Legends of Wrestling II
{{short description|2002 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Legends of Wrestling II
| image = Legends of Wrestling II Coverart.jpg
| caption = North American PlayStation 2 cover art featuring (clockwise from left) Hulk Hogan, Bruno Sammartino, André the Giant, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Sid Vicious, Scott Steiner, Bret "Hitman" Hart, and Jerry "The King" Lawler
| developer = Acclaim Studios Salt Lake City
Powerhead Games (GBA)
| publisher = Acclaim Entertainment
| series = Legends of Wrestling
| platforms = {{ubl|Game Boy Advance|PlayStation 2|GameCube|Xbox}}
| released = Game Boy Advance
{{vgrelease|NA|November 26, 2002|PAL|December 6, 2002}}PlayStation 2 & GameCube
{{vgrelease|NA|November 26, 2002|PAL|February 7, 2003}}Xbox
{{vgrelease|NA|December 5, 2002|PAL|February 7, 2003}}
| genre = Sports
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
Legends of Wrestling II is a professional wrestling video game developed by Acclaim Studios Salt Lake City, published by Acclaim Entertainment, and released on November 26, 2002, for both the PlayStation 2 and GameCube. It was later released for the Xbox on December 5, 2002. It is the sequel to the 2001 professional wrestling video game Legends of Wrestling. Legends II contains 25 wrestlers that were not in the first game, though also excludes Rob Van Dam, presumably because he had recently been signed to a WWE contract. The game does contain Eddie Guerrero who, although unemployed at the time, re-signed with WWE by the time the game was released. A Game Boy Advance version of the game was released on November 25, 2002. It was the last game developed by Acclaim's Salt Lake City studio before its closure in December 2002.{{cite web |last1=Varanini |first1=Giancarlo |title=Acclaim closes Salt Lake City studio |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/acclaim-closes-salt-lake-city-studio/1100-2901281/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |access-date=18 December 2023 |date=9 December 2002 |archive-date=5 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805233738/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/acclaim-closes-salt-lake-city-studio/1100-2901281/ |url-status=live }}
The PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions included video interviews with many of the legends featured in the game while the European version of the game includes four exclusive additional legends from the United Kingdom: Kendo Nagasaki, Big Daddy, Mick McManus, and Giant Haystacks.
Whilst the console version received generally mixed reviews, the Game Boy Advance version of the game received universally negative reviews, being noted as one of the worst games to release on the system.
Gameplay
Within Career Mode, a wrestler will be working for a specific promoter in each area. By winning the belt for that division and successfully defending it, said promoter will become available for purchase in Shop Mode. Note that the world region is only available after completion of all the American territories. Each territory has 8–12 storylines chosen at random. Certain storylines may not be available based on the wrestler used by the player. For example, if the player uses Jerry Lawler, the only storyline he can play in the Southeast region is based on the famous feud Lawler had with comedian Andy Kaufman.
