It’s about that time of year again for THQ to unleash their latest version of the WWE franchise on an unsuspecting audience, but what can they drag out the woodwork this year to impress the fans who’ve been waiting patiently since “Here Comes The Pain” for the franchise to come good?
I’ve bought every WWE game up to WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2008. By that point I felt the games began to become repetitive so I only rented. Judging by the early screenshots, previews and trailers for WWE 12 this may be about to change…
WWE All Stars is the first game by THQ San Diego (the former Midway Studios San Diego), from the same team that developed TNA Impact, lead by Sal Divita who also developed WWE Wrestlemania : The Arcade Game all those many years ago. If you are expecting an update of the annual Smackdown vs Raw series with some legends thrown in, then you couldn’t be more off the mark…
3 Years ago, we learnt that Total Nonstop Action Wrestling were starting to produce their own video game, much like WWE have been doing since time can remember. With over 3 years of development going into this inaugural title, and the assistance of avid gaming fans and TNA Superstars such as Samoa Joe and The Phenomenal One, AJ Styles; this game cannot possibly even contemplate failure. Can it?
Last year those that choose to take the 360 route into this generation of gaming got their first taste of the Smackdown Vs Raw franchise, bringing with it the salivating prospect of Xbox Live frolics, shiny new graphics and a new gaming engine to move the series forward and to set a marker for the future of the series. Now one of these things did not bare fruit, and it is still leading to growing apathy amongst the aggrieved wrestling games fans. So now we sit with the next instalment, again with the same prospects and again with all of the boxes ticked except the still creaking engine.
The word definitive is bandied around a great deal at this time of year. On Christmas Day I’m sure many excitedly unwrapped their gifts, eagerly awaiting their copy of a definitive Cliff Richard collection after just finishing listening to Slade on their definitive Christmas hits collection. But when a title such as Total Extreme Wrestling rears its head for another outing, it would not be out of place to utilise the word again. Admittedly it is in a field of it’s own, but to knock Grey Dog Software’s efforts because of a lack of a rival in the same mould is sheer laziness from the uninitiated.
Wrestling fans that chose to follow the Microsoft path in the past generation were pretty much hamstrung from the starting line. The Raw titles did not live up to the hype built, with the original Raw lacking a story mode being particularly gutting. Wrestlemania 21 being released filled with more bugs than there will be consumed in the latest “I’m A Celebrity” affair did it and the Xbox owners no favours. But I have always been of the feeling that if someone was to take the good aspects of the previous Xbox titles, we would lead to something that could very well challenge the likes of the Days of Reckoning titles on the shamefully neglected Gamecube, and a certain Smackdown series on the Playstation. So to get right to the point and move away from a David Starkey style prologue, I was slightly disappointed when THQ took the step of releasing their Smackdown franchise across formats. I have always been of the opinion that despite their faults, that if someone was to take the more interesting ideas of Anchor and Studio Gigante and comprise them into one singular title, a third franchise worth a gander would be added to the fold. Akin to the return of ECW under a WWE mantra, instead of something new or a return of a past glory (cough No Mercy) we are instead getting more of the same in a new outfit. Whether this title will stoke your interest beyond the allure of a wrestling title for your 360 console is dependant on where your feelings lie with the previous titles in the Smackdown series. For what has been added to this edition, the series is still creaking from a tiring engine in need of a complete rejig, and it does not hit the peak of the Smackdown series in ‘Here Comes The Pain’. Despite this, SD VS Raw 2007 is still a very good game both for Wrestling fanatics, and those new to the mat antics as it brings some new features that add more variety and depth to proceedings that have been long overdue in the Smackdown franchise.
Unless you have lived in an underground bunker with no Internet access or contact with the real world, you will not have failed to hear about the good work achieved by Adam Ryland and his cohorts at Grey Dog software. Famous for their EWR and TEW titles, Grey Dog has honed the Text-based wrestling simulation genre and even despite having relatively no competition it hasn’t blighted all that they have accomplished, creating their own niche in the market and remaining there for a good while. They have earned their kudos quite rightly, but there is only so far one can take the idea of booking a wrestling promotion until they seek something new. Grey Dog were already ahead of us, and last year released a new take on the text-based wrestling simulation genre in the form of Wrestling Spirit. Rather than booking matches, the game focused instead on taking hold of the career of a Professional wrestler themselves, with the toils and benefits the life brings. Wishing to take the niche further, here arrives the sequel; but will it succeed in providing an alternative reality for the gamer in the boots of a wrestler, or just prove to be EWR with a fancy outfit.
