Unlockable characters in Wrestling video games

[Spiderf 4]

Pretty much all video games have the dilemma of whether unlockable characters give the player more replay value, or if it prevents other players from playing those characters when they don't feel like doing the unlocking methods (or even if they can't unlock them). Wrestling games over the years have had different 'locked character' methods, from unlocking a few, to unlocking quite a few, to unlocking only legends, to leaving everyone out there available the first time you boot the game up. This came up because I thought about the selection screen from WCW Mayhem, with all the locked characters. All the locked stuff made the selection screen look not-so-good. It looked especially obtrusive, even though locked characters in games almost always makes the screen look obtrusive.

Myself, just give me everyone from the get go (or give the me the option to buy the unlock-all key, hopefully included with the season pass that I was going to buy anyway. )

[Old Baby]

Yeah, I hate having to unlock characters. It's just a chore and a carrot dangled in front of my nose. If there's a way to get them from the beginning, I always do so.

[Phil Parent]

One of the Game Boy Advance Fire Pro's gave you 8 wrestlers (all WWE ones, so you had to recolor them...) at the start of the game.

The hundreds of others? Unlock them!

I would have LOVED if Fire Pro R would have been like that.

[DragonMasterP]

The only unlockable character in a video game who's really teeth grindingly difficult to unlock is Stacy Keibler in Wrestlemania X8, because you have to win the tag titles, and that game has easily the most annoying tag matches of any wrestling game ever.

[agent817]

I never played Smackdown JBI, but I read how there was a complicated way to unlock Jerry Lynn. I looked at the FAQ for that game, and I was like "Huh?"

In my opinion, the two biggest challenges for me were Shawn Michaels in Wrestlemania 2000, and the Ho in No Mercy. For the former, the reason it was a challenge was because I had to win the Royal Rumble in order to get a shot at Wrestlemania for the title and then Shawn challenges you. What was difficult about that was winning the Rumble, and when you had the WWF title, there was that inevitable cutscene with Vince McMahon and Undertaker stripping you of the title. So you win the title (or win it back) and then you fight Shawn.

As for the Ho, I thought that was a stupid thing to begin with. I mean unlocking the others was not bad if you went through Survival Mode, or through Championship Mode, but the fact that she costed $500,000 to unlock was stupid. When I finally did it, I was like "Really? Well, at least now I have everyone."

As for non-traditional wrestling games, Def Jam Vendetta was more that you unlock all of the fighters in story mode, which did not make much sense because you had a limited number of characters at the start. Of course, you had two other guys to unlock if you go through story mode with the other guys, not to mention D-Mob's suit attire. As for its sequel, it was like that too, but then there were other unlockable characters you either had to buy with points, or go through story mode again for (Like the women).

Now I should mention Rumble Roses. My only gripe was unlocking the altered versions of the characters. You had to do certain things to turn them heel or face. The Japanese version of the game at least had the option to choose which version of each character. Also, the alternate versions of the characters had different moves than their default versions.

[A Platypus Rave is Correct]

Nov 17, 2015 18:07:01 GMT -5 DragonMasterP said:

The only unlockable character in a video game who's really teeth grindingly difficult to unlock is Stacy Keibler in Wrestlemania X8, because you have to win the tag titles, and that game has easily the most annoying tag matches of any wrestling game ever.

the Ho from No Mercy.

the most stupidly expensive thing in the in game shop.

Also Jake Roberts in one of the Smackdown Vs. Raws where you need the PSP version to unlock him.

[Dr. Mantis Toboggan]

The last two characters you unlock in Smackdown: JBI, after all the hard work and time you put in unlocking everyone are....

Shane and Stephanie McMahon!

They knew just who the players really wanted to play as and that they'd be thankful for the reward.

[Deleted]

Thunder was the GOAT there. Beyond being like psychosis, you're completing the game strictly for nobodies and fake people.

Even World Tour's mini-bosses were somewhat exotic.

[Hypnosis]

Nov 18, 2015 12:08:37 GMT -5 @lesscra said:

Thunder was the GOAT there. Beyond being like psychosis, you're completing the game strictly for nobodies and fake people.

Most of those unlockables all had the same moves and no finishers, too. 

Ric Flair WITHOUT the Figure 4?

[Talent Name]

I hated getting Fred Durst

[A Platypus Rave is Correct]

Nov 18, 2015 13:21:42 GMT -5 Talent Name said:

I hated getting Fred Durst

I saw it as giving me a jobber

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

Nov 18, 2015 10:25:59 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave is Correct said:

Nov 17, 2015 18:07:01 GMT -5 DragonMasterP said:

The only unlockable character in a video game who's really teeth grindingly difficult to unlock is Stacy Keibler in Wrestlemania X8, because you have to win the tag titles, and that game has easily the most annoying tag matches of any wrestling game ever.

the Ho from No Mercy.

the most stupidly expensive thing in the in game shop.

Also Jake Roberts in one of the Smackdown Vs. Raws where you need the PSP version to unlock him.

I only ever had the No Mercy cartridge with the resetting glitch, so I only ever had the Ho for about 10 minutes, after trying for weeks with the money erasing. Luckily I copied her to the memory card I had or damn that would have annoyed me.

[Nickybojelais]

I loved how you unlocked wrestlers on Smackdown 2 by interacting with them for the first time during the season mode. But I detest the arbitrary ways you usually unlock characters in video games.

Every game should definitely come with an easy unlock code for those who wish to use it.

[Dr. Mantis Toboggan]

Nov 18, 2015 17:27:04 GMT -5 Nickybojelais said:

I loved how you unlocked wrestlers on Smackdown 2 by interacting with them for the first time during the season mode. But I detest the arbitrary ways you usually unlock characters in video games.

Every game should definitely come with an easy unlock code for those who wish to use it.

Or, in the case of these days, make you have to pay to unlock them.

[Raskovnik]

[Mozenrath]

I am fine with unlocking if it's simple stuff, like in Revenge, just completing the relatively short mode to chase for a title, or if it's for characters that aren't a big deal, like if you wanted to unlock Vince or something.

[Deleted]

Honestly though, unlocks are a sick piece of gaming history that has now been completely replaced by you having to pay for people.

Remember it fondly.

[xtremehorseman]

Nov 18, 2015 13:21:42 GMT -5 Talent Name said:

I hated getting Fred Durst

I wanted to know if I could lock him up again.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

I hate unlocking wrestlers because I usually will never use them but I am extremely obsessive and must unlock everyone regardless because it bothers me if I don't.

[roadhouse]

the worst ordeal I ever went through in my life was unlocking all the characters in TNA Impact.