WWE: Day of Reckoning for the Gamecube

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

From igncube.com

 

Say goodbye to WrestleMania and hello to WWE: Day of Reckoning. Publisher THQ and developer Yuke's have abandoned the old brand in favor of delivering GameCube owners an all-new take on the entertainment-sport of professional wrestling. Of course, this new endeavor, scheduled to ship exclusively for Nintendo's console this September, will still jump headfirst into the universe of the WWE, and will naturally feature both classic and new star power to play as and go up against. But you don't become a superstar in a single day and in Day of Reckoning you'll start from the very bottom.

 

That's right. Welcome to the "minor leagues" of wrestling. This is where you'll begin your climb from zero to hero. You'll have to build your potential superstar from scratch. Luckily, the game incorporates a detailed and flexible create-a-superstar feature with a wide variety of customization options. Configure face types, hair types, body frame, clothing, accessories, tattoos and more and then give your wrestler an audience-grabbing name and a full set of moves. He's ready to go.

Now it's time to pay your dues. Forget about going up against any wrestling legend just yet. First, it's amateur night. You'll fight every rookie jobber and wannabe out there, make a name for yourself and eventually advance to the next round, the big time -- where matches are filmed and aired on television by the WWE itself. If by some chance you manage to brawl your way to the very top and take hold of the Championship Belt, which is no easy task, you'll need to defend it again and again, so don't get too comfortable.

 

WWE: Day of Reckoning revolves around a deeper, more balanced storyline than any of Yuke's previous GameCube outings. This has been one of the areas the Japan-based development studio went back and concentrated on. As such, you can expect surprising plot developments that lead right into electrified matches.

 

You will make your way up in the world, from WWE Velocity & Heat to the real glitz and glamour of the big-time events. And you'll do it one match at a time, battling 40 of the WWE's top wrestlers in addition to a handful of thugs and no-talents. THQ is still mum on all of the wrestlers in the game -- the full roster should be available in a few days -- but we do know that pros John Cena, Randy Orton, Chris Benoit and Triple H will all be fully playable. Expect most of the hard hitters to be featured in the title, including a wide assortment of WWE Legends.

 

 

Girls, Girls, Girls

By now you've seen the screenshots in this preview and you know that Day of Reckoning proudly boasts a full selection of female superstars. The game sports a full-blown Bra & Panties mode -- a first on a Nintendo console. Here you can choose your favorite fighting diva and go toe-to-toe -- or breast-to-breast, as it were -- in a bitter cat-fight complete with spandex shirts and shorts that can be snapped right off of the loser.

 

Grapple This

The good news is that the control mechanics from previous WWE titles have not been dramatically changed. Yuke's has instead made improvements to the tried-and-true setup, developing a deeper and more dynamic grappling system than ever before, according to THQ. Strong and weak grapples are back, but the game also features an all-new submission system as well as realistic reversals and superstar finishers.

 

In addition, Day of Reckoning utilizes a system by which you can target an opponent's specific body parts -- arms, legs, chest -- and wear him or her down by concentrating on those areas. On top of everything else, there's a new "superstar momentum shift" in which you can turn the tables on your opponent even after they have given you a good beat down and still come back to win the match.

 

Technology

WWE: Day of Reckoning is sure to be the prettiest wrestling entry for Nintendo's system yet. The shines with higher polygon models, significantly improved textures and real-time lighting and pyrotechnic effects. Collision detection issues in previous games have been addressed so that this time around wrestlers really look as if they are grabbing onto and fighting with one another. There are new cinematic camera angles that shoot the action as if it were being presented for television viewers. And there are subtle extras, like the new spandex cloth that the divas wear, which realistically stretches and slinks back into form.

 

Here are some pics from the game.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

All this talk about minor leagues and all the photos are of HHH and Benoit. =/

 

I suspect the sequel is called "WWE: Randy Orton" where you instantly start as an upper-midcarder and have to try not to injure yourself as you walk into guys and they immediately job to you, or try some jobber offense that is easily blocked with the Golden Aura of Management.

 

 

Easiest. Wrestling Game. Ever.

