WWE Day of Reckoning 2

"The Line Between Friend and Foe.... Is Not Always Clear..."

This Time Trust No One. That's the new catch line for newest WWE Videogame called, WWE Day of Reckoning 2. Yes this is the sequel to one of the most greatest wrestling game there is on the Nintendo Gamecube. You started from the top in the 1st and you succeed to win the World Heavyweight Championship but lose it the following month. This is were the game continues. You must rise to the top once more but this time you must not trust anyone. Can this game live up too the faith?

GRAPHICS: 10/10
Superb Graphics. The realist graphics that look like the wrestlers real counterparts! With the crowd by your side it brings the game to life. Half of the moves are motion captured, so the moves adds realism to the ring. The entrances are wonderful, they really look like the real action. They impressed me and the others, good job Yukes/THQ.

SOUND: 8/10
With the exception of voice-overs. WWE Day of Reckoning 2 doesn't provide as much real music from recording artists as they put into last years game, so they switch back to generic music. Darn. Authentic music brings the wrestlers down to the ring as they get there official theme songs. Fan chants are off sometimes because they get boring after a while. The sound is fine but the no-addition of voice-overs doesn't really hurt the game.

GAMEPLAY: 10/10
With the most amazing gameplay in a wrestling game out there, this one really hits the spot. Complains from people saying that Day of Reckoning 1 was too hard... well complain no more. Gameplay has been fixed here and there. There is still the smashing the "A" button to get up but it feels very different this year, easier is the word. With the addition of the "STAMINA" meter the gameplay goes further making the game look like real wrestling. The stamina meter is used during wrestling matches, as there are ups and downs. Once you get into the match and get in control your stamina meter drops down making your wrestler tired. As the stamina meter goes up your wrestler becomes now relaxed and calmed. Making the game a bit tough around the edges. With only 50 wrestlers confirmed (Including the legends) this game hits the spot with more wrestler selections. New legends are in the game which include Mankind, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Bret 'The Hitman' Hart, The Rock, and finally arriving in his prime "The Hulkster" Hulk Hogan. This game offers alot with the addition of the Last Man Standing Match. The game packs up a really good addition from the others which is a big plus.

STORY: 8/10
The creators can't get enough of CAW based story mode, can't they? As I said earlier this game continues from Day of Reckoning 1. So your gonna have to go to the drawing board once again and create your wrestler from part 1 all over again, or just start fresh with a new creation. This storyline is way better than Day of Reckoning 1, more in-depth. This story mode could have been better with using actual superstars but this gets a fair score.

OVERALL: 9/10
Day of Reckoning 2 has really amazed me compared to the other one. But THQ/Yukes can create a better game than this. But this does stand tall next too the Smackdown series, this game will keep you busy for a couple of weeks.

RECAP:
+ Superb graphics
+ Authentic wrestlers theme songs
+ Better pair of Legends
+ In-Depth Storymode
+ Improved CAW Mode
+ Tons of match types including Last Man Standing
+ All PPV/Show arenas are in
+ Improved Menu's
+ Can be compared to No Mercy!
-Fan chants get boring after a while
-Addition of Stamina Meter brings the toughness out of the game
-Have to create your wrestlers all over again!
-Can't wrestle with actual wrestlers in story mode

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/31/05