Ultimate Muscle: Legends vs. New Generation

A battle of epic proportions is about to take place…

• JP release: 22nd November 2002
• NA release: 5th June 2003
• JP release: N/A
• Developer: AKI Corporation
• Publisher: Bandai
• NGC Magazine Score: N/A
• Mods Used: Widescreen Hack

Ultimate Muscle is a popular manga and anime series, called Kinnikuman in Japan. However, people that grew up in the 80s or 90s in the US and UK (and likely some other places) have probably played with Ultimate Muscle toys, usually called Muscle Men or just MUSCLE (a backronym for Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere). They’re the little rubbery wrestling figures that came in loads of strange designs.

With this being a wrestling game from Aki, who made great N64 wrestling games like No Mercy, you might expect something surprisingly deep using their previous knowledge. Unfortunately, this is just a very basic fighting game with a wrestling theme, with no pins involved. I quickly found that if you use your grab attacks until your special move is fully charged and repeat will make you trounce most fights.

In the main arcade mode, each fight is introduced by some simple cutscenes, which are voice acted by the cast of the show. Although the main vibe of most of the characters seem to be “purposefully annoying”. As you earn money, you can also use capsule machines to unlock pictures of the rubbery toys.

Fine

Definitely give Ultimate Muscle: Legends vs. New Generation a chance. It may not be a carbon copy of Aki’s previous wrestling entries, but it bring enough of its own attributes to the table to nicely coexist with its predecessors and competitors. Plus, it’s over-the-top wacky, it’s brought to life with some truly well done cel-shaded visuals, and most important of all, it’s seriously fast and fun. Invite over a couple of friends, boot up a four-player brawl, and you’ll fall in love.

Matt Casamassina, IGN

Remake or remaster?

Not for this.

Official Ways to get the game

There is no official way to get Ultimate Muscle: Legends vs. New Generation.

Europe

Japan

North America

GameCube Games by Date

2001: Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

2002: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

2003: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

2004: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

2005: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

2006: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

2007: Mar, Jun, Aug

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