[Zack Malibu 0]

Wait, so this is basically starting as a developmental and getting a callup?

 

Is there going to be a feature where you toil in OVW for years, putting on awesome matches but yet getting no recognition from the WWE? It can be called the "Dinsmore Option" on the game.

[dubq 0]

Meh. I have no faith in anything that Yukes produces for Gamecube. It's like they tossed a coin and decided that the Cube was going to get all the shittiest games or something. The screenshots don't look any different than last year's offering, either.

[The Tino Standard 0]

 

When the hell was the last time HHH look that cut?

[The Metal Maniac 0]

but the game also features an all-new submission system

 

Ok, for fuck's sakes, it's not an all-new system.

 

Wow, you can target different body parts...you've been able to do that for YEARS in wrestling games. Not WWF ones, but still...

[Use Your Illusion 0]

Holy CRAP. That HHH model completely blows the shithouse PS2 one from HCTP out of the water.

 

UYI

[BUTT 0]

I'm surprised they gave up on the WrestleMnia series. You'd figure WMXX would have a video game tie-in.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

It sounds sorta cool and looks sorta cool, but I don't know.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Holy CRAP. That HHH model completely blows the shithouse PS2 one from HCTP out of the water.

 

UYI

Yeah, but it's GameCube, which means the controller won't be made for a wrestling game and the game is likely to suck if it follows the WM games style.

 

The good news on the horizon is that the Raw 2 team lost their jobs at Anchor right as the game shipped, so maybe someone who can make a decent wrestling game will be making the next WWE Xbox game?

[AndrewTS 0]

Well, the title sucks, and I don't give a damn about the graphics. Let's see the gameplay because that's the only thing that matters.

 

And JotW, this isn't a fighting game where you need to have a logical layout of punches/kicks, so the button layout will have little effect on the game--especially since it will be made with the controller in mind.

 

Also, what sucked about WMXIX other than the Revenge mode?

[Karnage 0]

So this is a wrestling version of THUG I guess.

[Guest Askewniverse]

Also, what sucked about WMXIX other than the Revenge mode?

-roster size

-Haas & Benjamin aren't in the game

-only 5 arenas to choose from

-Revenge mode (I know you said other than Revenge mode, but it's so bad that it should be mentioned a second time).

[AndrewTS 0]

Also, what sucked about WMXIX other than the Revenge mode?

-roster size

-Haas & Benjamin aren't in the game

-only 5 arenas to choose from

-Revenge mode (I know you said other than Revenge mode, but it's so bad that it should be mentioned a second time).

The gameplay is good--those are just minor details that could have easily been fixed with an update.

 

No, I have no idea what those guys were smoking when they decided to go with Revenge mode. Was some one on the team REALLY BIG FANS of WWE Betrayal? Or was the mode WWE's idea?

[Jobber of the Week 0]

I remember a developer talked about how players told them they want to be able to do more fighting outside of the ring. And he sat and talked about how they had an outside arena that was basically a Royal Rumble with an outdoors theme, etc etc etc.

 

I don't think people necessarily wanted to see Goldberg give the jackhammer to Frank, an overweight 36 year old construction worker. Nor did they want to see The Rock vandalize a shopping mall and RVD throw a rent-a-cop off a high place to his appearant death.

[AndrewTS 0]

I guess I can kind of see the train of thought--but how the hell they'd think it should replace a good story mode I don't understand. I guess with all the work they put into the environments they couldn't give us a story mode.

 

Revenge mode had a bad concept, but the execution is what really ruined it; beating the hell out of guards for 20 minutes straight and driving their skulls into concrete over and over and STILL they won't bleed, for example. Controls that were ill-suited to a 3D beat 'em up, plus really stupid and inane missions killed it dead. Stick to how it was done in No Mercy/recent Smackdown games and we've got something.

 

At least it wasn't Backstage Assault...

[Guest Coffey]

This game sounds exactly like Smackdown 5.

[AndrewTS 0]

This game sounds exactly like Smackdown 5.

Yeah, probably.

