Evolution Schematic 04.19.08: WWE Video Games (Part 5)

Posted by Mathew Sforcina on 04.19.2008

Warning: No Mercy, With Authority! and Betrayal Fanboyism Inside.

Writer's Notes

Hello, and welcome to another in this seemingly never ending series of ES on WWE Video Games. I remember back when I used to do these sorts of things often, my 6 week dissertation on Sting, my 8 of Hogan. And doing made me realise why I stopped doing them. Although to be fair the problem here is the level of detail I made myself put in. Darn it. Still, almost finished!

Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3 and, of course, Part 4 are there for your reading pleasure. When we left off, the Dreamcast had taken another bullet in a very bad arcade port, Royal Rumble. But for the other console fighting the rising star that was the Playstation, they got not a bullet, but an ace in the hole…



Phase 23- Yeah yeah, Best. Game. Ever.

Name: WWF No Mercy
Console/s: Nintendo 64
Release Date: November 14, 2000
Playable Characters: Albert, Al Snow, André the Giant, Big Boss Man, Bradshaw, British Bulldog, Bubba Ray Dudley, Bull Buchanan, Cactus Jack, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Christian, Chyna, Crash Holly, D'Lo Brown, Dean Malenko, Debra, D-Von Dudley, Earl Hebner, Eddie Guerrero, Edge, Essa Rios, Faarooq, The Fabulous Moolah, Funaki, Gerald Brisco, Godfather, Grand Master Sexay, Hardcore Holly, Ho, HOWARD F'ING FINKEL!, Ivory, Jacqueline, Jeff Hardy, Jerry "The King" Lawler, Jim Ross, Kane, The Kat, Ken Shamrock, Kurt Angle, Linda McMahon, Lita, Mae Young, Mark Henry, Matt Hardy, Michael Cole, Mick Foley, Mr. Ass, Pat Patterson, Paul Bearer, Perry Saturn, Rikishi, Road Dogg, The Rock, Scotty Too Hotty, Shane McMahon, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, Stephanie McMahon, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Steve Blackman, Steven Richards, Taka Michinoku, Tazz, Terri, Test, Tori, Triple H, Trish Stratus, The Undertaker, Val Venis, Vince McMahon, Viscera, X-Pac.
Unplayable Character/s: None.
Match Type/s: Singles, Tag Match, Triple Threat, Handicap Match, Cage, Royal Rumble, Pay Per View, King Of The Ring, Guest Referee, Ladder Match, Ironman Match, Survival Mode, Career Mode
Other Features: Smackdown Mall, Create A Wrestler, Editable Wrestlers, Backstage Areas, Weapons, Blood, Defendable Titles, Tag Team Moves, Being The Best Game Ever.
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Some games have more game modes, more match types. Some games have a longer, in some circles ‘better' story mode. Some have Achievements. Many have better graphics. There is some slowdown at time when 4 guys are in the ring. Some games have more legends, a ‘better' roster.

In most categories, you can find a WWE game that outscores this, in a couple of cases a few. But you know what? While in some categories some games might rate higher, this is still, Bar None, the Best WWE Video Game Of All Time.

Graphically it worked. It's not the best looking game in history, and there is the occasional arm detachment issue, and of course the ‘4 Guy Slowdown' effect, but they are minor.

The Gameplay was spot on. You couldn't do every single possible thing, but you could do a hell of a lot, and it was all simple, logical, and intuitive.

The Story Mode was perhaps the finest ever made, based in part on current stories but with a few new ones thrown in, stories based around all the belts, where winning and losing MATTERED, where losing a match sent the story into a new branch (most of the time), where it mattered what you did, where starting at the Belt Holder gave you yet another story. Steven Richards being front and center of the WWF Title storyline only sweetened the deal. And where the belts could then be defended in Exhibition mode.

The Roster was perhaps the finest ever made, thanks in part to the engine's ability to have four costumes for each wrestler that was also editable, thus allowing multiple wrestlers to share a slot, TAKA and Funaki, Terri and Jacqueline. Plus, since everything but the moveset was editable, you could increase the number of wrestlers, if their movesets fit. Booker T in Buchanan, Nash in Chyna… (Plus it also meant that you could argue Victoria, My Goddess, is in the game as the dark haired Ho). Besides, you could, finally, wrestle as Howard Finkel. Truly a landmark in Video Game History.

