Rumble Roses was one of the first PS2 games I bought with my own money. Its visual style, bold and colorful, grabbed me from the start and the game hasn't let go of my heart in over 20 years. With its stellar character designs, wacky storylines, exciting presentation and simple but expansive gameplay, it remains one of the most unique and charming wrestling games ever made.
And unlike most games in that subgenre, which tend to veer towards increasingly complex simulation, Roses keeps things accessible, finding a sweet spot of gameplay where there's tons of moves and things to do, but everything stays intuitive and exciting. There's not a lot of modes, and one of them isn't exactly mind-blowing, but what's there is a joy to play.
What makes Roses so special besides the gameplay is how it also develops the personalities of its cast with far more than entrances and finishers. Voiced lines during matches, eye-catching designs and ludicrous yet endearing story modes fill each character with unforgettable appeal, and the Heel/Face system means you get to see different sides of them.
In short, Rumble Roses a delight of a game, and nothing would make me happier than see it come back and on PC.