WCW/nWo Thunder

"Bye bye 40 dollars!"

You thought the controls and gameplay were horrible on WWF Warzone? Well, you haven't experienced anything until you have played this game. I just don't understand why the N64 WCW games made by THQ rule, while the PSX WCW games made by THQ are just plain awful.

Graphics
The graphics in this game are nothing to be impressed over. The graphics look realistic, but they are also very choppy, and if you participate in the battle royal, be prepared for tremendous amounts of slowdown. However, to this game's credit, the moves look very realistic and well-done. They didn't motion-capture the moves, they just animated them frame by frame. Also, the entrance FMVs are really good-looking as well. They add a nice amount of realism that make you feel like you are actually watching WCW Thunder. But don't go and waste your 40 dollars just because there are some pretty FMV sequences in the game. Grapics: 5/10

Sound
What was THQ drinking when they designed the sound? You have two of the most annoying commentators ever, Larry Zbysko and Tony Schiavone, announcing ''powerbomb'' every time you do a powerbomb. At least Bobby Heenan is in the game :) That is really the extent of the commentary. Also, the sound effects themselves are laughable at best. For example, when you put someone in, say, a sharpshooter, it sounds like someone is crunching on an apple. Wanna know why that is? Because that is the actual sound effect! The sound effects are truly uninspired and just flat out bad. The only good thing about the sound is that the wrestlers' theme music sounds good. Sound: 2/10

Controls
These controls are even worse than in WWF Warzone, and that's pretty bad. The controls are far too complex to be executed well on the PlayStation controller. I mean, hitting up, down, left, triangle just to do a simple move like a sharpshooter is just awful. Of course, if you have already played WCW Nitro, then you know how awful the controls are, since they are practically the same. They added in a grapple feature, which allows you to execute three moves, but that is really a pointless addition, in my opinion. Controls: 1/10

Replay
The only reason you would want to replay this game is to unlock the hidden wrestlers, and there are a lot of them. However, you'll get tired of doing that. And while there is multiplayer options, they really don't add anything to the replay value of the game, unfortunately. Replay: 2/10

Overall
Don't waste your money on this game. If you can get it used at FuncoLand for 3 bucks or something, then you may want to pick it up. But do not, at any costs, spend more than 3 bucks on it. I am talking as a giant WCW fan; this game is not worth any more than a few dollars. Overall: 2/10

PS2 Enhancements
Graphics: Vastly improved. Not too choppy anymore.
Load times: About 2 seconds in between matches.

Reviewer's Score: 2/10, Originally Posted: 03/16/01, Updated 09/04/01