 

"Want to create one of your favorite wrestlers from times past, or one from another organization or a made up wrestler? Want to keep the roster up to date by making your own versions of new stars? Want to do it without having to build up the stats for a wrestler from scratch every time you make a new one?

 

"TOO DAMN BAD!!

 

"You'll have to begin anew for each and every one. If you want to get the roster more up to date--buy the next game!"

 

I wonder if this will follow the Yukes tradition of the final game having half of the features that were mentioned to be in the game.

 

And WHOOPIE-FREAKIN'-DO on Bra & Panties matches.

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

Question. So what exactly do you do in Revenge mode?

[dubq 0]

Question. So what exactly do you do in Revenge mode?

Turn off the Gamecube and not bother playing.

[Skywarp! 0]

There's too many wrestling games out. There's no point. Every game that's come out in the last 3 years has said "improved gameplay mechanics" and "more sophisticated grappling system". And we get the same game as last year's installment, with, say, the Elimination Chamber added.

[Ripper 0]

There's too many wrestling games out. There's no point. Every game that's come out in the last 3 years has said "improved gameplay mechanics" and "more sophisticated grappling system". And we get the same game as last year's installment, with, say, the Elimination Chamber added.

But WMXIX improved leaps and bounds over that atrocity that was X-8. BESIDES little things like who wasn't in the game and arena(which oddly, i didn't care about) the game play was great.

 

All I ask is a little more consistantcy with the character models. Like, the Rey Mysterio, Edge, Undertaker, Kane, Rock etc models in XIX were incredible, but then you would have Roid Rage Brock with Bane-seque Goldberg out there.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Question. So what exactly do you do in Revenge mode?

Revenge mode is their storyline/career mode in which in the very beginning you are fired from WWE. However Stephanie McMahon has you brought in her office and she tells you to sabotage Vince's plans for Mania. This is when you go and stop the workers from putting on Mania, so basically you have to go and destroy construction workers who sets the arena up, the shopping mall security, the shipyard workers who had Mania shit shipped in. It's basically really retarded. At the end you do finally wrestle a real match, at Mania against Vince himself.

[AndrewTS 0]

Yessiree--if you want a Mania title shot, you have to commit vandalism, assault, and murder.

 

I guess Booker didn't go far enough.

 

Worst of all, the controls are ill-suited to the environments you fight in. Plus, the game intentionally makes certain tasks impossible--like trying to make X number of security guards bleed. It takes a few minutes in a regular game, but in Revenge mode you might bust open one, and waste the rest of the time limit beating the hell out of the second or third guard and he refuses to juice.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

Yessiree--if you want a Mania title shot, you have to commit vandalism, assault, and murder.

 

I guess Booker didn't go far enough.

 

Worst of all, the controls are ill-suited to the environments you fight in. Plus, the game intentionally makes certain tasks impossible--like trying to make X number of security guards bleed. It takes a few minutes in a regular game, but in Revenge mode you might bust open one, and waste the rest of the time limit beating the hell out of the second or third guard and he refuses to juice.

Just do mounted punches. I think its possible to open up (hehe...OPEN HIM UP!!!!) all four guys in one mision in less than two minutes. I did it in about three, but slagged off to beast Hurricanes ass with pedigrees.

 

 

 

Yes. I was Triple H. AND I HELD EEVERYONE DOWN!

[Repo Man jr 0]

Not sure if this is posted already but some movies here - http://mediaviewer.ign.com/ignMediaPage.js...ing+Direct+Feed

 

It looks like the last game but with a lot nicer Animation.

[Ripper 0]

Its the same animation. Just the model has a higher poly count.

 

Guess that they are never going to get away from their hand animated walk cycles. I mean, jeez, they could at least rework them a little.

 

It doesn't bother me, but I just don't feel like a nother round of bitching from people saying "This is the worst game ever because of how they walk to the ring." as if it affects the gameplay.

[Repo Man jr 0]

Did U scroll down the page? I thought the actual matches had better animation.

[Ripper 0]

DOH!

 

 

I had only looked at the entrace for HHH.

 

Yeah, the in match animation looks alot better honestly.

[Guest Coffey]

Thus far, I'm not a fan. They'll have to do a lot to impress me from here on out.