WrestleMania XIX picture/preview

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

Last year publisher THQ brought its WrestleMania franchise to Nintendo's next-generation console to mixed reactions. Players were pleased that developer Yuke's, with former members of the Aki team, was at the helm of the semi-sequel, but the end play mechanics and grappling moves seemed to lack the finesse and depth of the N64 titles. Meanwhile, while the wrestler's visuals were suitable, it still lacked a selection of features, including what is often the biggest selling point in these types of projects today, a strong story mode.

THQ listened to the complaints and in some sense went back to the drawing board. The result is WWE WrestleMania XIX, which is set to debut exclusively for GameCube this August. The game, piloted by a "brand new development team with Yuke's members mixed with former Aki staff in a unique creative collaboration," is in every way a deeper wrestling experience, according to THQ, with a host of enhancements and additions that are sure to finally satisfy demanding GCN owners. Keep reading to find out why.

 

Features

 

 

Exclusive WWE WrestleMania GCN Sequel

Developed by a new team made up of Yuke's and former Aki members

Faster, but more simulation-centric focus

More than 50 wrestlers including WWE superstars

Grappling system now features wider variety of grapples

Enhanced create-a-superstar mode

First wrestling game this generation to feature blood in matches

Path of a Champion mode

Brand new storyline mode

Totally re-created character models

Player-specific damage

Tutorial mode

Four-player support

Gameplay

THQ is excited about WWE WrestleMania XIX. A company representative admits to us over the phone that yes, it would have preferred more time to develop last year's game, but that XIX will be the real deal -- the sequel that includes all of the features the original didn't. Sounds good. But what exactly does that entail?

 

WWE WrestleMania XIX is still in pre-alpha stage, but it's already up, running and looking good (see the first screenshots we've included in our media section for proof). The title will have a changed focus -- it'll play faster than Raw but not quite as speedy as Smackdown. "The gameplay focus is now more slanted toward a simulation where timing is the key," says a THQ rep. The grappling system of old will be back, but significantly tweaked with several more grapple types.

 

The title will sport more than 50 wrestlers, many of them WWE superstars, including everyone from The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan to Booker T, Triple H and Scott Steiner. Each will come complete with unique wrestler entrances. Also, each features his or her individual attributes, strengths and weaknesses. So, for instance, while the Undertaker is very strong and deals out fierce, damaging blows, Ray Mysterio relies heavily on his speed to evade attacks. Interestingly, because there were criticisms that the wrestlers looked "too cartoony" in X8, the development team completely scrapped the old player models and created new ones from scratch. The new models are much more realistic in nature. To this end, the game will likewise include blood -- a first for any wrestling game this generation, according to the publisher.

 

Control will be both familiar and improved. Executing a player's special move is roughly the same as last year -- hit A+B once and the wrestler's special animation will begin, and then the player must hit A+B again at the end of the animation to complete the move. The development team is still testing the option to let opponents counter and break the special move during this sequence.

 

XIX will also feature location-specific damage. For example, if a player wears down their opponent's ankle, the opponent will limp around the ring and eventually that part of his body will be worn down and more susceptible to being pinned.

 

Of course, the biggest addition of all comes in the form of the game's story mode. Last year's game included a 'Path of a Champion' mode as the main single-player option, but this time around the story mode is where it's at. Here players pick a superstar and then helplessly watch as Vince McMahon strips them of their status. One's wrestler is promptly kicked out of the WWE, and the goal of the game is to seek revenge and regain his or her dignity. Wrestlers will fight in many different backstage areas on a mission to destroy McMahon's commercial assets and bring honor back to their name.

 

There are five environments in all, and each is broken down into six missions. Players will fight in a McMahon's construction site (where they must destroy his operations), a shipping port (where they duke it out on his multi-million dollar yacht and eventually detonate it with a bomb), a shopping mall, a parking lot, and a fire station. Near the end of the story mode, gamers will work their way back into the ring and even participate in a few cage matches. In the final showdown, wrestlers must confront and defeat Vince McMahon himself in the ring.

 

On top of everything else, the game will still feature other classic play modes including King of the Ring and Royal Rumble, a host of new and old match types, and even a tutorial mode in which players can learn the ropes of the entertainment. Additionally, THQ says, the create-a-superstar feature from last year's game will be back except with a list of options that run much deeper. Expect full multiplayer support, too.

 

Outlook

Last year's WWE game was more of a testing ground for the franchise than it was a complete wrestling entry. This year THQ, working closely with Yuke's and former Aki members, has set out to create a far deeper sequel. We'll be going hands-on with the title next week, at which point we'll report back with new impressions of how everything looks in motion, along with new media, but in the meantime we're excited by the possibilities here. If the execution is right, this could be on of 2003's biggest GameCube projects. Stay tuned for more.

 

 

 

 

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

There are five environments in all, and each is broken down into six missions. Players will fight in a McMahon's construction site (where they must destroy his operations), a shipping port (where they duke it out on his multi-million dollar yacht and eventually detonate it with a bomb), a shopping mall, a parking lot, and a fire station. Near the end of the story mode, gamers will work their way back into the ring and even participate in a few cage matches. In the final showdown, wrestlers must confront and defeat Vince McMahon himself in the ring.

 

Any good feeling I had about this was promptly destroyed RIGHT HERE.

[Guest kane3212321]

a shipping port (where they duke it out on his multi-million dollar yacht and eventually detonate it with a bomb)

 

Does Chetum the Midget help too?