The CAW mode was one of the simplest, easiest and yet most detailed in history. Instead of dozens of fiddly numbers to deal with (Do I give them a 51 chest or a 52 chest? What does that number mean anyway?), you just picked the parts and the color, and you were away.

The unlockable modes were great, the Mall to buy it, some characters unlockable in story mode, and you could unlock some people via the Survival Mode, my all time favourite. You know, there's nothing better than playing that as Austin or someone and dishing out finishers like candy, getting KO wins all the way.

Above all, No Mercy was fun. From start to finish, the game was fun. Fun to play, fun to play around with, hell, fun to watch. It's the greatest WWF game ever, and if the rumors of a Wiiware Updated Version are true, then the Wii is truly the best console ever.

Of course, while this was indeed awesomeness personified, it's not like the other consoles were just turning over and dying. Oh wait, yes they were.

Phase 24- Goodnight and good luck.

Name: WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role
Console/s: Playstation
Release Date: November 21, 2000
Playable Characters: Albert, Al Snow, Big Boss Man, Billy Gunn, Bradshaw, Bubba Ray Dudley, Bull Buchanan, Cactus Jack, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Christian, Chyna, Crash Holly, Dean Malenko, Debra, D'Lo Brown, D'Von Dudley, Edge, Eddie Guerrero, Essa Rios, Faarooq, Funaki, Gangrel, Gerald Brisco, The Goodfather, Grandmaster Sexay, Hardcore Holly, Ivory, Jacqueline, Jeff Hardy, Joey Abs, Kane, The Kat, Kurt Angle, Lita, Mankind, Mark Henry, Matt Hardy, Michael Cole, Mick Foley, Pat Patterson, Paul Bearer, Perry Saturn, Pete Gas, Road Dogg, Rikishi, The Rock, Rodney, Scotty Too Hotty, Shane McMahon, Shawn Michaels, Stephanie McMahon, Steve Blackman, Steven Richards, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, TAKA Michinoku, Tazz, Test, Tori, Triple H, Trish Stratus, The Undertaker, Val Venis, Vince McMahon, Viscera, and X-Pac.
Unplayable Character/s: None
Match Type/s: Single, Tag, Hardcore, Falls Count Anywhere, Handicap, Casket Match, TLC, Table Match, Slobberknocker, Iron Man, Ladder, Cage, Hell In A Cell, Special Referee, King Of The Ring, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, Story Mode.
Other Features: Create A Wrestler, Taunt and Stable, Multiplayer Story Mode, Weapons, Backstage areas, Tag Team Moves.
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The last hurrah on the Playstation isn't a bad game. Lots of different match types, a multiplayer story mode, a deeper creation mode set, the always fun Slobberknocker mode, the great Kurt Angle ad campaign. In many ways, the game focuses on the parts that No Mercy was lacking in, complimenting it. Which is good. Smackdown was always more cartoony, more arcadey than other titles, and compared to No Mercy, it can feel a little flat. But it's still a good game. Just not on the same par as No Mercy.

That, and having to unlock Steve Austin is silly, even if he had been out with a neck injury for a while. Ok, he would probably be the first guy you unlock, but come on, it's just silly.

Both of these games were the last to arrive on their console. Another last would be next, although it was also a first. And second only to No Mercy, it's the most glaring, obvious choice for an updated version.

Phase 25- Excuse my language, but why the fuck is this not on XBLA yet?

Name: WWF/WWE With Authority!
Console/s: PC
Release Date: February 21, 2001
Playable Characters: Al Snow, Big Show, Booker T, Bradshaw, Brock Lesnar, Bubba Ray Dudley, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Christian, D-Von Dudley, Eddie Guerrero, Edge, Goldust, Hulk Hogan, The Hurricane, Jeff Hardy, Kane, Kevin Nash, Kurt Angle, Lance Storm, Lita, Matt Hardy, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair, Rikishi, Rob Van Dam, The Rock, Scott Hall, Scotty 2 Hotty, Shane McMahon, Shawn Michaels, Spike Dudley, ‘Stone Cold' Steve Austin, Steve Blackman, Tajiri, Tazz, Test, Triple H, Trish Stratus, The Undertaker, William Regal, X-Pac.
Unplayable Character/s: None.
Match Type/s: Normal, Hardcore, Ladder.
Other Features: Online Collectable Card Game, Expandable.
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A game ahead of it's time. With Authority! was an online CCG, a Customisable Card Game in which you purchased new card sets and created decks in order to play online against other people. You had wrestling holds, moves and assorted other things on cards, and played them in turns to try and win the match. The game, which since it was still technically supported at the time becomes the first to be officially use the initials WWE, was eventually shelved in January 2003.

