"THQ/AKI once again prove if the n64 is good for one thing, its wrestling games."

Once again, THQ and AKI produce and astounding game for the n64 and this is my review.

Graphics: 8/10
Well, actually, I think WM2K has better graphics than No Mercy. A lot of the faces on No Mercy are horrible, and the bodies just look f'd up and WM2K does a better job on both accounts, IMHO. Although the arenas are a lot better in No Mercy and it added backstage areas which are done pretty well and I like them a lot. The costumes are pretty cool and there's a lot of them, some good originals too, to make some other guys from different federations and also to create some cool creations. One thing I would've liked it the option for custom colors like in WWF Attitude and Warzone, that was one of the things from those games I truly liked from the Acclaim WWF games. They might have well have left TitanTrons out, they're horrible and pointless. And they should've put in full entrances DARNIT!

Sound: 7/10
Ugh, well, its a n64 game, so I wasn't expecting great sound quality, but that doesn't mean I can give it a 9 or 10 just because its n64. Its not bad sound, but if this was on PSX it'd be a lot better. They have almost all the entrances for the wrestlers, I really wish they would've added more older themes for guys, so you could use those music for guys older costumes, but they didn't so oh well. There's not much to talk about sound, because besides themes there's not much other sound. But the themes are pretty good for an n64.

Gameplay: 10/10
This is deserving of a 10+, but I can't do that so I didn't. The gameplay is awesome, it has been since Revenge actually, but this is the best so far, iMO. Most of the moves are very fluid, except for a few (the running swinging DDT and standing DDT are horrible) and there are so many moves to do. Also, there's so many things you can do besides just normal moves, you can bring weapons in and hit people with them and do moves on them which makes some dandy sounds when you do. Also, you can fight backstage and thats really fun, there's tables to put guys thru in a couple of the rooms and a lot of the areas are big and fun to mess around in, especiall 4 ways and stuff. The ladder match is very much fun and you can do some fun moves off the ladder and even moves from the ladder thru the table which IS AWESOME! I love doing it, I try to do it every ladder match now if I can, but its not always possible, sometimes I just give up keeping the guy down and go grab the belt/briefcase. Also, the Championship modes are really fun, most of the angles you come upon happen in real life, but not always the same people. It was funny the first time I saw Rock being the booker and leader of DX :) There's so many possible things they're pretty much endless...well the angles will be the same, but a lot of them can happen with different people depending on who's the champ and who you are and stuff.

Overall: 9/10
I won't give it a perfect 10, but a 9/10 is very good and this game is very deserving. Among the things i mentioned above, you can edit wrestlers costumes, names and music and keep those up to date at least. No editing moves or enemies or managers yet, but thats ok. The CAW is very fun. You have to buy a lot at the Smackdown Mall from the money you get in Championship and Survival, but its a good challenge. Speaking of Survival, it IS REALLY fun to do, you get more money if you pin the guys, but pinning about 90+ guys would be annoying, so its easy to throw most out and you'll still make a hunk of change.

I'd recommend this game to all wrestling fans, whether you like theWWF or not, its awesome. I'd even recommend it to non wrestling fans, its a fun game, I know a few people who hate wrestling, but absolutely enjoy this game and play it a lot. Feel free to disagree with me either in email or other means, via AOL or Yahoo at TrippaC....okay, bye.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/21/00, Updated 12/21/00