Ultimate Muscle: Legends vs. New Generation

Also known as: Kinnikuman Nisei: Shinsedai Choujin vs. Densetsu Choujin (Japan)

Developer: Aki Corp.

Made before Def Jam Vendetta, Ultimate Muscle has even more over-the-top wrestling action. It's also more of a fighting game than a wrestling game (despite being based off of the wrestling cartoon Ultimate Muscle) since your goal is to knock your opponent out rather than go for a three count. With about 20 playable characters, and each one being unique and with a different moveset, and a different story, there's plenty of replay value to be found here. Not to mention, the toy mode where the goal is to collect every action figure using the coins that you obtain from winning battles. I’ve always enjoyed the M.U.S.C.L.E. toys, as they’re called here in the United States, so it was neat seeing all of the zany characters that didn’t make the game as playable fighters, but were represented by showing their figurine in the toy mode. Anyway, Ultimate Muscle has got enough wrestling action to appeal to wrestling fans, and it's enough like a non-wrestling fighting game to appeal to fans of regular fighting games...It's right in that sweet spot, making it a game that fans of both genres should try. I personally wish that there were more modes and characters (Toy mode, specifically, makes me wish that some of the characters found there were on the playable roster), but Ultimate Muscle is perfectly fine for what it is.

Review added: 02/18/2020