Summary
- Release Year: 2002
- Genres: Fighting, Sport
- Platforms: Nintendo GameCube
- Developers: AKI Corporation
- Publishers: Bandai
Ultimate Muscle: Legends vs. New Generation is a wrestling role-playing game developed by Aki Corporation and published by Bandai for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube. It was released in Japan in 2002 and in North America and Europe in 2004. The game is based on the popular anime and manga series Kinnikuman, and features a large roster of characters from both the original series and its sequel, Ultimate Muscle.
The game’s story takes place 28 years after the events of the original Kinnikuman series. The evil villains who were defeated by King Muscle and the Muscle League have returned, and this time they are even more powerful than before. The Legends, as the original heroes are now known, are no longer able to fight them alone, so they must turn to a new generation of super-heroes for help.
The player takes control of a team of wrestlers from both the Legends and New Generation, and must train them to become stronger and defeat the evil villains. The game features a variety of different gameplay modes, including a story mode, a versus mode, and a tournament mode.
Gameplay
Ultimate Muscle: Legends vs. New Generation is a turn-based role-playing game. The player controls a team of up to three wrestlers, and must use their unique abilities to defeat their opponents. The game features a variety of different attacks, including punches, kicks, throws, and special moves.
Each wrestler has their own unique set of stats, including strength, speed, and stamina. These stats determine how powerful their attacks are, how quickly they can move, and how much damage they can take. The player can also equip their wrestlers with different items, such as weapons and armor, to improve their stats.
The game’s story mode is divided into several chapters, each of which features a different set of opponents. The player must defeat all of the opponents in a chapter in order to progress to the next one. The story mode also features several cutscenes, which help to advance the plot.
In addition to the story mode, the game also features a versus mode and a tournament mode. In versus mode, the player can battle against another player or against the computer. In tournament mode, the player must defeat a series of opponents in order to win the tournament.
Characters
Ultimate Muscle: Legends vs. New Generation features a large roster of characters from both the original Kinnikuman series and its sequel, Ultimate Muscle. The following is a list of some of the most notable characters:
- King Muscle: The leader of the Legends and the strongest wrestler in the world.
- Terryman: A legendary wrestler who is known for his powerful lariats.
- Robin Mask: A masked wrestler who is known for his agility and high-flying moves.
- Warsman: A cyborg wrestler who is known for his incredible strength and durability.
- Buffaloman: A large and powerful wrestler who is known for his headbutts.
- Kid Muscle: The son of King Muscle and the leader of the New Generation.
- Meat: A wise and experienced trainer who is known for his vast knowledge of wrestling techniques.
- Suguru Kinniku: A young wrestler who is known for his determination and never-say-die attitude.
- Kevin Mask: A masked wrestler who is known for his speed and agility.
- Springman: A wrestler who is known for his powerful kicks and high-flying moves.
Reception
Ultimate Muscle: Legends vs. New Generation received positive reviews from critics. The game was praised for its fun and engaging gameplay, its large roster of characters, and its faithful adaptation of the Kinnikuman series. The game was also a commercial success, selling over one million copies worldwide.
Legacy
Ultimate Muscle: Legends vs. New Generation is considered to be one of the best wrestling games ever made. The game has been praised for its innovative gameplay, its large roster of characters, and its faithful adaptation of the Kinnikuman series. The game has also been credited with helping to popularize the Kinnikuman series in the West.
Ultimate Muscle: Legends vs. New Generation has been followed by several sequels, including Ultimate Muscle: Legends vs. New Generation 2 and Ultimate Muscle: World Tag Team. The game has also been ported to several other platforms, including the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii.
Review Score
8/10
