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| Title |
WWE Day of Reckoning |
7 |
| Publisher |
THQ |
| Developer |
Yukes |
| Genre |
Wrestling |
| Players |
1-4 |
| Version |
UK PAL |
Should be a hit
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The three major consoles of today all have very different styles of WWE wrestling games. The Playstation 2 has the arcade driven Smackdown series, the Xbox has the more simulation based Raw series and the Gamecube has a range that come between the two styles. The now defunct Wrestlemania series that has previously reared its head on the Cube is has changed its name and the latest offering from THQ and Yukes is known as WWE: Day of Reckoning. Previous instalments have been sound in their game mechanics, but have lacked in certain areas, namely the story mode. Will this new title put to rest the chip on the Gamecube wrestling shoulder?
The first thing anyone will recognise when first powering up DoR is that in terms of options, it is really just like all other WWE wrestling games out there. You are presented with Exhibition which allow variations on all manner of match types, including TLC, Hell in a Cell and much talked about Bra and Panties matches. There are no backstage areas or Elimination Chambers here, but the provided match types should keep any WWE fan happy for a while.
The game mechanics remain largely unchanged from the previous game in the series, Wrestlemania XIX. The scheme aims to replicate the N64 Aki game, No Mercy, again in that a quick press of the A button will produce a quick grapple whilst a long press will result in a tie-up with which you can then do a more powerful hold. The same principle also applies to the attack button. I have always found this system preferable to the Smackdown mode of wrestling, although many would disagree. Thankfully it is now a question of taste rather than shoddy game design. However, what Smackdown does carry in its favour is the number of moves each wrestler has in their repertoire. Whilst Day of Reckoning does have its fair share of moves, and all look and perform as they should, there really aren?t enough instances to do varying types of move. This can leave the lasting depth of the game somewhat in question and really is one of just a very few things that is missing from this game.
Along with the usual Exhibition match types is the all new Story mode. You will hear no argument that this has been a major thorn in the side of Yukes when it comes to their Gamecube wrestling franchise. The previous instalment saw some ridiculous mode which saw your wrestler fighting in some random areas with equally random and extremely infuriating AI opponents. Thankfully Yukes have gone back to the drawing board and included a fairly generic story mode in which you take a created wrestler and lead them up the long ladder of a WWE career. You start just doing dark matches against random jobbers eventually working your way up through Heat of Velocity and onto either WWE flagship shows Raw or Smackdown. Success here will soon see Pay Per View spots and title shots which is what the game is all about. However, this again isn?t as deep as Smackdown?s version. Rather than allowing you to take your favourite superstar through the motions, the created superstar is clearly used to keep options available to the player limited. Thusly the story mode is a very linear progression in which you fight in matches with various stipulations. Fail the stipulation or the match and you simply have to repeat the process rather than have consequences for failing. This isn?t such a bad idea as it guarantees a solid experience for the user, something Smackdown couldn?t, but it again shows the lack of depth in the game and hinders replay value for the game.
Progression through the story mode earns you money that can be spent in the WWE Shopzone to unlock new arenas as well as new moves and gear for your created superstars. I personally think the execution of this is a lot better than that of previous games in the genre as you are able to buy individual items and see a preview of them beforehand. This means that if you had an idea in your mind of the wrestler you were looking to create you could just buy those parts rather than trying to find a set that suited you. Strangely, although welcome is the Schwein move for a CIMA CAW. However, the create a superstar mode isn?t really deep enough to create wrestlers from other promotions or from the past. For sure it is possible to create wrestlers that are fairly generic looking in the first place, but anyone with specific traits such as Jushin ?Thunder? Liger will be difficult. With the powerful face morphing abilities though anyone a bit more normal should be fairly straight forward for the CAW veteran.
Another slight gripe is the number of wrestlers available in the game. There are 45 grapplers here, but there are some rather strange additions such as Hardcore Holly and the Basham Brothers but people such as The Dudleyz, Lita and others are missing. Obviously it is never possible to get the exact roster correct and up to date all the time, but with stable superstars like the Dudleyz, there is really no excuse for them not being included.
Graphically the Gamecube series has always been fairly well off. This title sees an all new graphics engine though and it certainly hasn?t harmed the way the game looks. Wrestlers shine in the numerous lights in the expansive arenas and model detail has really been upped a notch. Every included wrestler looks a great deal like their real life counterpart. There does appear to be some strange squashing going on though that is most evident in their intros ? something that also makes the wrestlers robotic and stiff, another problem the series still hasn?t sorted out.
In terms of music and sound there isn?t too much to tell from what is different from other games in the genre. The generic rock tracks that usually accompany these games during the matches has been replaced with actual licensed music now though. This really is a welcomed addition, even some of the music isn?t quite to my tastes, as I?ve always found the generic hard rock thrown over matches in other titles nothing short of nauseating. Most wrestler music is available here although as always it seems with WWE games, some wrestlers have old or different entrance themes. It seems this is just a necessary evil with WWE games these days, although unfortunately Gamecube owners are not able to change the music themselves ala WWE Raw 2.
Overall the game sees a vast improvement over Wrestlemania XIX, which although I liked a lot, had an absolutely atrocious story mode, something that has been rectified in this title. As with both the previous titles though, Day of Reckoning still does feel somewhat unfinished. What is available is polished, but there is little depth to want you to keep playing beyond the story mode and few available match types. More moves, more ways to pull off moves and a more involving story mode will surely see this series progress. There is no denying that this is the best wrestling game on the Gamecube, but there is still work to be done if it is to sit aside the Smackdown series.
Frankly if you are a fan of the WWE, own a Gamecube and want some fun you should definitely pick this up. The Gamecube doesn?t have the sort of competition Smackdown has with King of Coliseum and Fire Pro Wrestling Z, so this is really the best option available if you want to grapple on the little purple cube. Worthy of a purchase for wrestling fans, everyone else I suggest renting before parting with your cash.
Seth Powell |
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