WWE WrestleMania X8

"A Good Starting Point With Room for Improvement"

I'm using the IGN review style.

Presentation - 6.5
Decent, but could be improved. Stiff animation makes many entrances awkward at best. Some moves seem to be done slowly in relation to the pace of the in-ring action. It seems THQ just wasn't willing to pay to use some of the stock music themes (the Hardyz come to mind) that have been in past THQ games (and some that haven't). Lots of music is missing and most (I'm pretty sure) is stock music, not music composed by WWE's music man Jim Johnston. This could've easily been solved by opening up the pocketbooks just a little. And the champs should wear their belts to the ring, too! I'd also forget motion capture in favor of animation ''by hand'' since that ALWAYS looks better. Just about everything in X8 needs a little polishing, but this is what could be called a diamond in the rough.

Graphics - 8.5
Looks pretty good, but wrestlers are generally too big. When a man like Triple H is 6'6'' and 260 pounds, do we really need to make him look bigger? All these guys look a little like Brock Lesnar. (I would drop JR and the King in favor of more wrestlers on screen, even if it's just one more. Heck, drop the ref if we can get six guys on-screen. I love the referee being there, but I'd love a 3-way tag TLC match even more. Or, leave them there and take them out only when neceassary.) Faces could be worked on in many cases, too. Arenas are impressive and the crowd is the best I've seen in a wrestling game.

Sound - 4.5
The crowd is ridiculously quiet until you pull off a special move. It reminds me of a ''Smackdown!'' I went to once in Washington, DC that had a pretty bad crowd (compared to previous crowds there), but, actually, even quieter. This really needs to be improved on. Chants would be nice, too. Basically, ambient sounds are pretty much non-existent. The music is okay, but some sound a little worse than others and all is obviously compressed. Again, the game lacks some themes (Hardyz, nWo, Trish Stratus, Stacy Kiebler, Tajiri, Booker T, and even more) and, since they're all stock music themes, that could've been solved by plunking down a little extra cash (with the exception of Edge's and Hulk Hogan themes, which both would probably have cost a LOT of extra cash since they are by big-name artists [side note: Hogan's current theme didn't debut until after Wrestlemania X8 anyway, so its not being there is actually correct]).

Gameplay - 8.0
If you go in expecting No Mercy, you'll be disappointed. But go in without any specific expectations of that kind and you just may be pleasantly surprised. It's not No Mercy, but it's not Smackdown! either, regardless of what some may say. It's a new sort of game, a new mini-genre within a genre, if you will. Slower in pace than the Smackdown! series yet faster in pace than the AKI series, X8 finds a happy medium. There's a lot of potential in this engine, but some tweaking will be necessary. AI is odd at times; I've seen a CPU opponent pick up a weapon, walk over to me, and then grapple me on numerous occasions, dropping the weapon in the process. They seem to jump off the top turnbuckle more often than not even if you are too far away for them by the time they get there. On another note, I'd like to see the special meter go away. It's annoying to have to keep punching and kicking opponents just to build up the meter so you can finish the match on a high note (I mean, who wants to win after a scoop slam?!). More moves are definitely necessary. A groggy grapple set (or even two groggy grapples like in Smackdown! Just Bring It) would be nice and more choices in every category of moves are a requirement next time around. And how about two choices to do to a grounded opponent from each position (one with just the button and one with the button and any direction) for the sequel? And, though I like the Royal Rumble (it actually starts with just two guys!), back body drops and the like should be able to eliminate people and they shouldn't ALWAYS hang on. If they're pretty worn down, you're in the red, and they're in the blue and stuck in the ropes, a clothesline should send them all the way over. Also, triple threat matches need to become more balanced. The game is very enjoyable, though, despite its flaws, so that says something.

Lasting Appeal - 6.0
Six hidden wrestlers and a few hidden arenas are pretty good, but I had hoped for more. I wonder why WWE doesn't have THQ put some of their developmental talent in the games, if for no other reason than to put a larger number on the back of the box and to give those kids a thrill. The Battle for the Belts option is cool and should definitely add to the replay value, but without the ability to defend these belts in exhibition (or even the WWE belts in the game), some gamers will be left out in the cold if none of their friends have the game. The lacking CAW, though, takes some replay value away. I don't mind choosing a whole face, but I need to have more than just 14 (19 including the girls) to pick from, especially when those 14 (19) look exactly like real WWE superstars. On the plus side, though, that's a guaranteed 19 more guys and gals from WWE that you can add to the already impressive lineup.

Final Comments
A lot of stuff needs to be improved before the next outing, but Wrestlemania X8 is a great starting point. Should be a rental for casual wrestling fans or any gamer with three friends and is, I think, a must-buy for hardcore WWE fans. Those wrestling fans, though, who aren't particularly biased towards the WWE product and/or who love the arcadey Smackdown! engine or the ultra-simmy AKI engine exclusively will either love this new hybrid or hate it.

Bottom Line: I really like the game, but also feel there's a lot of room for improvement.

Overall Score (not an average): 7.5*
*rounded up to 8 for the main WMX8 review page

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/16/02, Updated 06/16/02