Columns: The Low Down
8.24.2000

Ripsaw here with the first of soon to be many edition of The Low Down. The biggest thing going down in video game news is the release of THQ's beta copy of Smackdown2: Know You're Role, many sites including Videogames.com, IGNPSX.com, and so on have already received their copy of the game, even after a total of over 700 screen shots posted, fans continue to bag me for more. But to tell all of you the sad truth, I (At the time) don't have a preview copy of the game, but I am and will continue to work my hardest until I either get a copy of the game, or fail. If perhaps THQ is nice enough to send us a copy of the game you will see many (And I mean many) new screen shots of the game. We hope to bring you more screen shots of every included mode (Accept Hell In A Cell which THQ currently doesn't want any screen shots released of the mode)

Another game that is forming to be bigger the said is WWF No Mercy, which will be the first to include more then just the five main PPV's, and rumored legends such as Andre The Giant, Captain Lou Albano, Jimmy Snuka, and more. I personally can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the game, the new graphics, modes, and game play look great. It will be the first game that runs on the Revange/WM2K engine with backstage brawling. I also think all of the arena's look very improved.

EA has finally let screen shot's spread around the Internet of their latest game, WCW Backstage Assault (A.K.A.: WCW Mayhem2, and WCW2000) The game will run off the same engine Mayhem did, but will include over 60 new moves, better graphics, a more detailed CAW, and of course, no ring! The game will be based upon backstage wrestling (100%) the closest you will get to a ring is the semi loading dock, which includes tires that act like the ropes, and boxes that act as the turn buckle, you will also find a number of things to climb backstage that will allow you to perform high flying moves off of. Without a ring, WCW Backstage Assault will include better graphics, a HUGE and VERY interactive backstage area, more weapons, and more. One of EA's producers say "This is the way Wrestling games should be, and we hope to change the face of all wrestling games to make most wrestling games like WCW Backstage assault" personally I think WCW Backstage Assault has a good idea of no ring, but it will only be good for one game, not a complete series, and it is possible they are doing this just to make the biggest backstage area's ever, but what's a wrestling game without a ring?

All three of these games will be released late October, so be sure to keep you're eye's open for further details on each of them, until next time, thanks for reading, and that's the Low Down.