WWE WrestleMania XIX

"Good game, just not as good as the competition"

I had been anticipating this game for quite a while. I enjoyed playing Smackdown, but I still missed the No Mercy type element in wrestling games, so I decided to go for this game.

It's a good game by all means, it's just that you can't help but wonder which console it was that Yukes was really focusing on.

Persentation 6/10

Not all that impressive. Looks a bit bland at first sight, and lacks some of the modes offered in Smackdown games. Battle Royal is not in. Could have done with a few extra touches to make it look nicer, but presentation is not really that important anyway.

Graphics: 8/10

The graphics are good, but not great. The character likenesses are there, but they just look a little plain. It's not really as colourful as in Wrestlemania 18, but this can be a good or bad thing. Animations are cool to watch, as the wrestlers writhe in agony after being pummeled, but the entrances aren't that spectacular.
Won't have you staring on in amazement, but they do get the job done.

Gameplay: 7/10 (from both multiplayer and single player modes)

Main reason I got this game. It has great gameplay. Yukes have taken a page out of AKI's book and included strong and weak grapples. I did not play wrestlemania 18, so it took me a while to get used to the controls, but they soon became second nature. Momentum can switch easily between players when finishers are reversed, which makes this is a very fun game to play with friends. Also there is location specific damage, which is a nice addition. You can concentrate on one area of the opponents body to weaken them. If successful, you will see a short clip of your oppenent clutching this part in agony, meaning a few more submissions until they submit. I did hear rumours about weight detection, but unfortunately this is not in.
Single player, on the other hand is where it goes downhill. In an effort to make up for the lack of a Season mode in wm18, yukes have introduced ''revenge mode''. The problem is that it is just so boring and repetitive.
I'm a wrestling fan, and I would rather have a proper season mode than a final fight rip-off. To make things worse, since you can only run straight, which causes a lot of problems. Asides from this, it is very frustrating taking out 3 men at a time, doing a move to one, only to have someone interrupt it. Since it is fairly short there is no real incentive to play it again (unless you want to unlock the secrets) but will you really want to?

Notes:
- Collision detection is in
- Tables and Ladders are just as flimsy as in the smackdown games
- No weight detection, but there is a point system (with created wrestlers)
- Location specific location. (not neccesary to win, but does add a nice twist to matches)
- BLOOD!!

Sounds 6/10

Is it too much to expect decent music in a wrestling game? Seems so. The cheesy guitar tune BGM's remain in this game which don't really suit the action. They managed to get most of the tunes in, but some are just instrumentals e.g. dudleys, matt hardy to name a few. Nice in the ring sounds, punches sound a bit weird but body slams sound very authentic. Also crowd chants are in, and are worth noting because it really helps add the feel of being in the ring.

CAW Mode 8/10

I'm not really that big on caw, but this one is quite good. Not as extensive as in the Smackdown series, but not too simple either. You won't spend HOURS trying to create the perfect caw, and unlike in smackdown, the CAWS actually blend in well with the normal superstars. Nice touches are editing the entrances (lighting, camera, fireworks), but is not that great since the entrances themselves are not all that good.

Replay Value 6/10 (single and mutliplayer combined)

Great game to play with friends, although the single player gets boring real fast. There is a King Of The Ring mode, but it is n't a real incentive to carry on playing. The CPU gets predictable, and you end up getting boring matches if you play alone. The lack of modes doesn't work in it's favour either. You can play revenge stages which is fun with friends, but unfortunately there are no real back-stage areas.

Final Comments: A good game. Has lasted me a few weeks, but it depends on what you're like. I had fun with this game despite some of its shortcomings. I suggest renting it before trying it, since the competition is very good this year. It can't top Smackdown 5 for features, but is still a solid game, and well worth a look. Still, I am looking very forward to the sequel.

Overall rating: 7/10 (Not an average)

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 10/31/03