The game also features a Create-a-Legend mode (CAL). Players can create their own custom made characters which can be used for storyline mode as well as exhibition play.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| GBA = true
| NGC = true
| PS2 = true
| XBOX = true
| na = true
| Allgame_GBA = {{Rating|1|5}}{{cite web |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=40504&tab=review |title=Legends of Wrestling II (GBA) - Review |publisher=AllGame |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115031711/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=40504&tab=review |archivedate=November 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}
| EGM_NGC = 6/10{{cite magazine |author=EGM staff |title=Legends of Wrestling II (GC) |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |date=February 2003 |page=146}}
| EuroG_PS2 = 5/10{{cite web |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=February 5, 2003 |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_low2_ps2 |title=Legends of Wrestling II (PS2) |publisher=Eurogamer |accessdate=February 24, 2015 |archive-date=February 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224082129/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_low2_ps2 |url-status=live }}
| GI_GBA = 0.75/10{{cite magazine |last=Leeper |first=Justin |url=http://gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200303/R03.0729.1528.47692.htm?CS_pid=160939 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070528113350/http://gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200303/R03.0729.1528.47692.htm?CS_pid=160939 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-05-28 |title=Legends of Wrestling II (GBA) |magazine=Game Informer |issue=119 |date=March 2003 |page=92 |access-date=February 23, 2015}}
| GI_NGC = 6.75/10{{cite magazine |title=Legends of Wrestling II (GC) |magazine=Game Informer |issue=118 |date=February 2003 |page=101}}
| GSpot_GBA = 2.4/10{{cite web |last=Provo |first=Frank |date=December 19, 2002 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/legends-of-wrestling-ii-review/1900-2902179/ |title=Legends of Wrestling II Review (GBA) |publisher=GameSpot |accessdate=February 23, 2015}}
| GSpy_GBA = {{Rating|1|5}}{{cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Steve |date=January 9, 2003 |url=http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/legends-of-wrestling-ii/5515p1.html |title=GameSpy: Legends of Wrestling II (GBA) |publisher=GameSpy |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051105154116/http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/legends-of-wrestling-ii/5515p1.html |archivedate=November 5, 2005 |url-status=dead |accessdate=February 24, 2015}}
| IGN_GBA = 2/10{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=December 11, 2002 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/11/legends-of-wrestling-ii |title=Legends of Wrestling II (GBA) |publisher=IGN |accessdate=February 23, 2015 |archive-date=February 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223223912/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/11/legends-of-wrestling-ii |url-status=live }}
| NP_GBA = 2.6/5{{cite magazine |title=Legends of Wrestling II (GBA) |magazine=Nintendo Power |volume=166 |date=March 2003 |page=137}}
| NP_NGC = 2.9/5{{cite magazine |title=Legends of Wrestling II (GC) |magazine=Nintendo Power |volume=166 |date=March 2003 |page=136}}
| OPM_PS2 = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Zuniga |first=Todd |url=http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,2053,1494173,00.asp |title=Legends of Wrestling II |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |date=February 2003 |page=104 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040525124328/http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0%2C2053%2C1494173%2C00.asp |archivedate=May 25, 2004 |url-status=dead |accessdate=February 24, 2015 }}
| OXM_XBOX = 6.5/10{{cite magazine |title=Legends of Wrestling II |magazine=Official Xbox Magazine |date=March 2003 |page=81}}
| MC_GBA = 24/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/legends-of-wrestling-ii/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance |title=Legends of Wrestling II for Game Boy Advance Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=February 23, 2015 |archive-date=February 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250221003920/https://www.metacritic.com/game/legends-of-wrestling-ii/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance |url-status=live }}
}}
The console versions of the game received "mixed or average" reviews, while the Game Boy Advance version received "generally unfavorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Notably, it is the lowest rated Game Boy Advance game on the website.
GameSpot nominated Legends of Wrestling II for its 2002 "Worst Game on Game Boy Advance" award, which went to Mortal Kombat Advance.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030207155400/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ | url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ | title=GameSpot{{'}}s Best and Worst of 2002 | author=GameSpot Staff | date=December 30, 2002 | work=GameSpot | archivedate=February 7, 2003 | url-status=dead }}
{{clear}}
Sequel
{{Main|Showdown: Legends of Wrestling}}
A sequel to the game, titled Showdown: Legends of Wrestling, was released two years later in 2004, for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/legends-of-wrestling-ii}}
- {{moby game|id=/gameboy-advance/legends-of-wrestling-ii_|name=Legends of Wrestling II (Game Boy Advance)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Legends Of Wrestling Ii}}
Category:Acclaim Entertainment games
Category:Cultural depictions of professional wrestlers
Category:Game Boy Advance games
Category:Legends of Wrestling (series)
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Powerhead Games games
Category:Professional wrestling games
Category:Sculptured Software games
Category:Video games based on real people