WWE WrestleMania XIX

"Wrestlemania 19...A little better than 18"

Gameplay-3 - This game is very similar to 18, and both of which are close to the Nintendo 64 game, WcW/NwO Revenge. The controls are close. All moves are extremely easy to pull off. And the counters, they are easy to pull off too. There is a shopzone, which allows you to purchase create-a-wrestler attribute points and unlock different weapons and such. The entrances and music could have been a heck of a lot better than what they were too. I just wish they made this game a little more challenging and that way it would have been a little more fun. There are different types of matches and all, but only maybe of which two or three of them are any fun at all. You can only play this game so few times before it starts to become boring, and trust me, it does.

Graphics-5- Although this game has better graphics than Wrestlemania 18, I think we all agree that Yukes and THQ could have used the full potential of the gamecube hardware and made a better wrestling game. The graphics of the characters aren't too much better than that of the nintendo's 64's game WCW NWO Revenge, which was disappointing to me. If Yukes and THQ would have just taken the time, and utilized the gamecube's hardware, then they could have made this game look awesome. I was disappointed by the graphics of this game. A little improvement, but not enough to jump up and down with joy and scream and holler. The wrestler's entrances start to become boring, because they are not explosive and the music is just horrible.

Play Control-5- As I said before, every move in this game is so simple to pull off, a novice can literally become pro in like 3 minutes. You tap A for a quick grapple, hold A for a strong grapple. L and R counter. You can store 3 special moves at once. Again, very similar to that of the nintendo 64's game. This may not be a button masher, but close enough to it.

CAW-3- The create a wrestler is not that great, but you can make some really goofy characters. Of course I never even used this feature at all, because I did not like the fact that you have to beat revenge mode to unlock the attribute points. Which makes it that much more fun!(not).

Replayability-4- The only reason I am giving this a 4 is because the game can get kind of fun when you have you and 3 of your buddies all battling it out in the ring, as with any wrestling game. But, even with the accompanying of friends, you will more than likely stop playing this game after about a match or two. It is kind of neat when you first play it, but then it becomes boring after the first couple matches. The revenge mode basically is dumb and boring. You get fired by Vince McMahon and then his daughter Stephanie hires you back to get revenge against Vince and WWE. You go through construction sites and malls and parking lots. You fight construction workers and the like. And since you can't unlock everything in the game without beating it a time or 20, it immediately becomes repetitive and boring. There is no season mode, only this dumb Revenge mode.

Overall-4- I've been a wrestling fan since the Von Erichs were around. And I have been a nintendo fan since the NES was released. So when I got this game, needless to say I was disappointed.

Words of Wisdom to the potential player/tryer/buyer- I rented this game when it first came out, hoping and thinking it would be better than most. Boy was I wrong. So, me being a fan of wrestling and nintendo, this is coming from a gamer that loves wrestling. If you have this game, or it was given to you, sell it. Use the fifty cents to buy a coke or a candybar. You'll get much more enjoyment out of it, than Wrestlemania XIX. If you just absolutely need to try this game, ask a friend if you can borrow it, that way if they have it, it doesn't cost you anything to try it, (except the probable embarrassment from your friend for wanting to try it, but then you can turn that around and use it on him saying, well you have it, why are you laughing). If they don't have it, then I guess it would be better to fork over the money to rent this game instead of buying it. I ask of you, try this game first, but by all means do not go out and buy it first! For I am guessing you will be disappointed if you do. It is so bad, ebay won't even allow you to list it on there website to sell for it may degrade there system. Not really. You may or may not like it, but for me loving both Nintendo and wrestling, I was sure it would have been better. Later.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 06/09/05