Well here it is, the big moment that will have had you on pins and needles for WEEKS. WEEKS I TELL YE! I have finally dragged myself away for the sheer glutton of new extremely enjoyable wrestling games on the market to actually review them, in this special review week, where I catch up on the work I was meant to be doing so a certain someone doesn’t yell at me more and threaten to do me and my family bodily harm.
This week I got the excuse to do a bit of family bonding as I took a crate of beer and my copy of Wrestlemania 21 over to my brother’s apartment to see who the true king of wrestling computer games really was. With my speciality being the Smackdown series of PS2 I was looking forward to testing my abilities on the X-Box and seeing what this game had to offer.
It’s hard to believe, but due to the lack of wrestling games on the market, there’s only two titles competition for your cash dedicated to our favourite form of grappling action this Christmas time. It’s no surprise to see that THQ have released their usual Smackdown! game, which was a bit of a let down this year. So what’s the alternative? If you’ve got a PC, perhaps Wrestling Spirit (WreSpi) is the answer.
As regular as clockwork, THQ and Yukes bring us a Smackdown! game for PS2 just a few weeks before Christmas. This time, they’re also delivering Raw, as the two brands go head to head, vying for your love. Who will win? Let’s find out, as we take a look at WWE Smackdown! Vs Raw.
Done everything there is to do on Smackdown “Here Comes The Pain”? Feeling the need for a new wrestling game? Well you don’t have to wait anymore as there is a completely new wrestling game on the market for Gamecube as WWE “Day of Reckoning” comes to a shop near you. Read on to find out why I have been keeping my friends Gamecube hostage since Wednesday.
The first game in this series was frowned upon by gaming fans, its lack of longevity, awful game play and cartoon style graphics made the game a non contender to the success of the WWE wrestling titles. Following this we appropriately got the sequel, which again proved to be lacking in many departments, this frustrated many a wrestling gaming fan, including me. But now, Acclaim have the chance to right its wrongs of past wrestling games, with Showdown Legends of Wrestling. Have they managed to do it? Find out!
I remember Mothers Day 2002 like it was yesterday. It was June (That’s when Mother’s Day is in Scotland at least, you’ll have to check your own calendars to see when you experience the joyous day), the weather was lovely and I had a nice box of chocolates to give to my mum. Old Mrs Russ wanted to go out for lunch to celebrate the day. But I had other plans for that day. Oh yes, a little game called Extreme Warfare Revenge was released on Mothers Day 2002, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the latest offering of wrestling simulator goodness from Adam Ryland. You’ve all heard the phrase “I’d sell my own mother to…”. Well, in this case, I ignored my own mother to play the game. And I loved EWR to pieces straight away. Don’t believe me? Check out my EWR review here.
Is it November already? It is? Then that means a new Smackdown! game is out, and this time, it’s the fifth one. In 2003, the snowman isn’t bringing the snow; he’s bringing the pain. Yes folks, Yukes and THQ are back again to deliver more WWE action to PS2 owners, and are hoping to building [...]
Hey Ho folks, it’s been just over year since I last reviewed WWE Wrestlemania X8 for the Nintendo GameCube, and now I’m back, this time with the next instalment of WWE gaming on the GameCube, and surprisingly its called Wrestlemania XIX. Many fans were very disappointed with Wrestlemania X8, so Wrestlemania XIX needed to be [...]
If you read my review of UFC Throwdown, you’ll remember that I said that you should wait until the release of Pride FC before making a purchase of a Mixed Martial Arts game. Now, both games are out in the UK, so it’s time to make a decision. But first, a brief history lesson. The [...]
Remember Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling? If you don’t, it was a cartoon in the eighties that featured the main stars of the then-WWF outside of the ring, having some wacky adventures. The wrestlers used to drive around in big cars that were made to resemble the character’s gimmick (For instance, Roddy Piper drove a huge Bagpipe with wheels). So who would have that that 20 years later, THQ would release a game that owes a lot to the Rock ‘N’ Wrestling concept of wrestlers in cars. When Crush Hour was announced last year, everyone thought “THQ are trying to branch out the WWE franchise again, and just like WWE Betrayal, it’s gonna suck”. So, is this car driving shoot ‘em up in lycra going to beat Twisted Metal Black? Or are THQ going to face another humiliation like what happened with WWE Betrayal?
“Of all the crazy ideas you’ve had, this one ranks somewhere in the middle”. As regular viewers of the Simpsons know, that’s something that Marge said to Homer when he had another wacky plan. But it could also apply to EA’s wrestling games. First, they took out the wrestling ring from WCW Backstage Assault. Now [...]
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