WWE Day of Reckoning – GC – Review

While a lot has changed
since that time, one thing remains the same: Nintendo fans are Nintendo fans,
and THQ will not end their dedication to them.  That’s why GameCube has WWE
Day of Reckoning and its competitors don’t.

Before we get down to
business, a few things need to be said about the game.  First and foremost the
gameplay is faster, more responsive, and as a result more entertaining than
any other wrestler available for the ‘Cube.

“Say Uncle!  Say Uncle!”

“Uncle!”

“Now say Aunt!  Say Aunt!”

Second: the easy-to-learn
control scheme means you don’t have to be a wrestling fanatic to get into the
gameplay.  With 4-player matches going, just throw your friends a controller
and tell them to press buttons.  They’ll get the hang of it in seconds. 
(On-screen icons alert you when a specific button should be pressed.  If
you’re being held, you may be told to press the A button rapidly to break
free.  If your clothes are in danger of being ripped off, you may have to
perform similarly difficult button mashing.  Be prepared to make your thumb
become one with the controller.)

Third: this is minor in
comparison to the gameplay, but WWE Day of Reckoning has a great soundtrack. 
The WWE Forceable Entry soundtrack serves as the game’s backbone.  New tracks
from Tantric and Breaking Banjamin have been added to the mix.  Wrestling fans
have no doubt heard most of this stuff before, and will appreciate the
inclusion of them in the game.

Boxing and fighting games
have various types of counter and reversal moves.  WWE Day of Reckoning has
its own version called Momentum Shift.  Although some of you may think this is
what happens to your stomach after eating at KFC, in actuality a Momentum
Shift is a surprise move that’s used as a last-minute attempt to turn the
tide.  Each wrestler has a spirit meter, indicating their vital stats.  When
it reaches "Danger" you’re in deep trouble.  Press A+B to unleash your one and
only Momentum Shift.  You only get one Momentum Shift per match, so don’t
expect this to be like those annoying sports where the score is always tied. 
You may be superior at first, but that doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to go
home to the victor.

Got an important business
meeting to attend or a class that your teacher says you just can’t miss? 
Forget about ’em.  You’re going to need more than a few minutes to try out all
of WWE Day of Reckoning many game modes.  They include: Hardcore, Ladder, TLC,
Cage, Ironman, Hell in a Cell, and Bra & Panties.  Those are sub-modes within
the Single, Tag-Team, Triple Threat (three wrestler three-for-all), Fatal 4
Way and Royal Rumble modes.  If you’re looking for a trademark arena, don’t
worry – they’re all here: Survivor Series, Armageddon, No Way Out, etc.

"Man, that bug crawled in
deeper than I thought."

The create-a-wrestler
mode is pretty slick.  You have more options at your finger tips than any
other create-a-character mode I’ve experienced (with the exception of
massively multiplayer RPGs.  The customization there can be limitless).  You
can change the size, depth and shape of your wrestler’s head, arms, chest,
body – everything!  Before you get to any of that you have several pre-created
heads and body types/attire to choose from.  You also have the option of
adding a tattoo.  Choose a pre-made tattoo for a quick fix, or utilize the
game’s decent paint program and create your own.

I personally am not the
type of gamer who would sit in front of the TV and tweak a character’s
appearance for hours on end.  I do however know several gamers who enjoy these
kinds of features.  It’s cool regardless of your preference, because you can
never have enough content.  There’s an exception to every rule, but in
general, the more you offer gamers, the more likely they will be satisfied.

I am, however, the type
of person who sits in front of a TV with several friends.  My mind isn’t
focused on the graphics or the music or any other variable: just the
gameplay.  The gameplay being the tool that I use to kick the butt of my
opponents.  You can’t top a game that encourages you to do that for many hours
without a break.

Gameplay: 8
Is this the day
of reckoning, or the day of redemption?  Gamers haven’t had too many good
wrestling games these days, but that changes with WWE Day of Reckoning.  The
number of play modes and wide differences between wrestlers are the primary
reasons why gamers will take notice of this title.  The easy-to-use control
scheme and less realistic gameplay are the reasons why WWE Day of Reckoning
can be picked and played at any time.  So go on, pick it up.  Play it with
your friends and turn off the clock.  With multiplayer matches like this you
don’t need to know what time it is.

Graphics: 8
The animation is
good and the overall detail (clothing, skin tone, animated fans, etc.) is
certainly noteworthy.

Sound: 8
Great rock music
from some of the genre’s best bands.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 7.4
The Momentum
Shift is a cool addition, but this is hardly an innovative game.  Polished,
but not innovative.

Multiplayer: 8
No online
multiplayer (GameCube doesn’t have an online service so what’d you expect),
but the four-player same-screen battles are time-consuming enough to make up
for that.  If this game were online, would wrestling fans ever have a reason
to leave the house again?

Overall: 8
Button mashing
for newbies, individual moves for the pros.  WWE Day of Reckoning has
something for everyone, regardless of your wrestling preference.  The only
requirement is that you like wrestling and/or wrestling video games.  If you
like neither, would you even bother reading this review?