WWE WrestleMania XIX

"This game rocks!"

I believe that this is a great game. It has everything that a wrestling fan could ask for...great control, nice graphics, and most importantly, good gameplay. I will definitely go out on a limb and say that this game will be a contender in the next-gen wrestling game battle royal.

Every aspect that fans were disappointed in concerning Wrestlemania X8 has been addressed and fixed. Gone are the minimal amounts of grapples, stiff animation and lack of Create A Superstar options. Taking grappling strikes into consideration, this game has just as many moves as No Mercy in terms of the amount that each wrestler can do. While many of the animations have been held over from X8, a lot have been redone, and there are a lot more to choose from this time around. Revenge mode is hard, but as it unlocks some very nice things in the game, it's worth playing through. The CAS is deep; maybe still not in the league of SD in the sheer number of logos, etc, but the stencil creator is a welcome addition. The entrance editor is also well thought out and executed. There are many camera angles, pyros and entrance moves to be utilized.

This game is not perfect...the lack of a traditional story mode may put off some players, but I prefer the novel idea of Revenge mode. The roster may not be as updated as Raw 2 or SD:HCTP are reputed to be, but once again, since most of my favorite wrestlers are already in the game, I won't have too much of an issue to create the ones that aren't. The CAS is deep, but I would have preferred more original content, as the original moves/themes/etc are limited. A few superstars also do not have their true-to-life entrance themes in the game, which I do not understand. Hopefully in the future, WWE will add a clause to their contracts with musicians that will allow the themes to be used in their games as well as on the show.

In the end, I can honestly say that I am extremely pleased with my purchase of Wrestlemania XIX. Is it the new No Mercy? In a word: no. If you are looking for No Mercy with updated graphics and moves, then look elsewhere. However, this game does put me in the mind of a pleasant mix of Smackdown and No Mercy. As a fan of wrestling and of the wrestling game genre, I think WMXIX has surpassed my expectations and I truly hope that Raw 2 and SD:HCTP will as well.

Personal Ratings (1-10 scale):
Graphics - 8
Sound - 8
Gameplay - 9
Longevity Factor - 9
Overall - 9

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/09/03