WCW World Championship Wrestling

"The Best Wrestling Game for NES"

After Pulling out my old NES System and some games, this is the one that caught my eye first. So lets pop it in and check it out eh?

Graphics: (8/10) For 1989, the graphics are very well done, only problem is people like Flair & Luger are wearing long tights (like everyone in the game except for the different colors.) but everyone is noticeably different, especially the Road Warriors, who look the same except for their hair styles and face paint. The graphics for each move is great looking, especially a superstars finishing move, although a few look ordinary like elbow drops and such. The ring was decent but the crowd looked somewhat odd. The referee looked well as well.

Sound: (8/10) The music during the game is quite good, sometimes catchy although it repeats a lot and actually doesn't fit with this game, but that's not the point, although it appears the music would be better off fit with Street Fighter or something along those lines of gaming.

Challenge: (NR) The Game is quite easy unless your a first timer then it should only take 15-20 minutes to get the hang of how to use moves and all that jazz.

Gameplay: (9/10) Fairly fun, you have a choice of 12 moves (1 for each directional button so you get 4 moves) and you have a finisher by mashing select, a & b in the center of the ring at the same time. You also have the kick, punch and top rope attack, and some more fun on the arena floor. There are I would guess 20+ moves combined, since you would se some people use moves others wouldn't such as Hawk & Animals hangman, people like Sting or Steamboat wouldn't use. Plus you have finishers which would add another 12 so there is possibly 30 or more different holds in the game.

Game Modes: (8/10) You have 1 on 1, Tag Team and a Tournament Like event where you defeat everyone (in either of the modes) several times. After winning the 1 on 1 division you have a surprise at the end that you may or may not like. The tag tournament is like those of starrcade 1989, where you wrestle each team once and score points for wins, losses and ties. As for the Singles mode you fight everyone twice until the end.

Replayable: (10/10) This game is just fun. It never gets old unless your back is hurting and even then who would quit?

Character Listing: Ric Flair, Sting, Lex Luger, Kevin Sullivan, Mike Rotunda, Steve Willams, Eddie Gilbert, Michael Hayes, Ricky Steamboat, Rick Steiner, Road Warrior Hawk & Animal. Side note, Flair & Steamboat are arguably the toughest superstars in the game surprisingly and it usually takes more to defeat them then you would fight Michael Hayes or Rick Steiner.

Overall: It's worth buying unless your not to big on wrestling then I reccomend renting it (if it's still rentable).

If you haven't read before, I give this game a 9/10 rating, since it has everything all WWF games from NES didn't have, a fun game basis, finishing moves and a wider variety of wrestlers with better characterization.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/14/02, Updated 06/14/02