WWE DoR: GamingRing.com Review online!
Nach dem uns GamingRing.com wochenlang mit Bildern Videos und Informationen zu WWE Dor versorgte, folgt nun das Review der Finalen Version von Mike Regan. Lest es euch durch, es lohnt sich.If you have followed our 12 day whirlwind coverage of WWE Day of Reckoning then most likely your mind is already made up on picking this game up. Some of you, your minds were made up even as soon as we reported on the title and showed first screens and details way back in March. With each detail and screenshot and movie your mind was reeling and you became sure that you would be the first to pick this title on August 30th.
Unfortunately for the rest of us, we were not so lucky. Some of you had changed your minds multiple times during the past 2 months on rather you were going to be picking this game up. What? No JBL, That’s it Smackdown vs Raw Rulez yo. Oh my God take a look at the story mode, I’m definitely going to pick this one up. And so on and so on. Well, if you are currently sitting on the fence, let this definitive review help guide you on your decision.
Here we are, today’s the day. Finally WWE Day of Reckoning has come. August 30. 2004 The first thing you notice as you start the title is the head banging and rap anthem of Public Enemy and Anthrax Bring da Noize. It sets the tone for the rest of the game and WWE DOR really does bring da noize.
The graphics look great and easily the best looking wrestling game released so far for the Gamecube. Animation quality, in particular is a giant step up from last years effort. Because of that the matches definitely have a better flow to them then last years Wrestlemania XIX. The animations have been greatly improved over last years, which to me is one of the most important aspects of a wrestling game besides obviously the gameplay. I want to see moves that look like they hurt. I want to see impact and I want to see selling of those moves. The selling of moves in WWE Day of reckoning is very well done. I am particularly impressed with the character models in the game. Easily, the best looking models seen in a wrestling game.
The roster, with over 40 superstars is the biggest problem with this title. There is some glaring omissions. Gail Kim, The Dudley Boys, La Resistance, Rene Dupree, Tajiri, Hurricane, Rosey, Billy Kidman, Torrie Wilson, Eugene, and WWE Champion JBL. These are some big names that are missing from the roster. I know personally that I would have picked any of the above over Mark Jindrak and Garrison Cade. Don’t get me wrong, Cade and Jindrak are 2 very young and good wrestlers but their is no reason why they should have made the roster over any of the above mentioned wrestlers. This hurts the replay value of the game which fortunately the Create a Superstar mode helps pick right back up tremendously.
I have to admit I did not spend a lot of time last year with Wrestlemania XIX Create a Superstar mode. It wasnt because the CAS mode was lacking it was because I was so frustrated with the Revenge mode that even picking up the controller and turning the game on made me have a violent reaction of wanting to throw the controller through the TV and set fire to my Gamecube. This year, after spending some considerable amount of time with the CAS mode for our coverage the CAS mode is outstanding. The selections and the amount of detail you have over your CAS is huge. I particularly like the mini paint program which you can use to make designs and logos for your Wrestlers clothing. I can see a lot of people spending some considerable amount of time in this mode. WWE DOR gives players a lot of options to make their CAS just right. I was particularly impressed with the create an entrance stuff. While its not as extensive as what was found in WWE Raw 2, it still gets the job done. One decision I am very happy Yukes and THQ made was the decision to include move sets of wrestlers from Japan and certain other former WWE superstars. I loved this feature in Smackdown Here Comes the Pain and its a welcome addition to WWE Day of Reckoning.
Last year with Wrestlemania XIX most people were extremely disappointed with the Revenge mode. It just didnt feel like it belonged in a WWE game. The fans wanted a traditional story based season mode that has all of the flavor of a real WWE broadcast. Wrestling is often described as a mans soup opera. And WWE DOR story mode does a great job of capturing that. THQ and Yukes wanted to make the story mode personal for the game players. I can understand the decision to tie the story mode with the create a superstar mode. Because the CAS mode is so extensive your going to put some time in that mode to make your CAS. That’s an investment. THQ and Yukes wanted the players to feel angry when their CAS is betrayed or overjoyed at the end of the story mode when their CAS becomes the WWE Champion and meets his Day of Reckoning. Yes it is unfortunate that you can not use the regular roster in the story mode but to be honest the trade off with the emotional attachment players will put with their CAS is greater.
The story mode starts off slow when "the Coach" Jonathan Coachmen giving you instructions on how to win the match. You start wrestling at small house shows against unknown opponents. The tasks range from performing 2 aerial moves during the match or reversing your opponents moves. This allows players to gradually get the basics down in the game before they move on to the big leagues. The story mode really jump starts when you make the decision of what brand you go to. And as good ol JR likes to say Buisness is damn well about to pick up. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to win tag team and single gold and to eventually challenge for the heavyweight title. WWE DOR story mode is the best story mode seen yet in wrestling.
For the first time in a WWE wrestling game, THQ used actual licensed music throughout the game. Its a huge addition this year and the music they picked fits well with the product. Pretty much everyone can be happy with the soundtrack. Rap, Heavy metal, and alternative are all represented. It is also nice that you can set any of the licensed tracks as your CAS entrance music. Its also nice to see that pretty much all of the wrestlers have their real licensed music.
The gameplay from Wrestlemania XIX is pretty much intact here. Which is definitely a good thing, because I thought the actual mechanics of Wrestlemania XIX were solid. THQ and Yukes did implement several new features this year. The inclusion of the submission meter from the Smackdown series makes every submission hold a battle between players. One of the features that I really wasnt sure about before I had a chance to use it was the momentum shift. I have to admit, the momentum shift is an idea that should have been thought of sooner. It makes the matches much more competitive and realistic. To some peoples relief the game is not quite as speedy as Smackdown which makes the games pace much more realistic in my opinion. I perfer the game play of WWE Day of Reckoning over Smackdown HCTP. WWE DOR is the best playing wrestling game THQ has released so far.
The list of different match types is pretty much the same as last years. THQ and Yukes did add the Bra and Panties match which was first introduced in Smackdown HCTP. The only problem with that mode is that you can only use the 4 divas. Molly Holly, Trish Stratus, Stacy Kiebler, and Victoria. Another problem with the mode is that you can not use your created woman superstar in the B&P match. Which does limit the usefulness of the mode.
Overall, despite the roster limitations which unfortunately, Yukes and THQ have no control over. (Stares uncomfortably in the general direction of WWE) The roster limitation does limit the replay value of the game but with the enhanced CAS mode and the multiple match types there is still plenty to do and see in this game. WWE DOR still delivers on pretty much every level. Graphics, Sound, and Gameplay, have all received substantial upgrades over last years game. WWE DOR is a worthy purchase and I can safely recommend this game to anyone who was a fan of the classic Nintendo 64 game WWF No Mercy.
Graphics 9.0
Gameplay 9.5
Replay Value 8.0
Sound 8.5
Overall 8.5 out of 10
Full Credit: [B] www.GamingRing.com
Geschrieben von Tom am 30.08.2004 - 14:07