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Overall **** / (4 Stars out of 5)

The wonderful geniuses at Sega of Japan have somehow sucked the spirit, look and feel of All Japan Prowrestling and stuck it on a Sega Saturn CD. How they did this is anyone guess, but the overall presentation of this game is something to behold. It contains the following wrestlers of All Japan Prowrestling: Mitsuharu Misawa (currently the All Japan Triple Crown Champion), Stan Hansen, Steve Williams, Giant Baba, Toshiaki Kawada, Gary Albright, Johnny Ace, Kenta Kobashi, Jun Akiyama, Akira Taue and from the popular Virtua Fighter series of games comes Wolf and Jeffery. There is a wrestler edit that allows you 50 templates of different characters to create that include Rob Van Dam, Sabu, Kamala, Masked Superstar and others. As it stands by itself, this game is very nice. Stacked against Fire Pro (the "other" major import wrestling game on the Sega Saturn) it somehow pales in terms of options. However, anyone looking for a great, let me stress that again great two player 3D wrestling game or a major fan of All Japan Pro Wrestling, look no further. All Japan Prowrestling featuring Virtua is it.

Bottom Line: People who enjoy wrestling and have a interest in fighting games should check this out. Just don't expect tag matches.

Options ** / (2 Stars out of 5)

Here is where the game really breaks down, the options. This game only sports a one two player mode. No tag team mode, no battle royals, nothing! Another missing feature is the fact that there is no CPU vs. CPU battles! One of the great things about Fire Pro is the fact that you can watch a wrestler fight for a championship without having to be involved, basically become your own promoter. As a first in a 3D wrestling game, they did add a wrestler edit feature that lacks quite a bit in comparison to Fire Pro. However, for the first 3D wrestler edit feature, it is a good start. You can choose your wrestler's age, characteristics (temper, etc.) and you can choose from about 50 different preprogrammed character templates (although customization is not available for individual features, such as face, hair, colors, etc.) Then, you must win matches in order to gain points and additional moves. Once you've defeated each of the competitors in this edit mode, you have the opportunity to wrestle for the championship. After you win it, you'll also have to defend it! You can also use these created characters to take on your friends in the VS. mode (two player mode). There has to be something noted here though. Even though this game lacks the options of Fire Pro and NJPW, it's two player (and one player for that matter) modes are extremely exciting. The matches are great to watch and they are even more fun to play. If you are looking for a good one on one wrestling game, this is it. If you are looking for loads and options and characters, look elsewhere (Fire Pro for the Saturn or NJPW 2 for the PSX). The gameplay of the one on one matches is where this title shines.

Bottom Line: This isn't Fire Pro in terms of options, but then again what is? If you are looking for good one or two player "fighter-like" wrestling game, look no further.

Gameplay **** / (4 Stars out of 5)

While it doesn't sport the depth of Virtua Fighter 2, it does stand against most other fighting games (Tekken) without problem. You can grapple, and launch a series of moves that are chained together (not a combo), do moves off the top rope, suicide dives and springboards, depending on your character. There are some gripes however, you cannot move out of the way of a move off the top or a suicide dive to the outside. Once the character begins to launch it, control of the move is overtaken by the CPU. However, other than that, there are PLENTY of reversals and moves. I have found myself to reverse a move, only to have my friend do the same, 3 or four times in a row! It truly makes you earn your victory and after each battle, you can sit back to relax and bask in the glory that your truly defeated your opponent, you didn't simply hit 1,000 hit combo and drained his entire energy bar. One bad aspect is that fact that you can't leave the ring at any time... You must be knocked down in order to roll out under the ropes. It did however, include taunts. It would have been nice to have the option of ducking in the game (like VF2) to avoid attacks, I feel this would have added to the gameplay in quite a big way. They also included a training mode (ala Last Bronx and Fighters Megamix) that will get you accustomed to your favorite wrestler in no time flat (if you take the time to go through it a few times). After working on one part of a wrestler's body, with powerful moves, a meter will flash up on the screen. It shows a portion of a human skeleton with a arrow pointing to which part of his bone you did damage to (with a meter telling you how much damage this part has taken). Get the meter to 100% and you'll snap the bone and watch your opponent wiggle around on the mat in agony (he'll also scream). Another nice aspect is that they reproduced the crowd chants and effects to a great extent.

Bottom Line: The gameplay is great quite possibly a landmark in 3D wrestling titles, although you'll have to give up some freedom on certain moves.

