WWF War Zone

"It may be horribly outdated, but it is still excellent."

We all know that Acclaim has been churning out wrestling games since 1998. WWF Warzone is the only good one. It was released on multiple platforms to compete with THQ's ''WCW Revenge'' for the Nintendo 64. WCW was winning the Monday night ratings war at the time, so that is why WWF Warzone probably goes unnoticed. But I highly suggest picking this game up.

Graphics
The character design, while flawed, is still very good. The basic character models look very realistic; too bad the faces look like they were plastered on a disfigured circle that Acclaim likes to call the head. The faces are spread apart and just flat out look weird. You can still tell the difference between, say, Bret Hart and Goldust, but the horrible faces really detract from the character design. The moves look decent enough. They flow a lot more than in WWF Attitude, but not as much as it's rival, WCW Revenge. But the graphics get a major boost because there are very little glitches in the game. The only time you will experience some minor glitching is when you apply a submission maneuver, but that is essentially it. Graphics: 8/10

Sound
While WWF Warzone is not the first game to include color commentary (WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game had that distinction) Warzone was certainly the first game to include GOOD commentary. Once you think about it, Warzone is the ONLY game to have good commentary. Jim Ross and WWF owner Vince McMahon join you ringside to commentate the match. They shout out hilarious one-liners and taunts that add to the overall feel of the game. But after playing for about a week, you'll have all the phrases memorized. The game includes the entrance music for all 16 wrestlers, but you only hear it for about 3 seconds. You can listen to it for an extended period when you view their biographies. The sounds of the moves connecting and bodies slamming on the mat are well done. There is no in-game music, but that is because of the commentary. Sound: 9/10

Controls
The controls are a lot like WWF Attitude. The main difference is that the controls in Warzone actually respond. The main problem with Attitude is the game just would not respond to your controls. It does in Warzone. Warzone does have the same basic controls as Attitude, where your wrestler does his moves by entering in Street Fighter-like controls. Not a bad thing if you know what you are doing. Controls: 9/10

Replay
You will want to play through the championship modes a few times to unlock the hidden characters (Dude Love and Cactus Jack) and to unlock the dozens of cheats. After that, you'll want to lay the smackdown on a friend. If not, you still will be playing this game for a long time. Excellent play control, the fact that this game feels like you are watching a TV show, and the fact that you can play as Bret Hart (the best wrestler ever!) will keep you playing for ages. Plus this is the first game to include a cage match. Replay: 9/10

Overall
Overall, this is an excellent wrestling game. It will take you back to early 1998 when the WWF had it's ''attitude'' type of programming. Plus, this is the first decent WWF title on the Playstation.

Difficulty: Medium

PS2 Enhancements
Graphically, no major enhancements. But you will certainly notice shorter loading times.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/09/01, Updated 06/09/01