Now, while I understand that the company that made it is out of business, and while I am aware, now, of the fact that you can play, for free, online here, Peer 2 Peer, and the fact that it's a little too text intensive as it stands to make a direct port, the idea, now, is solid enough. You can just see it, a more graphical, more pad friendly lay out, designed for a controller. The base set, including the game and say a dozen wrestlers available for 800 points on XBLA. And then every week or so, you release a 100, 150 point card set, each week a new wrestler and a few new cards. My god, you'd make a fortune WWE! The fact that the game's actually really good for a CCG is just gravy.

That said, I'm so playing it now for free. See you there.



Oh yeah, I gotta keep going with this. Well, next up is… Aw crap.

Phase 26- Saving the virginal Stephanie McMahon. Oh boy.

Name: WWF Betrayal
Console/s: Game Boy Color
Release Date: August 7, 2001
Playable Characters: "Stone Cold: Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, The Undertaker.
Unplayable Character/s: Stephanie McMahon, Vince McMahon, Referees and Assorted WWF Workers.
Match Type/s: Side Scrolling Beat ‘Em Up.
Other Features: Password System.
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Note, the following contains spoilers, if you didn't live through 1997-1999 WWF TV.

So, for the first time the WWF branched out, and tried a non wrestling game with wrestling personalities. Well, give them marks for trying. But the execution was terrible, as Betrayal was a boring, short, repetitive beat ‘em up that had little redeeming qualities. You'd think that going round handing out finishers to refs, officials and random innocent bystanders would be fun, but it's not. And the storyline…

Whichever guy you pick, he gets screwed out of the WWF title by a trashcan to the head. When you wake up, Vince McMahon begs for your help, Stephanie is kidnapped! You must save her!

Now, yes, this is a standard plot for beat em ups. And yes, it does have some basis in WWF TV, this did happen. But with no other logical reasoning, plus a twist you know is coming (Shock of shocks, Vince and HHH faked the whole thing to keep the belt on HHH! Why this would work is beyond even MY powers of logical reasoning. At least when you play as HHH it's a bit of foreshadowing with Vince doing it alone in order to keep the belt on Austin), coupled with dull, uninteresting enemies, Refs and other WWF workers and the other 3 guys you didn't pick as bosses, the whole thing is just boring. Thankfully, they made up for it later in the year.

Phase 27- Road to Wrestlemania! Starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope!

Name: WWF Road To Wrestlemania
Console/s: Game Boy Advance
Release Date: November 18, 2001
Playable Characters: Billy Gunn, Bradshaw, Bubba Ray Dudley, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Christian, D-Von Dudley, Eddie Guerrero, Edge, Faarooq, Hardcore Holly, Jeff Hardy, Kane, Kurt Angle, Matt Hardy, Raven, Rikishi, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Tazz, The Rock, Triple H, The Undertaker, William Regal, X-Pac.
Unplayable Character/s: Vince McMahon
Match Type/s: Singles, Tag, Triple Threat, Handicap, Cage, Ironman, Hardcore, Royal Rumble, Season Mode.
Other Features: Password System.
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Hey, a wrestling game on a portable system! What a concept!

That sarcasm aside, the game is pretty good. But then compared to it's older brother there anything would be better.

The movesets were fairly limited, reverting back to a style of movesets last seen in WCW Nitro the game, wherein everyone had the same basic moves and three unique ones, although thankfully performing them was a simple matter of one direction and one button press.

One has to lower their expectations for portable games, clearly small cartridges cannot contain that much data. 4 people in the ring only at any one time is normal, the match selection is pretty good for the system (24 Man Rumble, yippie!), and the arena changing, the ring apron corresponding to Raw, Smackdown or the PPV you are fighting on is pretty cool. The Season Mode is a little boring, in that while you get to challenge for every belt on your way to a WWF Title match at Wrestlemania X7, you don't choose when to get title shots, they just occur randomly, as do the occasional tag and cage matches. And there's no actual story, just wrestling.

This, coupled with the ease at which one can win matches just using clotheslines and elbow drops means that while the game is acceptable, it's not something you seek out. It's just there, a first shot on a new console.

Something that would happen again the very next day…

A HUGE thank you to Wikipedia, Gamefaqs, Mobygames, Gamespot, and Consoleclassix for being cool sites for this column.