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Publisher: THQ/Jakks Developer: Anchor Genre: Wrestling Number of Players: 4 Released: Feb. 12, 2002 ERSB Rating: Teen Framerate: 60 FPS Vibration: Yes Analog Control: Yes Online: No System Link: No 5.1 DD Surround Sound: No Other Devices: Memory Card |
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Extras TV-style presentation with in-game cutaways and "Double Feature" replays - dynamic lighting effects - Create A Wreslter (CAW)- First time in video games, assult wrestlers on te way to the ring - Exhibition with single match, tag team match, tornado match. trple-threat match, fatal 4-way match, battle royal (4 in a ring), handicap match - title match with championship, intercontinental, eurpean, harcore, light heavywieght, and women's title - King Of The Ring with a playoff style brracket supporting single, tag, tournament, triplethreat, and fatal 4-way matches - Museum that allows you to view all discovered weapons, superstars with bio and song & video - Supports 4 players, but can have up to 6 in the ring at a time - 150 useable object - Dressable and undresaable objects and clothing - Breakable objects including, chairs, tables, 2x4's, annoucer tables, steps, and more - Character's sweat and the sweat can stain the matt - |
FEATURES: This game is loaded with over 150 objects taht can be used as weapons, be worn, climbed, broken, or knocked off of you if your wearing it. There are wrestlers such as kurt angle that come out with medals around his neck. During the middle of the match you can beat the medals off him, and pick them up and wear them for spite or use as a weapon. Most objects are lying around in boxes ransomly positioned in the arena.
Those breakable objects can still be used as weapons even after they are busted into several pieces. I've cluttered the ring with at least 50+ objects during a hardcore match before.
All the characters have thier custom signature moves and intro's. The intro's are very realistic like and often fun to watch or interupt. (hehe)
The Create A Wrestler (CAW) feature is very sweet and satifysing. You can custom resize every single joint on the body and that's and understatement. You can fully customize the character's moves, removal appearal, clothes, and intro. The CAW is highly customizable, but lacks a few extra moves (espeially reverseables) and clothing types to select from. Overall though the CAW is off the hook...
GAMEPLAY: One of the biggest questions from hardcore wrestling gamers is: "Can I beat the fu_king crap out of someone" and the answer is "yes". However, it takes a little bit of a learning carve to learn to use the crowd and stamina meters. The main thing you have to learn when playing this game is, you have to have the crowd rooting for you. If you don't, then pinning your opponent is impossiable and you can be easily pinned. No matter how much you beat the crap out of them. This tends to be a problem at times, because you can beat your opponent up for 15 minutes straight without him even touching you. Suddenly, the crowd is rooting for your opponent because you use the same moves over nad over and then your opponent gets in a lucky hit and then goes for the pin for the wins.
The gameplay altogether is very smoot. Good animations that blend seamlessly, but doesn't seem to look as devastating as it should at times.Once you get the use of the crowd meter and stamina meter down pat, the fun is endless.
You can really be the crap out of your opponent. You can take chairs set up around the announcer's table and hit your oppenet with them untill that bust into several pieces. You can then take those busted chair pieces and use them as a weapon. You can even throw poeple over th top ropes with moves if you are close enough. I once choke slammed kane over the top-ropes at the bottom left turnbuckle and through the ring-steps. I've did other things such as open up a table over the ring-steps and then preformed the last ride on someone, putting them through the table and steps at the same time. Man that sh_t is cool...
The game really lacks online play, a career mode, double team moves, more other moves, more caw options, and playiable custom soundtrack. By the time RAW 2 or RAW 3 is released, the game will be perfect and then some...
INGENUITY: For the first time ever in a wrestling game, you can assult your opponent while they are on thier way to the ring. You can either charge from the ring and assult them during thier own intro, or wait in the back and charge out wailing on them from behind. This doesn't happen as often as one thinks it would though.
Anchor has the right idea using the stamina meter and the crowd meter. When doing moves, it will drain how much energy you use from your stamina meter. How much stamina is drained varies depending on the move you are using. When you have no energy, or stamina meter is all the 3way down, you cannot move or attack. How fast you replenish your enegry is dependent on each wreslter's stamina bonus.
They crowd meter is an excellant idea, but needs alot of work before it can be enjoyiable. cirrently how it works is, when doing different moves on an opponent it begins to favor your side. When you start doing the same moves over and over, it begins to favor your opponent. Taunts can eb used to draw the crowd over to your side consideriably, but will only work once, until you start beating-up your opponent more. Once you draw enough crowd to your side, it will begin flashing. When the crowd meter begins flashing, you can then do a finisher as soon as your stun your opponent and more in for a strong grapple.
LASTING APPEAL: It really doesn't get old going through a large roster of 45 wrestling and beating the crap outta folks. Especially if your a WWF wrestling fan, or just like wrestling games. Unlike fighting games, one match can take hours if you want it too. During it all the players sweat and the sweat stains the ring. There's nothing like seeing mass chaos that can be done with this game...
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SCORE SUMMARY: I would have given control a 10, but the setback is that it seems the "B" button does most actions like picking up objects, pinning, taunting and getting in/out of ring. At times I may want to pick up a chair beside a layed-out opponent, but sometimes end up taunt or pinning them. This can grow to be a pain sometimes, but doesn't really hinder your gameplay.
PROS: Unlimited replay value if you love wrestling or not...
CONS: Lack of features that a wrestling game should have, it's obivious this game was rushed...
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NOTE: Just as a side note, I am a poor writer and speller. I'm probaly not the best choice for writing reviews, although I'm good at reviewing games. However, I felt I had to at least write a review to set an example for the format of our reviews in the future.
-Redkaven, reviewer and not the best writer.
