Every wrestling fan has an all-time hero, such as Owen Hart, Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant or Terry Funk. They're all a lot different from the superstars of today, but that's what makes this game a bit special.

Along with American superstars, several British wrestlers, including Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks, are a surprising and welcome addition. Although they still look a little too cartoon-like, the amount of detail in each character model is a considerable improvement over the first game. Especially impressive is the way that each wrestler has four different costumes, dating from different parts of their wrestling career. It's a real giggle to see Big Poppa Pump with an 80s mullet.

The creators of Legends Of Wrestling II have done their homework, giving most of the grapplers their original entrance music. It's a shame the big-screen videos that hang above the ring are horribly pixelated and the music sounds quite tinny. But if you don't like the entrance tunes, you can at least create your own soundtrack.

Legends Of Wrestling II has all the usual wrestling matches including Triple Threat, Four Way Dance and Battle Royal. Cage matches, a new addition, are very entertaining as you either need to climb over the top of the steel grid or break your way through the locked door. Ladder matches require you to set up a nine-foot ladder in the centre of the ring and knock your opponent unconscious, giving you a chance to ascend to the title belt hung on a high wire. Both of these speciality matches are a lot of fun, mainly thanks to a simple and intuitive control system.

There's no place for button-bashing here - Legends Of Wrestling II employs a swingometer system similar to a power meter found in golf games. You have to hit the correct button at the right time to execute combos and counters. It takes a little getting used to but is rewarding once mastered.

One-player Career mode is a little weak, the entire storyline related only by your manager. In between the tedium of fighting loads of jobbers, there are a few title matches and mini-games. As you might expect, multiplayer matches are a lot more fun and will keep you amused for hours.

Playing through Career mode and winning exhibition matches earns you credit to spend in the shop. Possible purchases include wrestler movies, a Roman amphitheatre and pieces of clothing to use in the Create-a-Legend mode. The whopping 35 interview movies are superb and the icing on the cake of an extremely good wrestling title.

1. Ladder matches are bags of fun!
2. Great interviews

1. Cartoony wrestlers
2. Badly pixellated entrance movies
3. Storylines aren't varied enough

Power
Animation sometimes choppy. Character models are full of detail and personality.

Style
Most of the stars have their real entrance music. Doesn't sound 100 hot at times, though.

Immersion
The multiplayer laughs far outweigh the often bland one-player Career mode.

Lifespan
A staggering number of characters and moves will keep you playing for ages. Good variety of modes.

Summary
Raucous multiplayer fun with plenty of game modes and loads of characters to choose from. A must have for fans.