Lucha Libra does do stuff IGN likes -- pounding onscreen buttons in a tug of war for submissions is cool, it's easy to do finishers, and typing out your own signs is fun -- but it's not enough to overcome its problems. The entrances are really short, the crowd noise cuts out at weird times, and the commentary is bad. The game comes off as a half-baked attempt -- not quite sure if it wants to be a parody of luchadores with its broken English commentary or if it wants to teach you about the sport with its videos. In the end, it's just a forgettable attempt at wrestling.
Presentation - 4.5
Graphics - 6.0
Sound - 5.0
Gameplay - 5.0
Lasting Appeal - 4.5
Overall -
PSi: "I have been a wrestling fan for years. To me, part of the fun of following wrestling is more about the backstage antics or the creative input it takes to have a wrestling gimmick "put over." Having an ordinary guy become a megastar doesn't happen overnight (despite what WWE would have you believe.) It takes a lot of work and passion to create personas and characters that really resonate with the crowd. That's why I love Mexican wrestlers, or Luchadors."
Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes del Ring could have been an innovative and engaging experience, but it's actually a pale and merely passable thematic imitator of better wrestling games. Should developer Immersion have a chance to learn from its mistakes and inject its next game with a hefty dose of true lucha libre speed, a host of attack variations, and more-responsive controls, a sequel could easily make its mark in the WWE-dominated world of wrestling games. As it stands, however, Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes del Ring is a missed opportunity of the highest order.
WorthPlaying: "From the 8-bit era onward, there has been some luchadores sprinkled in wrestling video games. Starman from Nintendo's Pro Wrestling is probably the most famous of the bunch, but there have been a few featured in non-licensed wrestling and WCW titles. With the advent of the Create-A-Wrestler feature, players could create their own luchadores to go against the likes of Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Sting. When the organization folded in 2001, the only luchador you'd see in any wrestling title was Rey Mysterio, Jr. Sensing the desire for players to play a wrestling game that focused more on high-flying than brutal hits or hardcore action, the teams at Slang and Immersion Games partnered up to create a game based on lucha libre, the Mexican version of wrestling, with the licensing of one of the sport's major organizations. Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes del Ring is the first game focused squarely on this style of wrestling."
