WWE Day of Reckoning 2 Review - GC

Nintendo fans have had a long and storied history with wrestling games. From the classic Pro Wrestling for the NES to Aki’s brilliant grapplers for the N64, Nintendo gamers have had the best wrestling games to choose from…until the GameCube, that is. THQ’s WrestleMania series for the Cube always played second fiddle to its PlayStation 2 siblings, and while Day of Reckoning was a significant stride forward, it still wasn’t nearly as good as the Smackdown series. Day of Reckoning 2 continues the progress made with the first, but there are still a number of flaws that prevent it from grabbing the gold. Think of it as the Ultimate Warrior of wrestling games--it has a great look and several appealing facets, but there are also deficiencies that can’t be ignored.

I Think I’m Cute, I Know I’m Sexy

Day of Reckoning 2’s fighting engine is an evolved version of last year’s. It’s pretty easy to learn the basics and button mash your way through early matches, as well as multiplayer bouts. There’s also a fairly intricate reversal system and a very cool submission system that lets you put crippling moves on your foes. The new submission system lets you attack various body parts, weaken stamina, and diminish crowd momentum. While longtime gamers will still complain that it’s not as good as Aki’s work, the engine is a strong base for all the wrestling fun Day of Reckoning 2 offers.

The most outstanding aspect of the game is its graphics. The character models are brilliant and the visual presentation is outstanding. Wrestlers have never appeared more lifelike in a video game and it’s an absolute pleasure to watch all the graphical wizardry this game offers. The wrestler intros look amazing and the action is smooth. Yuke’s has truly outdone itself with this game’s visuals.

The game’s story mode does a good job at offering a WWE-style angle. Like the last game, you play the part of an up-and-coming wrestler. You have your shot at the gold. Unfortunately, someone stole the precious championship belt so there’s nothing to fight for (some suspension of disbelief is required). With the lovely and leggy Stacey Keibler by your side, you have to make your way through a bunch of backstage shenanigans to get the gold.

Do You Hear What The Rock is Cooking?

Since GameCube discs only hold 1.5 Gigs of data, some corners have been cut to fit all the grappling goodness into the three-inch format. This deficiency rears its head in the sound department. Catchphrases, commentary, interviews, and promos are a tremendous part of what makes the WWE so much fun. Unfortunately, these facets of sports entertainment are not conveyed in Day of Reckoning 2. You won’t hear commentators alternating between play-by-play calls and ripping on the wrestlers. You won’t hear classic promos by Austin and Mankind. And you won’t hear backstage confrontations that set up storylines. All of this is rather unfortunate since text trees do not have the same impact of real voices.

Another problem with the game is its AI--whether it’s your opponent or your tag-team partner, this game’s computer-controlled grapplers do some really silly things. You’ll have matches that would be considered classics akin to Shawn Michaels' and Bret Hart's “Iron Man Match.” Other times the AI will make Eugene (WWE’s mentally challenged wrestler) look like someone with multiple PhDs. Your opponents and partners will act like wrestling gods one moment and inexplicably stand there waiting to be hit at another. The AI goofiness detracts from Day of Reckoning 2’s appeal as a single-player game. Thankfully the fighting engine is interesting and accessible enough to let it shine as a multiplayer title.

The create-a-wrestler mode, while improved over last year’s, is still uneven. There are a lot of cool customizations where you have a broad range of choices, but there are some where the options are limited. Compared to the advancements EA has made with create-a-player, THQ’s mode seems rather banal.

That’s the Bottom Line, ‘Cause X-Play Said So!

It’s funny that Day of Reckoning 2 has such an extensive counter system, because the game ultimately counters itself. As good as the fighting engine is, it can be crippled by the AI. The brilliant graphics are almost cancelled out by the utter lack of sound. The nifty story mode is hampered by a limited create-a-wrestler mode. If you’re looking for the best wrestling game out there or if you’re trying to relive the N64 glory days with Aki then this game will disappoint you. For everything this game does well, there’s a flaw that will surely annoy you.

Day of Reckoning 2 is best for WWE fans that are casual players. The gorgeous graphics, broad character roster, large number of matches, and multiplayer action offer a ton of fun for players that can forgive technical flaws. The accessible controls will let players bust out incredible moves with ease. In a way, the game is the Chris Masters of video games. It has an awesome look and excellent potential, but more work is required before it’s ready for the main event.