The Art Of N64 Wrestling Games Review
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (43 ratings)
As someone who chases every unlockable, watches the credits roll, and plans routes for 100% completion, The Art Of N64 Wrestling Games offers more than nostalgia. It works as a reference manual for the era. The book blends developer anecdotes with gameplay breakdowns, helping you reconnect with why weekends vanished into split-screen chaos.
Why I Give It 4.5 Stars
- Depth: The author digs into design choices and shows how they shaped gameplay loops. Grapple systems, reversal windows, and momentum mechanics are explored in detail, not just mentioned alongside release dates.
- Playable value: Chapters that outline unlock paths and hidden roster triggers are invaluable. They help completionists finish every mode, unlock hidden characters, and replicate old-school exploits.
- Nostalgia without fluff: Instead of vague memories, the book delivers vivid details. Pages feel like memory lane done right.
Highlights
- Clear breakdowns of mechanics: timed reversals, grapple chains, and how N64 pad inputs influenced move selection.
- Sidebars list the best completion goals: hidden wrestlers, alternate costumes, and special endings. You also see the usual grind required to earn them.
- Developer shout-outs and community lore: small footnotes and dev quotes explain why certain match types behave strangely.
Tips & In-Game Strategies
- Unlock-routing: Prioritize exhibition match requirements first. Many unlocks trigger from specific outcomes like finish types, time limits, or tag-team wins. For example, I mapped a two-hour session and unlocked three hidden characters by chaining goals.
- Reversal timing: Treat the reversal window like a rhythm. If you can beat the CPU’s timing in one mode, transfer that skill to harder levels. The book’s timing charts make this easier.
- Create-a-Roster shortcuts: Reuse templates for height, weight, and AI aggression. Doing so speeds up completion runs and avoids endless recreations.
- Couch tactics: In multiplayer, set fun rules such as “winner must use a new finisher next match.” This keeps the grind social, just like old N64 sleepovers.
Relatable Moments
- Reading the split-screen chapter felt like looking at my old living room: mismatched controllers, spilled snacks, and frantic scrambles for a cheap pin at 2 a.m.
- Another standout is the micro-essay on “one-button chaos” funeral matches. It perfectly captures when a bout becomes less about realism and more about timing that single counter. I couldn’t help but smile.
Player Reactions
- “Blast from the past!” — Nc (Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2024): “Got my copy and just took me back to being 9-10… Anyone wanting to go back in time or finding out about the beauty that was N64 wrestling games it is a must have.”
- “Nostalgia” — Riggio (Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2024): “I haven’t watched wrestling or played a wrestling game in years, but the moment I opened the book, I got a blast of memories!”
- “Great Book been following RG85 for years” — John S. (Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2024): “Just found out a few days ago he wrote this book my favorite games for the N64 were all the wrestling games so this book went perfectly for my collection.”
Key Specs
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 97
- Publisher: Independently published
- Release date : September 15, 2024
- Author: Shawn Long
Final Thoughts
If you’re rebuilding a personal museum of gaming culture or simply want a tactical refresher to chase every hidden roster and alternate ending, this book is a high-value pick. It’s thorough, playable, and nostalgic — the kind of title I’d recommend to anyone who treats finishing a game like a checklist to be lovingly completed. 4.5 stars.
