Summary
- Release Year: 2003
- Genres: Fighting, Sport
- Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox
- Developers: Midway Studios Los Angeles
- Publishers: Eidos Interactive
Backyard Wrestling: Don’t Try This at Home (2003)
Backyard Wrestling: Don’t Try This at Home is a professional wrestling video game developed by Paradox Development and published by THQ for the PlayStation 2. It was released in North America on October 28, 2003, and in Europe on November 7, 2003. The game is based on the backyard wrestling phenomenon, in which people wrestle in backyards and other unconventional locations.
Backyard Wrestling: Don’t Try This at Home features a roster of 20 wrestlers, each with their own unique moves and abilities. The game also features a Create-a-Wrestler mode, which allows players to create their own custom wrestlers.
The game’s gameplay is based on the Backyard Wrestling Federation (BWF), a fictional wrestling promotion that is featured in the game. Players can compete in a variety of match types, including singles matches, tag team matches, and hardcore matches. The game also features a story mode, in which players can follow the career of a young wrestler named Johnny Hardcore.
Backyard Wrestling: Don’t Try This at Home was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its innovative gameplay, its large roster of wrestlers, and its Create-a-Wrestler mode. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide.
Gameplay
Backyard Wrestling: Don’t Try This at Home is a wrestling game that features a variety of gameplay modes. The game’s main mode is the Career mode, in which players can follow the career of a young wrestler named Johnny Hardcore. In Career mode, players can compete in a variety of matches, including singles matches, tag team matches, and hardcore matches. Players can also earn money by winning matches and completing objectives. The money can be used to purchase new moves, abilities, and weapons.
In addition to Career mode, Backyard Wrestling: Don’t Try This at Home also features a number of other gameplay modes. These modes include:
- Exhibition mode: In Exhibition mode, players can compete in a variety of matches against computer-controlled opponents or other players.
- Tournament mode: In Tournament mode, players can compete in a single-elimination tournament to determine the winner.
- Create-a-Wrestler mode: In Create-a-Wrestler mode, players can create their own custom wrestlers.
- Online mode: In Online mode, players can compete against other players online.
Roster
Backyard Wrestling: Don’t Try This at Home features a roster of 20 wrestlers, each with their own unique moves and abilities. The roster includes:
- Johnny Hardcore: The main protagonist of the game. Johnny is a young wrestler who dreams of becoming the “King of Hardcore.”
- The Sandman: A hardcore wrestler who is known for his use of weapons.
- New Jack: A violent and unpredictable wrestler who is known for his brutality.
- Raven: A dark and brooding wrestler who is known for his mind games.
- Terry Funk: A legendary wrestler who is known for his hardcore style.
- Sabu: A high-flying wrestler who is known for his use of extreme violence.
- Mick Foley: A hardcore wrestler who is known for his willingness to take risks.
- Cactus Jack: Mick Foley’s alter ego, a violent and unpredictable wrestler.
- Chainsaw Charlie: A hardcore wrestler who is known for his use of a chainsaw.
- Mad Man Pondo: A large and powerful wrestler who is known for his strength.
- Axl Rotten: A hardcore wrestler who is known for his use of weapons.
- Balls Mahoney: A hardcore wrestler who is known for his wild and unpredictable style.
- Kona: A high-flying wrestler who is known for his agility.
- Spike Dudley: A small and agile wrestler who is known for his high-flying moves.
- Little Guido: A small and cowardly wrestler who is known for his use of underhanded tactics.
- Tony Mamaluke: A large and powerful wrestler who is known for his strength.
- Big Stevie Cool: A large and charismatic wrestler who is known for his dancing ability.
- Hollywood Nova: A vain and arrogant wrestler who is known for his good looks.
- Romeo Roselli: A flamboyant and eccentric wrestler who is known for his love of attention.
Reception
Backyard Wrestling: Don’t Try This at Home was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its innovative gameplay, its large roster of wrestlers, and its Create-a-Wrestler mode. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide.
The game was praised by critics for its innovative gameplay. GameSpot said that the game “offers a unique and refreshing take on the wrestling genre.” IGN said that the game “is a lot of fun, and it’s a great way to experience the backyard wrestling phenomenon.”
The game was also praised for its large roster of wrestlers. Game Informer said that the game “features a huge roster of wrestlers, each with their own unique moves and abilities.” IGN said that the game’s roster “is one of the most diverse and well-rounded in any wrestling game.”
The game’s Create-a-Wrestler mode was also praised by critics. GameSpot said that the mode “is one of the most robust and user-friendly Create-a-Wrestler modes in any wrestling game.” IGN said that the mode “allows players to create their own unique wrestlers with ease.”
The game was also a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide. The game was particularly successful in the United States, where it sold over 500,000 copies.
Legacy
Backyard Wrestling: Don’t Try This at Home is considered to be one of the most influential wrestling games of all time. The game’s innovative gameplay, large roster of wrestlers, and Create-a-Wrestler mode have been praised by critics and fans alike. The game has also been credited with helping to popularize the backyard wrestling phenomenon.
The Backyard Wrestling series has continued to grow since the release of the first
Review Score
7.5/10
