WWE WrestleMania 21

"Shows promise, but incomplete"

So, I'm a fan of the Smackdown series on PS2, the arcade style over the top gameplay. With that in mind, I wasn't terribly impressed with Wrestlemania XXI. Then I played some more and got into it. It was a fun game. But it seemed incomplete. Then I realized, that's because it was.

Is it too much to ask to have EVERYTHING we want in a single game? Especially when across a few Wrestling games (No Mercy and the Smackdown series), we have it? Apparently so.

Strengths:

Graphics: 9.5/10

The graphics are nearly photographic. There are times when you could convince yourself you were watching the show instead of playing the game. Then again, it's Xbox and short of the PC, Xbox has the best graphics on the market, period.

Controls: 9/10

For the design of the Xbox Type S controller, the controls are excellent. Well thought out and generally responsive. They're not that different from Smackdown HCTP, except for the button locations (but the controllers are inherently different from the PS2). Well done here.

Sound: 8/10

I know sound in this game is a point of contention for several people, but I'll say it's good. The characters talk, much more interesting than reading it all in Smackdown. And most all the voiceovers are well done, with emotion and everything. Not bad at all for a first attempt at total voiceover throughout the game.

Gameplay: 3/10

Here's where it breaks down.

When there's 4 or more guys in the ring all doing moves, the gameplay tends to slow down, like the system can't keep up or something.

The story is a good one, but the implementation is incorrect. POSSIBLE SPOILERS!!! There was a point where Bischoff referenced a match coming up that didn't happen, against opponents I didn't face.

There was a point where after winning, the announcer declared Triple H the winner (and it wasn't part of the story. I won, the announcer just screwed up).

The matches are very one-sided. Either you'll get pummeled because the AI wrestlers will throw you out of the ring and double team you with submissions not letting you get a move in edgewise, or you'll dominate them.

On more than one occasion, depending on how I won the match (DQ, Escaping the Cage, etc.), the yellow starburst appeared on screen, but the words (DQ, etc.) did not.

Once you've done career, there's not much else to do. It would seem you can't take a wrestler BACK through career to build his attributes even further.

The hit detection is funky, as is location detection (I got like 4 rope breaks in a row while in the dead center of the ring)

There's more, but that's enough for now.

The story itself is unique and good. I won't spoil it for you, but for me, it's definitely something I run through once and then maybe play exhibition matches. By contrast, in Smackdown on PS2, I run through season several times to both max out my superstar and control who has the championship so I can run back through as another wrestler and take it from them.

The glaring errors (see above) are inexcusable. I understand there's an upgraded version of the game available but come on. It is literally incomplete. Add to that the lack of options in CAW (can't model your entrance after another superstar's [with very few exceptions]), and the lack of pagentry (when you win certain belts, you don't get a victory pose with them, nor do the ring announcers announce what champion you currently are) and the game is at best a rental (you can finish it in about 6 hours).

However, it is a good start, showing a lot of promise. If these errors are corrected and more features added in a sequel, it seriously could compete with the Smackdown series on PS2. I hope it does. Then Xbox owners would finally have a good wrestling game.

VERDICT: play through once for the career mode story, then go back to Smackdown for gameplay, CAW, and the like.

It's got a lot of promise though. One thing I'll give them is this. They seem to know a lot players like to use CAW to make themselves into the game and win the title. Building a custom storyline around a rookie advancing through the ranks, developing in character (at points, you'll be a heel, other times a face), etc., shows a good understanding of the target audience. And THAT can't be taught. The errors I mentioned above can be corrected by anyone. If the makers of Wrestlemania XXI keep their unique style and correct these errors in the sequel, it really could compete with SD on PS2.

But because of the errors, it's a 6 out of 10.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 05/11/05