Sound ***** / (5 Stars out of 5)

They "Oh!" and "Ah!" in just the right places! In order to become a crowd favorite you must please the Japanese crowd, not simply hit the same move over and over. One of the most lacking aspects of real US professional wrestling is the crowd. I feel that the Japanese (and ECW here in the states) have the best wrestling fans on the planet. They truly get into each match and with these types of fans behind you, you get the feeling that each and every match is a classic. The only background music comes in the form of the ring introductions, (Steve Williams comes out as KISS plays a tune "I like it Loud") and it is the authentic ring music for each wrestler (with some exceptions, the "Sega Sound Team's" music is used in place). The Japanese commentator is wonderful, getting excited as good moves are pulled off and the pace of the match picks up. You can even hear individuals in the crowd shout out one of the wrestler's names during a match. It's the nice touches to the sound system like this that makes the game feel so authentic and real.

Bottom Line: The sound is the next best thing to being at a All Japan match, or watching one on TV.

Graphics ***** / (5 Stars out of 5)

Wonderfully detailed polygons that actually make full use of the motion captured techniques they used to portray the stars of All Japan. When Stan Hansen is moving around the ring, it really looks like Stan Hansen! All Japan uses the Saturn's high resolution mode, a resolution that is higher than what the PSX can do, and what most other Saturn games (with the exception of Virtua Fighter 2, Dead or Alive and Last Bronx) do. Each and every menu takes advantage of this high res mode, which gives it a polished feel to every aspect of the game. The entrance of the wrestlers is nice, but like most introductions it can get boring after the first few times you see it. But in between 2 player bouts, it can give your hands some much needed rest.. I have noticed some screen flashing (energy bars flash, etc.), which is typical when using such a high resolution mode, but I have only noticed it on televisions that use a RF unit as standard input. Using a S-Video cable or a standard A/V cable, and you shouldn't have too much of a problem. Overall however, this game is simply a pleasure to watch (which makes it hurt more that they didn't include a CPU vs. CPU battle mode..I would love to sit down and simply watch a few matches with this game)..

Bottom line: You can't ask for much more, in terms of 3D graphics on the Saturn.

AJPW's Competition
I have been criticized many times over for rating Fire Prowrestling too high. Many people (including Saturnworld) have stated they like All Japan more than Fire Pro. I would like to answer this criticism right here and now. Fire Pro is without a doubt, the greatest wrestling game of all time. It beats NJPW on the PSX, AJPW on the Saturn, and practically any other wrestling game you can think of. Why? While Fire Pro does have 2D graphics (most US gamers prefer the 3D look), it is simply the most comprehensive wrestling game ever made. If incorporates styles from all over the world (Japan, Mexico, USA, Europe, Shootfighting and Garbage style) and throws it all into one game. While All Japan truly captures the spirit and feel of the federation (as does NJPW for the PSX), Fire Pro encapsulates the ENTIRE wrestling WORLD. But it does go to say that you must be a true fan of professional wrestling to understand and enjoy the effort put forth by the developers of Fire Pro (Human). Where else can you enjoy Misawa taking on Onita in a Deathmatch? Nowhere but Fire Pro. Where else can you create just about any wrestler you can think of? Nowhere but Fire Pro. Again, you must be a true wrestling fan of the different styles and characters from all over the world to enjoy it. With that said, if you are simply a casual wrestling fan, enjoying a good fighter over a good simulation, purchase AJPW featuring Virtua. It appeals to a more mainstream audience. But if you follow and regularly purchase tapes from NJPW, AJPW, IWA, ECW, CMLL, AAA, UFC, etc. Get Fire Pro, you won't be disappointed. It's that simple. Don't get me wrong however, if you are a hardcore wrestling fan, you'll LOVE All Japan Prowrestling featuring Virtua, it's a amazing game. It's just that the king of the hill is Fire Pro, and there is nothing that can creep out of it's large shadow. So, if you really like wrestling, buy Fire Pro.. Play it a few months and then buy All Japan... Between the two of them you'll have enough enjoyment to last a whole year... I know I certainly have...What about New Japan Prowrestling for the PSX? I am a multi-system owner and thus I can switch between my different systems with a AV switch. This makes making comparisons between the Saturn's and PSX graphics easy. Comparing NJPW on the PSX and All Japan on the Saturn was like no comparison at all! All Japan higher res graphics wins hands down. But, NJPW has the options that All Japan lacks. So again, the choice is up to you. So NJPW wins out in the options category. Which is more important to you? If you only plan on one on one matches, go with All Japan. Otherwise, you'll probably be better served to pick which federation you like better (All Japan or New Japan) and go with that.