===================================================================== _______ __ ______ | ___|__|.----.-----. | __ \.----.-----. | ___| || _| -__| | __/| _| _ | |___| |__||__| |_____| |___| |__| |_____| ________ __ __ __ | | | |.----.-----.-----.| |_| |__|.-----.-----. | | | || _| -__|__ --|| _| | || | _ | |________||__| |_____|_____||____|__|__||__|__|___ | |_____| ( . ) ) ( ) . ' . ' . ' . ( , ) (. ) ( ', ) .' ) ( . ) , ( , ) ( . ). , ( . ( ) ( , ') .' ( , ) (_,) . ), ) _) _,') (, ) '. ) ,. (' )jgs ===================================================================== Version: 0.2 27/06/01 Janus Operative janus79057@hotmail.com AIM: Janus182 ===================================================================== Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Controls 3. Game Tips 4. Exhibition 5. Questions 6. Extras 7. Conclusion ===================================================================== 1. Introduction ===================================================================== Fire Pro Wrestling Ace for the GameBoy Advance is the second game in the Fire Pro series to be released outside of Japan. And that's quite monumental in itself; as the only other game was released a while ago on a older console. The game is a great wrestling game with loads of characters and an accurate game engine that depicts various different wrestling styles from shootfighting to Japanese deathmatches. It also features a more American style of wrestling, concentrating on showing off and entertaining the fans. The game features around 200 wrestlers from the various styles and organisations. Though the characters have fictional names because the game doesn't have an official license. This means that you have to fight as Steve Majors instead of the WWF wrestler Steve Austin, etc. The differences between the real wrestler and the fake version are easy to spot though and you can change them to their real life personas in the games huge edit mode. Overall FPW is a great wrestling/fighting game to own. An essential launch game to get if you're a fan of the sport. It can be very hard though, and the complex controls mean a gamer with a short attention span is likely to get bored. Which is where my FAQ comes in. It is designed to help you beat the wrestlers you come across, whether they are big, small, brawlers or submission experts. I'll help you knock them down for the count, or submission depending on your preference. The FAQ also covers some of the modes and match types that you come across in FPW, however at the moment those sections are still incomplete. What this FAQ doesn't include is a movelist as there are far too many wrestlers to list all their moves in this guide. However, I am working on a zip file that contains this guide and movelists for every wrestler - organised by federation. It will work a bit like Ken Gifford's M.C Kids zip file, though not as huge - if CJayC accepts it, that is. ===================================================================== 2. Controls ===================================================================== Seeing as the manual for FPW is very accurate and helpful this part is made up mostly of the instructions written in there. It isn't completely copied though, I have written some addition comments where needed. And this section _is_ needed because the controls can be hard to grasp and not everyone reads the manual. STANDING CONTROLS Control Pad: Move the wrestler. B Button: Weak attack. A Button: Medium attack. A&B Buttons: Strong attack. R Button: Run; use with control pad. L Button: Breathe. Select: Taunt. FRONT GRAPPLE The wrestlers grapple automatically when they are close to each other. However you must be quick to get your move in. B Button: Weak moves. A Button: Medium moves. A&B Buttons: Strong moves. NOTE: To perform different moves press one of the above button combinations with a direction on the control pad. R Button: Whip opponent into the ropes. L Button: Headlock opponent. BACK GRAPPLE This works the same as the front grapple; just walk close to an opponent and be quick to get the move in. The above NOTE also applies to the back grapple. B Button: Weak move A Button: Medium move. A&B Buttons: Strong move. R Button: Throw OPPONENT ON MAT B Button - Near Head: Pull opponent to feat. - Near Feet: Flip that pancake. A Button - Near Head: Move on upper body. - Near Feet: Move on lower torso. A&B Buttons: Attack opponent with ground moves. Select: Sets up running attack on downed opponent. L Button: Turns your opponent over when used near their head. And it drags opponent to his feet when used near their feet. RUNNING CONTROLS Control Pad: Changing direction halts the wrestler. B Button: Weak attack. When opponent has been thrown into the corner by a hammer throw this is used as a diagonal attack. A Button: Strong attack. These are the basic controls that should get you through most of the game, though in the manual are some counter moves you may want to look up - countering isn't too much of problem if you don't go for the big moves right off the bat though. Bad timing can also lead to a counter move. Most of the second part of the grappling sub section (below) applies to counter moves too. ===================================================================== 3. Game Tips ===================================================================== This is the meat of the guide - a collection of strategies and tips that will help you in Fire Pro Wrestling. As with the previous section, the manual helps out a great deal and some of this section features tips that are also in the manual. Though I've tried to explain them in greater detail and there are only a small number of tips that I used from the book. The majority of this section is made up of my own thoughts and opinions. This section is split up into the following parts. I. Grappling II. Breathing III. The Body IV. Misc. Tips --------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Grappling --------------------------------------------------------------------- Pulling off grappling moves is heavily reliant on the timing of your button presses. The wrestlers will lock arms when they get close to each other. Then as soon as their arms meet press the buttons. It helps to keep your fingers over the buttons you want - so you have to know what move you are going to do then when the arms touch each other press down. If you did it correctly you should pull the move off, and have the advantage. But it only takes the smallest of margins - either too early or too late to press the buttons and your opponent will get the move. However, if you manage to get the move in the opponent may still counter it. Which is why it is best to start with weak attacks (B Button moves) and work your way up to strong attacks (A&B Button moves) over the course of the match. But don't go by the timer. Go by your control of the match (e.g. if it is late into the match but your opponent has had the advantage for ages don't try a strong move. Try weaker moves to try and regain some control). --------------------------------------------------------------------- II. Breathing --------------------------------------------------------------------- One of the most important aspects in Fire Pro Wrestling is the breathing of your wrestler. And although that sounds like common sense it is surprisingly easy to forget timely breathing when you are caught up the match. When this happens the bout effectively becomes a handicap match because your lack of oxygen intake wears you down and you'll start to weaken. So every now and then press the L Button - and hold it down if you have the time. It's obviously not a good idea to do this in the heat of the action. But if you have a few seconds to spare - you are on your own outside of the ring, you are on the opposite side of the ring, in between attacks, etc. - it is advisable to breathe. --------------------------------------------------------------------- III. The Body --------------------------------------------------------------------- The body is a fairly strategic thing in FPW, and correctly planning your moves so that you concentrate on one specific area can give you an advantage. For instance if you work on the neck of an opponent and hit him with several piledrivers his neck will weaken and a knockout becomes more likely. The effect of multiple attacks to certain body parts varies, and a detailed list of the effects is listed on page 32 of the manual. While singling out a body part can have its advantages don't get too predictable. And that applies for any situation. Mix and match your moves so the opponent has less of an idea about what you are going to do next. --------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. Misc. Tips --------------------------------------------------------------------- The following are some tips that don't really fall into to any individual category or aren't big enough to warrant an entire section. However there are a lot of general tips so this section is quite large, well larger than the above sections anyway. Which is why I bullet pointed the list and gave each point a subheading of sorts. o Play to your strengths If you are a submissions expert and you are facing a highflying wrestler then you are going to try to slow your opponent down with lot of submissions attacks. What you won't do is try to match style for style and go for highflying attacks. As the opponent will be much quicker and more adept at the wrestling style. This applies to all wrestlers. Use the abilities of your fighter's style to counteract the abilities of your opponents style, don't try to match them. o Pinning There is no outright pinning button in Fire Pro Wrestling. Although the most common button press is A&B by the downed torso of your opponent. To find out for sure what your pin is and how to do it go to the edit menu and select wrestler models. Go to your wrestler and press A. Now look at the moves of your wrestler and find the pinning move. You'll now know what it is and how to do it. o Corner attacks Although I don't tend to rely on corner attacks too much, they can be useful of you want to inflict a greater amount of pain on an opponent. The only downside, and quite a major one, is that you leave yourself open to reversals and missing the target. If you are playing with a quick wrestler it can be a good idea to use highflying/quick corner post attacks. But a big lumbering giant shouldn't climb the post too often. o Too hard? If you are finding Fire Pro Wrestling too hard set the computer difficulty level to 1 on the "com level" option before starting a match. This difficulty level is pathetically easy so once you win a match move it up a notch. Carry on in this manner - moving the level up one every time you master that level until you reach 8, 9 or 10. You won't reach this level over night but with a bit of practise you'll be a FPW master! o Counters In the manual are some counter moves you may want to look up - countering isn't too much of problem if you don't go for the big moves right off the bat though. Bad timing can also lead to a counter move, especially when you perform a grapple from behind and mess the timing up. Most of the second part of the grappling sub section (above) applies to counter moves too. And yes, I did write this in the last part of the control section but I'm sure some of you missed that =) o Test of strength The test of strength sometimes occurs when you both are accurate with the timing of your move in a grapple, I think. To win this test and regain the advantage tap left and right as fast as possible. You'll either snap out of the move and be back to a neutral position opposite the opponent or pull off a move. ===================================================================== 4. Exhibition ===================================================================== The exhibition mode is the mode at the top of the main menu. It allows you to participate in a variety of wrestling styles and matches. Styles and matches that are explained in a bit more detail here. I've also given some strategy where needed. This section isn't huge though, as there isn't much to cover that isn't listed in the game tips section. And the battle royal mode is listed with the multiplayer section – which is yet to come. Normal From the main menu you can select four options: normal, deathmatch, gruesome and battle royal. Normal is essentially the option that covers all of them – it just takes you a little longer to configure each setting. However it is also the gateway to the tag and handicap modes and tips on those modes will follow shortly. The only other option available nowhere else is the "american" option setting. It is an option that allows you to play in a conventional ring with no other gimmicks like cages. So all the game tips should apply to this mode. Deathmatch Deathmatches are matches that take place in an electric cage with explosives littered around the ring. After a set time the explosives blow up. So what you are looking at is a regular ring and match with an electric cage and a time limit added on. Basically all the extra tips you should need is to stay away from the cage, if you didn't know already... And try to end the match before the whole thing goes up. However if this isn't possible you'll have to try to pick yourself up and carry on. Don't restart with the same plan you had before though – both of you will be damaged. So it is best to start back with weaker/medium attacks and work your way quickly to strong attacks. Don't rush it too much though. Gruesome The gruesome style - submission only wins and octagon rings (hehehe) is really shootfighting, and a damn good shootfighting mode too. As well as a submission only wins a knockout can decide the match. Which means that it is best to use the natural shootfighters for this match rather than wrestlers from the American federations and lightheavywieght ranks. Though there are some exceptions though, most notably Ken Shamrock. However, it is best to use the wrestlers from the BLADE division – the Fire Pro equivalent to PRIDE. These wrestlers are natural shootfighters, with lots of submissions, holds and knockout blows (I did it again) and you'll rarely see them powerbombing a opponent. ===================================================================== 5: Questions ===================================================================== This section is currently empty! But if you have any questions email me at Janus79057@hotmail.com or contact me via AOL instant messenger, my screen name is Janus182. I'll answer you with an email or an instant message and include the question and answer in this guide for the benefit of others. So get contacting! ===================================================================== 6. Extras ===================================================================== As with most of this guide - bar the top half - this section is rather empty. But I'll update it with a few interesting and helpful cheats and observations in the future. If you have any cheats or observations about Fire Pro Wrestling contact me via the methods listed in the first paragraph of the questions section. --- All Hidden Wrestlers --> Choose the name edit option from the edit wrestler mode and enter the nickname as ALL, then enter the first name as STYLE and CLEAR for last name. Turn exchange off and leave middle blank. Now go to the audience mode and start or load a game. Overwrite any data if you have too, then exit the mode. All the secret wrestlers should be saved and stored on the cart. ===================================================================== 7. Conclusion ===================================================================== This FAQ is a work in progress. This update includes the most important part – the game tips but the rest of the guide is absent. And there are some other sections I have planned that aren't in the contents menu. And the game tips may have stuff added to it as well. Basically this is a very early version that should get you started with FPW. The more advanced mode tips and stuff will come later. If you need to contact me for whatever reason, you can do so through email – janus79057@hotmail.com or through AIM – Janus182. Version 0.2 I added a section on the exhibition mode – covering the types of matches, rules and tips for each type of match. I also removed the big ugly header and started the questions section. Next update should feature a section about multiplayer matches (battle royals, etc.) and some survival match tips, possibly... Current Completion Status (estimated) – 40% Version 0.1 A very incomplete version of the guide. But most of the game tips section is present and that is the main focus of the guide. I will update very shortly with the rest of the guide. Current Completion Status (estimated) – 30% ===================================================================== Legal Information ===================================================================== This document and everything in it is copyright 2001 Janus Operative. It can be printed out and used for personal uses but it may not be used for financial gain, this includes publishing it in a magazine, on a website, etc. without prior consent from me. If you do take the guide without my permission you will be open to legal action. Likewise, if you take any information from my guide - e.g. take chunks of the walkthrough and copy it into your guide - you will be open to legal action. At some point in the near future I'll allow the guide to be hosted on other sites, but at the moment the only site that may host this guide is GameFAQs. =====================================================================