Being a child of the 80's I couldn't help but get excited about Showdown: Legends of Wrestling. The game is the third installment in the Legends of Wrestling series from Acclaim. While the previous two games in the franchise had major flaws, anticipation for Showdown was high, as Acclaim had contracted a new developer to remedy the previous problems they encountered. New characters, a new grappling system, better graphics and historically accurate character personalities are all new features that were boasted by PR folks. Unfortunately, all of the extra bells and whistles don't help Showdown: Legends of Wrestling overcome its many serious flaws.

On paper, Showdown: Legends of Wrestling looks to be one kick ass game. It boasts 70+ throw back characters from the 70's and 80's. Characters like Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, Kevin Von Erich, Randy Savage and Roddy "Rowdy" Piper are all here. My first match, you know it... Hulk Vs. Roddy "Rowdy" Piper. While the character models are sub par for the Xbox version of the game, they are definitely better than the previous games in the series. Another positive is that the characters are all historically accurate. You can choose their throw back uniforms and they all posses the same personality and fighting style from the 80's. Unfortunately, that's where the positive ends and the negative begins.

Starting the game you will immediately notice, what I considered bad graphics for an Xbox game. Immediately following, I was treated to a 25 second load time from the start screen to the menu page, not a good way to start. I usually wouldn't even bring these things up in a review, but Showdown: Legends of Wrestling is the "buggiest" most flawed game I have ever played, from start to finish.

Showdown: Legends of Wrestling has a control scheme that you would expect from most wrestling games. There are four main functions: strike, grapple, block, and a ready move. A finishing move is also included that simply requires flicking the right analog stick. A ready move is an effective and quick grappling move that can easily be countered or blocked. Countering or blocking a ready move is all based on timing. Problem here; the timing is off, way off. Sometimes hitting a block button, or even a strike button, will take a full second to compute. Occasionally, your character may even swing a punch for no reason at all. Almost every time I played, I spent the first 10 seconds wondering if I was controlling the character or if the CPU was playing itself. Ultimately, this leaves the characters feeling clunky and unresponsive.

One of the biggest flaws in the game is the collision detection. At times, characters seem to be able to punch each other from more than a few feet away, and more than occasionally you will run into an invisible brick wall. We're assuming the invisible brick wall is where the game thinks your opponent is standing, but we're still not certain. Characters will also sometimes begin to slide across the ring without walking, or if you're really luck you will get to witness a teleport, in which the character just flickers out and reappears somewhere else. The game continues to defy physics and human biology by allowing characters to merge into one shapeless fleshy form that I like to call The Amorphous.

Another serious flaw is the computer's artificial intelligence (A.I.). While different game modes produce different flaws in the A.I., it is always problematic. The computer is easy to beat, while it can become more difficult on the harder settings, the A.I. is always surprisingly, and comically, stupid. Getting your opponent to fall opens up an array of possibilities to bring the pain. Unfortunately, when the computer does manage to get your ass on the mat, he will just sort of stand there, walking in circles above you with what I swear is a confused look on his face. The awful A.I. is present in every mode, You will never lose a Cage Match and the Tag-Team matches become frustrating as your partner, and the computers partner, never help with a pin.

Thankfully the game offers a multiplayer mode that allows the player to avoid the awful A.I. I promise, even your dumbest friends are smarter than the A.I. found in Showdown: Legends of Wrestling. The multi-player mode offers a good amount of fun, and if you are an old school wrestling fan you will enjoy wrestling a buddy. Obviously the multiplayer suffers the same collision detection flaws that are listed above, however when wrestling a friend some of the anomalies make for a good laugh.

Showdown does offer some neat features that help redeem the game. The most fun filled feature is the new Create-A-Wrestler mode. This mode offers a good amount of customizable options. You can make wrestlers of all sizes and colors, which can make for a good time. The career mode is a bit watered down when compared to past Legends of Wrestling games, however it's a an added bonus that gives players additional replay value. Showdown: Legends of Wrestling also offers all the modes typically found in a wrestling game. Things such as Cage matches, Ladder contests and First Blood competitions all give the game added depth and replay value.

While some wrestling fanatics and collectors may enjoy playing as their favorite childhood role model, the majority of people that play this game will become frustrated and disappointed. Showdown: Legends of Wrestling lacks polish and seems like an unfinished product. Fifty dollars is a lot of money to spend on a game and unless you're a collector or a hardcore wrestling fanatic Showdown: Legends of Wrestling is certainly not worth fifty dollars.