Highlights
- AEW Fight Forever delivered on its promise of casual arcade gameplay but needs improvement in roster updates, create-a-wrestler suite, match types, commentary, and entrances.
- The lack of alternate attires is a major issue in AEW Fight Forever, as some wrestlers' appearances in the game don't match their current real-life persona.
- The game could benefit from a deeper selection of outfits at launch and more consistent attire additions after release, possibly through unlockable attires or a battle pass model.
Though AEW Fight Forever succeeded in delivering the casual arcade gameplay it promised, as anyone can pick up the game and have a good time, there are a number of areas where an eventual successor can improve upon the formula. More consistent roster updates is one flaw fans have pointed out, as rising star Swerve Strickland, current AEW world champion Samoa Joe, and the legendary Adam Copeland are nowhere to be seen on the game’s roster. Other issues like a poor create-a-wrestler suite and lackluster match types have been highlighted as well, while a lack of commentary and painfully short entrances are other problems. However, one of the biggest issues is a lack of alternate attires.
To be fair to AEW Fight Forever, a handful of new outfits were added after release via Patch 1.04, with Jon Moxley, Wardlow, and a few other wrestlers getting new outfits to select. However, a deeper selection of outfits at launch would have been hugely beneficial, as would more consistent attire additions after release as opposed to the rare batches of outfit drops like in 1.04. Given how rapidly the wrestling business and the characters within it can change, some of the figures depicted in the game look nothing like they currently do when fans watch an AEW show, and that’s a big problem for the next game to fix.
It's Time For Wrestling Games Like AEW Fight Forever and WWE 2K To Improve Finishers
Wrestling games such as 2K's WWE series and AEW Fight Forever should change the way they handle finishing moves to improve the experience.
Why The Next AEW Game Has to Prioritize Alternate Attires
Fight Forever’s Limited Gear Selection is a Legitimate Problem
When looking at the AEW Fight Forever roster, it does not take long to find wrestlers with outdated entrances and character models. One huge example is Christian Cage, who has become one of the most entertaining heels in the company thanks to his Patriarchy gimmick. Unfortunately, he lacks his heel entrance and turtleneck attire while in the ring. Another big example is Kris Statlander, one of the best women’s wrestlers in the company, who is still a fun-loving alien in-game despite having a more serious vibe now. Jack Perry is yet another example, as his heel character is the antithesis of Jungle Boy.
Sadly, this problem is only going to get worse when Toni Storm is added to AEW Fight Forever in early 2024. While Toni is arguably the most popular woman on AEW’s roster thanks to her Timeless gimmick, which has led to a meteoric rise for her in late 2023, the version of her that is being added next year is based on her Outcasts persona. There is a chance that Timeless Toni is an alternate skin, or that it comes later on, though that seems unlikely since that is surely the version that would be marketed if it existed. Though it is still nice to have any version of Toni in the game, it feels like a major missed opportunity to make a version of her from a year ago playable instead of the significantly more popular character she plays now.
Smaller examples of missed opportunities for alternate outfits include Brian Danielson with an eyepatch and viking-style hair, which could have been a great Continental Classic tie-in, as well as Brian Cage’s lack of face paint. New hairstyles for MJF and Wardlow would also be welcome.
AEW Fight Forever Shows That Alternate Outfits Are Viable
Yuke’s already showed that this kind of support is possible via the aforementioned Patch 1.04 outfits and the few unlockable attires that were in the game on day one. Being able to acquire golden attires was a solid idea, and simply adding more challenges to unlock outfits post-launch could have given them a reason to keep playing. Even a paid battle pass model that offers numerous outfits every few months could work, as money made from the passes could provide the budget to add more wrestlers to the game, fixing another problem with the title. While AEW Fight Forever’s slow roster and match type additions have been frustrating, the lack of attires is more annoying than one may think. And, in the case of the Toni Storm DLC, it is a problem that could genuinely end up harming the game.
AEW Fight Forever
A throwback to classic wrestling titles like WWF No Mercy, AEW Fight Forever marks the promotion's first step into the gaming landscape. Along with a career mode, the game offers a few creation modes, including genre standards like create-a-wrestler, along with match types unique to AEW such as the Casino Battle Royale.