[Guest Lightning Flik]

There are five environments in all, and each is broken down into six missions. Players will fight in a McMahon's construction site (where they must destroy his operations), a shipping port (where they duke it out on his multi-million dollar yacht and eventually detonate it with a bomb), a shopping mall, a parking lot, and a fire station. Near the end of the story mode, gamers will work their way back into the ring and even participate in a few cage matches. In the final showdown, wrestlers must confront and defeat Vince McMahon himself in the ring.

 

Any good feeling I had about this was promptly destroyed RIGHT HERE.

Ditto.

[Guest Flyboy]

I'm not buying that shit.

[Guest wwF1587]

i wasnt the biggest fan of the gamecube's controls to begin with... this doesnt get me all that excitted....i'll take Def Jam Venderra (sp is probably wrong) anyday... April 1 ... too far..

[Guest El Satanico]

An action adventure/wrestling game?

 

What in the hell are they smoking

[Guest CED Ordonez]

If you have an idea to use in a WWE game, that is so out there that even WWE writers haven't used it yet, the game's going to suck (See: WWE Crush Hour)

[Guest TonyJaymzReloaded]

hmm..yeah remeber that wcw game which had no ring?

 

me neither so didto for this

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

I think the outcry over no story mode in X-8 should have been more specific. Hopefully, they'll cut all the crap about McMahon and go with a storyline mode similar to SYM.

[Guest Blue Bacchus]

hmm..yeah remeber that wcw game which had no ring?

 

me neither so didto for this

Dude! WCW Backstage Assualt Rocked! Where else can you play as KroniK versus David Flair and Crowbar in a Bathroom Brawl?!?

[Guest chirs3]

Of course, the biggest addition of all comes in the form of the game's story mode. Last year's game included a 'Path of a Champion' mode as the main single-player option, but this time around the story mode is where it's at. Here players pick a superstar and then helplessly watch as Vince McMahon strips them of their status. One's wrestler is promptly kicked out of the WWE, and the goal of the game is to seek revenge and regain his or her dignity. Wrestlers will fight in many different backstage areas on a mission to destroy McMahon's commercial assets and bring honor back to their name.

 

There are five environments in all, and each is broken down into six missions. Players will fight in a McMahon's construction site (where they must destroy his operations), a shipping port (where they duke it out on his multi-million dollar yacht and eventually detonate it with a bomb), a shopping mall, a parking lot, and a fire station. Near the end of the story mode, gamers will work their way back into the ring and even participate in a few cage matches. In the final showdown, wrestlers must confront and defeat Vince McMahon himself in the ring.

 

[Guest Renegade]

What the hell? So the aim of the game is not to win any titles...but to beat vince? I am not touching this game.

[Guest Nevermortal]

I can re-create Beach Blast '92? d00d, I'm so there.

[gWIL 0]

On the picture, Isn't it Rey Mysterio not Ray

The story mode COULD be cool, if done right.

[LaParkaYourCar 0]

Are they wrestling in Trump Plaza in that last pic?

 

Whoa it's WrestleMania IV & V

[Guest MrRant]

If gameplay is good I will buy it and skip the story mode.

[Guest SP-1]

I usually just make up my own storylines anyway.

 

They need to bring back the Create-A-Title!

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

I'd just like to say I'm shocked, I mean SHOCKED, at how many of you guys play the single player game.

[Guest Lightning Flik]

I'd just like to say I'm shocked, I mean SHOCKED, at how many of you guys play the single player game.

Dude, I don't know a single person who likes to watch wrestling near me, so a wrestling game is hard to sell to them.

 

Not since No Mercy anyways.

[Guest SP-1]

I miss No Mercy horribly. That game is still the best in North America, IMO. Aside from SD4 anyway, and NM still beats it out in alot of ways.

[Guest Flyboy]

I'd just like to say I'm shocked, I mean SHOCKED, at how many of you guys play the single player game.

We can't all have a hoard of fans like you, JotW.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

Dude, I don't know a single person who likes to watch wrestling near me, so a wrestling game is hard to sell to them.

Yeah, I know, I'm just talking about the story modes, which are rather a new thing and kind of experimental.

 

If I play with AI it's mostly exhibition myself.

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

Rumors are that the game will be playable at Wrestlemania (probably the fan fest thing..)..

[Guest Downhome]

I will not touch the game unless it's at least one million times better than the last one, and as it looks, this one will be shit also.

 

They need to get the gameplay right before trying something so shit-tastic as this.

[Guest Downhome]

hmm..yeah remeber that wcw game which had no ring?

 

me neither so didto for this

Dude! WCW Backstage Assualt Rocked! Where else can you play as KroniK versus David Flair and Crowbar in a Bathroom Brawl?!?

In my nightmares.

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

One's wrestler is promptly kicked out of the WWE, and the goal of the game is to seek revenge and regain his or her dignity. Wrestlers will fight in many different backstage areas on a mission to destroy McMahon's commercial assets and bring honor back to their name

 

Is this about WMXIX or a new NWA: TNA game?

[Guest Lightning Flik]

One's wrestler is promptly kicked out of the WWE, and the goal of the game is to seek revenge and regain his or her dignity. Wrestlers will fight in many different backstage areas on a mission to destroy McMahon's commercial assets and bring honor back to their name

 

Is this about WMXIX or a new NWA: TNA game?

Oooooo... The LOW BLOW~!

[Guest Respect The 'Taker]

Well at least they've perfected the Hogan Super-Tan

 

Well done guys.

[Guest MrRant]

Why does Rey look blacker than The Rock?