for both WWE All Stars and WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ for the PlayStation 2 , PlayStation 3 , PlayStation Portable , Wii and Xbox 360 systems. It is the seventh game in the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw series and the final game under the SmackDown vs...
was made at E3
Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010, commonly known as E3 2010, was the 16th Electronic Entertainment Expo held. The event took place on June 14–17 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. E3 is an annual trade show for the computer and video games industry presented by the Entertainment Software...
in June 2010 by THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
, shortly followed by an interview with gaming website GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
.
WWE All Stars is the first WWE game to be produced by THQ San Diego. Many of the team's employees had worked Midway San Diego, the studio that developed the first TNA Impact!
TNA iMPACT! (video game)
TNA Impact! is the first video game released by the professional wrestling promotion, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling . The game was developed by Midway Studios in Los Angeles and published by Midway Games...
professional wrestling video game. It is the second WWE game produced by video game designer, Sal Divita
Sal Divita
Sal Divita is a voice actor, martial artist, and video game designer.He is most well known for his portrayal of various characters in the Mortal Kombat series. He portrayed Nightwolf, Cyrax, Sektor, and the cyborg version of Smoke in Mortal Kombat 3, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, and Mortal Kombat...
, the first being WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game
WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game
WWF WrestleMania is a professional wrestling arcade game released by Midway Manufacturing Co. in 1995...
.
Many DLC
Downloadable content
Downloadable content is official additional content for a video game distributed through the Internet. Downloadable content can be of several types, ranging from a single in-game outfit to an entirely new, extensive storyline, similarly to an expansion pack. As such, DLC may add new game modes,...
characters were confirmed. Honky Tonk Man
The Honky Tonk Man
Roy Wayne Farris , better known by his ring name The Honky Tonk Man, is an American professional wrestler. A 1975 graduate from University of Memphis with a B.S. degree in Education. Coached high school football 2 seasons at Munford High School in Munford, Tennessee...
, Dusty Rhodes
Dusty Rhodes
Dusty Rhodes may refer to:*Dusty Rhodes , former head coach of the North Florida Ospreys baseball team*Dusty Rhodes , English association football player...
and Cody Rhodes were released in March and April 2011. Million Dollar Man
Ted DiBiase
Theodore Marvin "Ted" DiBiase, Sr. is a retired professional wrestler, manager, ordained minister and color commentator. DiBiase achieved championship success in a number of wrestling promotions, holding thirty titles during his professional wrestling career...
and Ted DiBiase Jr. were included in preordered versions of the game and were released to the public in June. On June 27th THQ announced the release date of the next DLC packs. On July 6, 2011, R-Truth was released for free and the "All-Time Greats" Pack including Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho
Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer...
, The Road Warriors
Road Warriors
The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team composed of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis. They performed under the name "Road Warriors" in the American Wrestling Association, the National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling, and the name Legion...
and Jerry Lawler
Jerry Lawler
Jerry O'Neil Lawler is an American professional wrestler, wrestling commentator, musician, businessman, commercial artist and film actor, known throughout the wrestling world as Jerry "The King" Lawler. He is currently signed to WWE, working on its Raw brand as the color commentator and occasional...
were also released. On August 2, 2011, the "Southern Charisma" Pack was released, which included Big Boss Man
Ray Traylor
Ray Walter Traylor, Jr. was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Big Boss Man and World Championship Wrestling under various ring names, most notably Big Bubba Rogers.-Early years:Traylor, a prison guard in...
, Michael Hayes
Michael Hayes (wrestler)
Michael Seitz is a retired American professional wrestler and former musician. Seitz is best known for leading The Fabulous Freebirds under the ring name Michael "P.S." Hayes and for his role as the announcer Dok Hendrix in the World Wrestling Federation...
and Mark Henry
Mark Henry
Mark Jerrold Henry is an American professional wrestler signed with WWE, where he performs on its SmackDown brand as the reigning World Heavyweight Champion. He is a 1992 Olympian, and winner of the 2002 Arnold Strongman Classic...
.
On August 30, 2011, THQ announced that the game is coming to the Nintendo 3DS on November 22, 2011 in North America and November 25, 2011 in Europe. The game will get 2 new game modes and all the DLC characters.
Reception
The game has received generally favorable reviews. Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions have an average score of 75 on Metacritic. Many critics were particularly fond of the art design and fast-paced gameplay, with Giant Bomb's Jeff Gerstmann calling it "an exciting game that's entertaining in a way that no wrestling game has been for a generation or more."GameZone
GameZone
GameZone is an American multiplatform video game website. GameZone's daily coverage includes reviews, previews, news, hints & cheats, and editorials. Additionally, GameZone offers downloads, a child-targeted website and in association with GameStop, hosts GZGameShop, an online retailer...
gave the game a 7.5/10, stating "A fresh branch of World Wrestling Entertainment video games, THQ has done a fantastic job of cherry-picking the best elements of wrestling with some of the most recognizable characters and stars in a visually fantastic package."
XBoxAddict gave the game 86%, stating "This game works to recapture some of that (arcade) magic...and if any game would have ever dethroned Wrestlefest as king of the arcade mountain, this would have stomped a Steve Austin-esque mudhole into that title.