WWE: Day of Reckoning

[SuperSlim]

OK so I forgot how to spell the last word... big deal.

Anyway yeah it's the new WWE game comin out for GC in the fall. It has the look of HCTP though cept a little bit better. And the season is supposed to be better developed than HCTP as well.

Wonderin if anyone else heard bout this game.

[Disturbed316]

Saw some video clips on IGN INsider, looks pretty decent

[Kane Knight]

Hopefully it plays somewhat like WMXIX without the Revenge Mode.

[OssMan]

Yeah it looks really good. It better be, cause Gamecube really sucks right now, as do their wrestling games.

[Shaggy]

From what I have heard about it. You do the season mode by going to a wrestling camp and learning stuff. Then you start off at the bottom and make your way up. All the talk about it is that it is really good.

[Vietnamese Crippler]

Better not turn out like WWF Attitude's "jobber to hero" story mode

[Sephiroth]

Hopefully it plays somewhat like WMXIX without the Revenge Mode.

[Kane Knight]

From what I have heard about it. You do the season mode by going to a wrestling camp and learning stuff. Then you start off at the bottom and make your way up. All the talk about it is that it is really good.
This sounds kinda shaky to me.

[OssMan]

I read a couple reviews, they said it plays like RAW 2 with better graphics. The reviews said it isn't that good but I'll give it a shot.

[OssMan]

links?Don't remember the sites, and I think one was in a magazine. Happy first post btw.

[DS]

It's at E3 so there will be tons of updates on it this week.

[Kalyx triaD]

Yeah it looks really good. It better be, cause Gamecube really sucks right now, as do their wrestling games.

:wtf: May I ask what a good wrestling game is to you..?

[road doggy dogg]

Well, here's an article from IGN from sometime in March about the game:

http://cube.ign.com/articles/498/498552p1.html

<h1>WWE Day of Reckoning: Hands-On</h1>
THQ and Yuke's bring a little Smackdown to the GameCube.


March 12, 2004 - This past Thursday was a big day for WWE fans, and not just because it brought the last episode of Smackdown before WrestleMania XX either. It was also because THQ announced exclusively to IGN readers that it was changing the direction of its GameCube wrestling franchise with its next grappling title, WWE Day of Reckoning. Friday brought us even more information when we had the opportunity to give Reckoning a quick play through.

Our first match was against EGM's resident sports guru Bryan Intihar as we assumed the role of WWE World Champion Triple H with Bryan siding with Canadian Crippler and rabid wolverine Chris Benoit. From the outset we could tell that the PlayStation 2's WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain has heavily influenced the gameplay and presentation in Day of Reckoning quite a bit. For starters, the ring walks are far more cinematic than they were before -- with multiple camera angles and better animations. Luckily Yuke's has utilized the power of the GameCube quite a bit in this regard, as the team has included plenty of special effects and shadowing techniques to really bring the characters forward in terms of their appearance. Reckoning also utilizes specular highlighting so that wrestlers sweat and glisten much as they do in real life, but as you can probably tell in the videos we uploaded earlier -- still look a little plasticized.

Once in the ring, Day of Reckoning plays like a mix between last year's WrestleMania XIX and Here Comes the Pain. The submission meter from Here Comes the Pain, in particular, is an important new element to Reckoning -- especially in our match against Chris Benoit. Since Benoit is a master of submissions and Bryan is a big Benoit fan, he was ready to exploit that knowledge early and often.

http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/wwereckoning_031204_inline_01.jpg

For the unfamiliar, the submission meter basically works like a tug-of-war between players. Once the submission hold has been initiated, the meter will appear at the bottom of the screen with both players given the opportunity to button mash and struggle for dominance. When the pre-determined time limit is up (dictated by the initiating wrestler's submission rating), the hold is released and the appropriate amount of damage is dealt. This system not only makes the game more realistic and interactive, it adds a lot of strategy to a player's game plan as well; especially with the inclusion of location-specific damage.

Weapons are treated a lot more realistically too and deal out more damage than any single move. Chairs, hammers, tables, and similar weapons can really put the hurt your opponent pretty quickly. But in an effort to limit weapon usage and keep things balanced the game will only allow a weapon to be used two or three times before breaking. Too bad the same can't be said for your face -- as it will break and bleed all over the place if it's smashed enough (and no, women still can't be cut open no matter how many times you strike them).

