Backyard Wrestling 2: There Goes The Neighborhood

When Backyard Wrestling was released last year, gamers scoffed at the violent title, and rightfully so. It just didn’t live up to the expectations of fans of the Midwest “sport”. Part professional wrestling and part Jackass, Backyard Wrestling is a cult phenomenon that endorses pain, violence, and using your surroundings for the purposes of entertainment and testosterone satisfaction. The game didn’t have enough wrestling, graphics were spotty at best, and the environment wasn’t interactive enough. Mike Schmitt, developer of the game, admitted, “We were limited by the technology.” After some tinkering with said technology, Backyard Wrestling 2 makes several improvements over the original, and almost makes itself a legitimate contender for the wrestling throne.

“One of the biggest complaints people had about the original was there wasn’t enough wrestling elements in it, it was more of a brawler”, explained Schmitt, “so we added an entirely new grapple system.” The new system is pretty impressive, with a successful hold’s position malleable. Grabbing a player’s arm can easily be shifted into a hold from behind, or the front, or the other side. No more running up behind an opponent to get the cool backside moves.

The graphics, although still in the rear view mirror of other wrestling games, have been improved without changing the style of the game. A lot of the environments still look blocky, but they are better than last year’s game. Complaints about the create-a-wrestler system can be squashed, it’s been revamped and features many more customizations.

One of the aims of the developers was to really make everything in the environment usable. Whether it’s a lawnmower, parts of a miniature golf course, or a tool shed, pretty much everything in BYW2 is fair game. Splinters of shattered fences can be picked up and whacked into the side of your opponent’s face, propane tanks can burst into flame, and buildings can be climbed on for super aerial moves. It was fun to watch Mike charge through the levels breaking everything in sight and using various tools to pummel his opponent. Pieces of wood can even be set on fire and set other parts of the environment on fire, causing even more damage.

There are ten levels in the game, ranging from a miniature golf course to an office building, and many of the interactions are quite creative. Twenty-five licensed characters are in the game, including whackos Insane Clown Posse and many of the heroes of Backyard Wrestling fame. The soundtrack should top fifty songs this time around, and unlockables include video clips from the BYW DVDs and music videos.

Backyard Wrestling 2 still has a ways to go before it can be called a legitimate wrestling title, but it’s a step in the right direction. Look for BYW2 this Fall.

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