Get ready for an adrenaline-pumping virtual wrestling ride as AEW Fight Forever offers a tantalising glimpse into the game’s spine-chilling Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch. Emerging in 2019 as the most formidable rival of WWE, All Elite Wrestling was bound to step into the video game arena and challenge the supremacy of WWE 2K.
Arcade-style Gameplay: AEW Fight Forever’s New Approach
With the revered Yuke’s, former WWE 2K developer, infusing decades of expertise, “AEW Fight Forever” sets out to bring back the golden era of wrestling games like the famed WWF No Mercy with its straightforward, arcade-style gameplay.
The distinct approach of AEW Fight Forever comes alive in its thrilling gameplay trailers, revealing an intentional swerve from the reality-driven approach of the latest WWE 2K titles. Instead, they’ve gone all in with colourful mini-games and outlandishly imaginative weapon choices including Molotov cocktails and even a rideable skateboard.
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Players can zip around the ring before launching a seismic frog splash on their adversaries. “AEW Fight Forever” also takes the brutality up a notch compared to WWE 2K23, with screenshots showcasing both the ring and wrestlers bathed in copious amounts of blood.
AEW Fight Forever: A Closer Look at the Exploding Barbwire Deathmatch
This daring, no-holds-barred attitude manifests itself most prominently in one of the game’s nine verified match types: the Exploding Barbwire Deathmatch. The freshest Fight Forever trailer as seen above, unveils this terrifying contest with AEW superstars Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega embroiled in a fiery face-off reminiscent of their clash at AEW Revolution 2021.
As the match type suggests, the usual ring ropes are now festooned with electrified barbed wire, causing mini-explosions every time a contestant is hurled against them or slammed onto the mat. After a fixed time interval, a monstrous explosion envelops the ring, leaving both fighters sprawled on the ground.
Despite its much-anticipated announcement in 2020, “AEW Fight Forever” was entangled in a web of delays and hiccups, extending its development cycle into 2023. These hurdles encompassed real-world strife among the game’s top stars, issues with licensing linked to the game’s subtitle, and a reported resubmission to the ESRB owing to the blood-fuelled violence and exploding barbwire. But, the curtain is finally ready to rise on “AEW Fight Forever”, with a confirmed release date of June 29th.
The Exploding Barbwire Deathmatch, one of the playable stipulations in “AEW Fight Forever”, raised many eyebrows upon announcement. Now, intrigued gamers have a clearer understanding of how this notorious match will unfold within the game. While many wrestling aficionados found the pay-per-view clash between Omega and Moxley underwhelming, fans can soon design a far more fiery showdown when AEW Fight Forever makes its long-awaited debut next week.
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AEW Fight Forever explodes into the gaming world on June 29th, accessible on Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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