Grappling mechanics have remained pretty much unchanged, though, with the same strong/weak system that WrestleMania XIX used. The major difference this time, however, is the number of moves that can be performed -- they've been increased by an undisclosed amount (but we can definitely tell that there's more). If we have one complaint, it's that super moves cannot be reversed or halted as they can in Smackdown. But we were told by THQ representatives that it's possible this could change, as the team is still balancing the gameplay and evaluating whether or not to add this feature.

All in all, our hands-on time with Triple H and Benoit turned out to be a lot of fun. Because of the momentum meter (represented by a heart beat monitor) there was an ebb and flow to the action that seemed natural and believable, and there weren't any sudden recoveries or super moves out of nowhere that plagued earlier WWE games so badly.

Our next match (Jeremy vs. Fran as Stacy and Trish) resulted in much the same feeling as the first. But since it was a bra and panties specialty bout, provided more laughs than drama. Either way, the bra and panties model is lifted directly out of Here Comes the Pain; with the same commands used to disrobe your opponent (down + submit) in addition to the same animations and tactics. At least Yuke's has finally nailed down the key to making good female models this time around, though. Because for the first time we can ever remember, Trish Stratus actually looked like Trish Stratus -- not the freaky Bodysnatcher clone we've seen in earlier years.

Unfortunately there weren't any other wrestlers available in our build to try out -- and game modes have yet to be finalized for our testing. But based on what we've seen and done so far, WWE Day of Reckoning is a definite step in the right direction for GameCube wrestling fans who have been waiting patiently for a triple-A grappling title. Whether or not it turns out that way we'll just have to wait and see. Stay tuned.

Sounds a bit better than the Wrestlemania games at least. Area-specific damage = :drool: No Mercy styleeee

[OssMan]

:wtf: May I ask what a good wrestling game is to you..?Smackdown: Here Comes The Pain

[road doggy dogg]

Your opinion doesn't matter though. You said Gamecube is shit, therefore you are irrelevent.

[Kane Knight]

Your opinion doesn't matter though. You said Gamecube is shit, therefore you are irrelevent.

:y:

[Kane Knight]

I don't think WMXIX or HCTP had it done right, really. Both were steps in the right direction. Hopefully, This will further it.

[Hired Hitman]

I really like the look of that game, too bad I have playstation 2 :(

[road doggy dogg]

Yeah it had a bit, but to be honest it was mainly there for the animation of it. Like if you did 20 Boston Crabs on the guy (in a match with submission as a win stipulation off), he wouldn't be walking noticeably slower, or climb cages slower, etc.

At least, not from what I remember. I could be wrong though...

[Joe Kerr]

The problem is its only going to have 40 superstars which means people again will be left out. Gamecube needs a good wrestling game. They've been bombing with the wrestlemania series so a Gamecube wrestling game with a story is a great Idea.

[Funky Fly]

It better be hott. I need something to replace No Mercy afty my nephew LOST MY DAMN COPY. :'(

[Hired Hitman]

http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/article/512/512122/wwe-day-of-reckoning-200405070246899.jpg

:love:

[Kane Knight]

Has there been any official count on the number of superstars? Or is 40 a guess?

[The Ravishing One]

It better be hott. I need something to replace No Mercy afty my nephew LOST MY DAMN COPY. :'(


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=62053&item=8106480470&rd=1

[Funky Fly]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=62053&item=8106480470&rd=1
Hmmm, it was put up for sale yesterday. Is tha you selling it?

Also, I've never bought anything from ebay.

[Joe Kerr]

Has there been any official count on the number of superstars? Or is 40 a guess?
I had a article in Game informer magazine that said with 40 superstars to chose from and a create a character option...So unless that changes people will be cut.

[Kane Knight]

Yeah, but even HCTP had some massive cutbacks in the roster...And they were hyping the "most extensive roster ever!" Or whatever.

Apparenly, most etensive is slang for Two Undertakers

[Kane Knight]

Hmmm, it was put up for sale yesterday. Is tha you selling it?

Also, I've never bought anything from ebay.
E-Bay is a good way to go if you're smart.