When WWE: Day
of Reckoning was released awhile back ago it not only made GameCube gamers
happy to have yet another console exclusive but it also satisfied the need for
the GameCube to have a game worthy of the wrestling franchise. With WWE: Day
of Reckoning 2 the wrestling franchise is back and while it might not look
all that different the game still has all the goodies we loved the first time
around as well as some changes that makes this one another Must Have.
As a GameCube
exclusive, THQ wants to deliver a slightly different WWE wrestling game that
sets itself apart from the PS2-only SmackDown! series of games and, I’m
happy to report, it manages to pull it off perfectly with the Day of
Reckoning series. With a deep and involving story mode, 10 different match
types and all the WWE superstars present and accounted for there’s much to love
about this series and if you haven’t bought the first game then I suggest you
pick this one up first. Why? Well, the small changes you find here make this one
a far more complete package from last year’s title. For starters, the roster is
a bit more complete this time around and there’s even the option to unlock
legendary grapplers such as The Rock, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Mankind, Hulk
Hogan and Bret “The Hitman” Hart.
Yet the changes
that are far more noticeable come in the form of the gameplay mechanics. I loved
last year’s game because the controls felt good on the GameCube, but this year
they seem to feel more responsive and, thanks to the new Stamina meter and a
submission system, it’s less of a button-masher and more of a thinking gamers’
grappler. This doesn’t mean there’s less fist-pounding (you can still pummel
Chris Jericho without mercy) action, it just means you can have the choice of
unleashing more pain until your opponent submits or taunt them using the C
Stick. The new Stamina meter gives the game a more realistic approach by
naturally introducing the notion that wrestlers can’t simply perform high-flying
moves or a non-stop barrage of kicks without getting tired. You can regain
energy, of course, but now you can come up with strategies to tire out your
opponent and use their lack of energy against them.
The opponent AI
sees a change and it not often for the better. Last year’s game saw
computer-controlled opponents that knew better than to wait patiently for you to
get back up, but this year it seems that The Big Show would rather get a boot to
the face than start laying down the smack while you’re rolling on the canvas in
pain. Then again they’re mighty quick when it comes to pulling off reversals and
turning what you thought was going to be the perfect pile driver into a
backbreaker that will have your grappler writhing in pain. At least you can pull
off some special moves of your own and it’s easy to perform the more complex
moves.
The game once
again offers a Story mode that uses one of your created characters (the Create A
Superstar is back and there are dozens of new creation options available). At
the start of the story, Bischoff makes a most startling announcement. It seems
that when Chris Jericho pinned current champion Triple H during a RAW match it
created quite a controversy that the match itself was called a draw and thus the
World Heavyweight Title is up for grabs. With the lovely Stacy Keibler as your
main squeeze and having won Wrestlemania last year, your character sets out to
win the title by making your way back to Wrestlemania and defeating all those
that stand in your way. Thankfully this Story Mode is a lot longer than the
first game but if you’re expecting some serious drama or twists and turns WWE-style
then you won’t find it here.
The rest of the
game is composed of a nice number of game modes that range from single, tag
team, Triple Threat, Fatal 4 Way, Handicap and the always-fun-to-play Royal
Rumble matches. The best part, though, comes from the match types each mode
supplies. There are Cage, Ladder, TLC, Hell in a Cell, Ironman and Last Man
Standing matches and the always-popular Bra & Panties match.
Graphically
speaking, Day of Reckoning 2 is one gorgeous-looking game when it comes
to character models, flashy effects and displaying each unique arena. Sure it
still has a number of awful clipping problems and sometimes the video footage
played during intros are a mess but the rest of the graphics are a big
improvement over last year’s game. Really, this is the best Triple H I’ve seen
in a game and even your created characters look more fleshed out. The arena is
alive with fans that still look a bit off but it’s a nice improvement.
As for the
game’s sound there’s too much heavy rock riffs that scream 80s hair band and
there’s no commentary again. In fact, there’s no dialogue either during the
Story Mode. There is a ring announcer, though, and he does a great job of
kicking off each match. Even each Superstar’s theme music comes up. The rest of
the sounds come during the match with fans going wild cheering on their favorite
wrestler while you’ll hear your opponent’s body slam against the canvas or hear
the loud fleshy slap of a clothesline. In the end it’s not bad at all, but then
again it’s not great either.
WWE: Day of
Reckoning 2
is, by far, the best wrestling game the series has produced thus far and it’s
one no GameCube gamer should be without. It’s not too different from last year’s
version, but with new additions that make a big difference, it just brings more
wrestling goodness to an already great GameCube exclusive series. If you’re a
fan of WWE wrestling, this is one game you don’t want to miss.
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Gameplay: 8.5
The solid
controls from last year’s game somehow feel way better in Day of Reckoning 2.
There are new elements, such as the addition of a Stamina meter, keeps things
more interesting and keeps the game from being just another button-mashing
grappling game.
Graphics: 8.9
Quite possibly
one of the most eye-pleasing wrestling games available on the GameCube, this
sequel certainly sees improvements on character models and the flashy televised
feel. Sure, there isn’t much in terms of natural expressions and there’s some
serious clipping problems but each grappler looks so much like the real deal
that it’s scary.
Sound: 7.0
Lacking the
commentary from the PS2 WWE games, there’s plenty of crowd chants and the sounds
of bodies getting slammed on the canvas. Even the heavy rock riffs that play
during matches or during the story mode’s cutscenes lack a little extra flavor.
Still every superstar’s entrance music is here and the announcer makes each
match seem like an ultimate battle.
Difficulty:
Medium
The AI isn’t
as sharp as the first Day of Reckoning but there are some seriously
difficult opponents (Triple H is even dangerous in video game form) to beat and
some matches, particularly the tag team battles, can have you going back for a
rematch.
Concept: 9.0
All the things
we could ever ask for in a wrestling game using the WWE franchise are all here
and it’s done right. Whether you’re into brutal cage matches or watching the WWE
Divas like Trish Stratus and Victoria go head-to-head in a Bra & Panties match
then you won’t be disappointed. There are even legends of the canvas to unlock
like Hulk Hogan and the People’s champion The Rock.
Multiplayer:
8.5
While there’s
no online multiplayer, there’s much multiplayer fun to be had here and with
matches that allow up to four players this is once again another reason to get
your friends together for some serious wrestling action. Can you say Party Game?
Overall: 8.8
Day of
Reckoning 2
isn’t a radical departure from what we played last year but it continues to
remain a great wrestling franchise on the GameCube and this is the game that
truly proves that. Sure we would like to see a different approach to the game’s
story mode but what’s here is not only better but still way too much fun. You
can’t go wrong with this one, wrestling fans.
