by
Ted Kritsonis
Faze Video Game Editor

It seems like every year THQ comes just a little bit closer to achieving the wrestling game they’ve always meant to release, but falls way short of doing so. I do give credit to THQ for trying to create an identity for each console’s WWE game, but each one has also had its own unique problems over the last few years.

In the case of the GameCube, WWE: Day of Reckoning is supposed to be a big improvement over last year’s mediocre Wrestlemania XIX, where security guards stole the show as the toughest guys in the game. While the graphics engine didn’t go through an overhaul, a lot of minor things have changed in terms of the gameplay and presentation that make it a very different game from last year.

The most obvious addition that the guys will love is the Bra and Panties match. Now, most WWE fans know what this match is, but for those who don’t, the idea is to strip your opponent down to her bra and panties in order to win. Ring entrances are also a bit of an improvement and the character models don’t look as stiff as they used to.

But for the first time, WWE fans with a GameCube can take solace in knowing that this year, Yuke’s and THQ got it right on the story mode. Last year’s disaster, thanks to the borderline invincibility given to the security guards, becomes a distant memory when you can appreciate what Yuke’s tried to do here.

You create a wrestler and then toil at house shows wrestling against jobbers vying for a spot in the big time. From there, you can move on to dark matches on Heat, or even on T.V., until you earn a shot to appear on Raw or Smackdown. It is a bit on the linear side, as there isn’t much room for unexpected events, but going through it all can feel pretty gratifying nonetheless. Now, whether you’d want to play through it again after finishing it is another story.

Although the single player is better this year, the multiplayer is still as great as it always was. There’s no online play, but all the gimmick matches and the gameplay’s short learning curve make Day of Reckoning an easy one to enjoy for just about anyone. Every move is fairly easy to pull off and you won’t get too confused when playing a match with three other gamers like in years past. Throw in some unlockable characters that will be more than recognizable, along with all the gimmicks and minor improvements, and you’ve got a pretty solid effort by THQ.

It would be far-fetched to suggest that this game is going to win any awards or accolades, and the question of how it compares to PS2’s Smackdown and Xbox’s Raw is a tough one to really debate. But with all that said, THQ and Yuke’s deserve some props for putting together a very respectable WWE game that sets a great tone for what we may see in the future.

Publisher:
THQ
Developer:
Yuke's Media Creations

Platform:
Gamecube

Rating: 8/10