Unfortunately, while it has some moments and fun references, it all feels very one-note, often eliciting little more than a brief chuckle while the rest of the time is waiting in the hope of something substantial. The other side of this is that players are left doing things purely because that’s what they’ve been directed to do and relying mostly on humour to provide its entertainment factor. WrestleQuest’s toy box world, where wrestling is all-important, allows it to have fun with the source without really needing it all to make sense or line up logically. The development’s team wrestling fandom and knowledge is plain to see from the outset, with references to and appearances from famous wrestlers throughout the years. Homages and references to real-world wrestlers come frequently. The early game alternates between the two characters and their allies’ stories, interspersed with somewhat bizarre vignettes in a wrestling podcast studio.

The two offer an interesting dichotomy in their attitudes, helping to address the nature of kayfabe Randy is of the firm belief that that wrestling is the greatest sport around and that everything is real despite evidence to the contrary, while Brink is much more grounded in understanding the business of entertainment but still appreciative of the necessary effort and skill required to put on a show. Meanwhile, Brink Logan is a loyal stablemate always doing what’s best for his family’s small promotion. Randy “Muchacho Man” Santos is a wannabe professional wrestler hoping to earn his big break. WrestleQuest splits its narrative between two main characters. However, each of those elements also brings its own issues to the table and the resulting experience is unfortunately one that is simply a slog to work through.

Combining the pageantry of professional wrestling with a larger-than-life toy box themed world, retro sprite graphics, puzzle-elements, and a turn-based combat system, the game brings about a fascinating melding of interesting ideas. WrestleQuest has a lot on the surface that will appeal to many RPGamers out there. Unfortunately, while it brings some neat ideas to the ring, the execution places far too many roadblocks in the way.

For windows instal WrestleQuest