GRAPHICS- Very detailed graphics engine. The absolute most detail I have yet to see in a Wrestling game as of 4/22/05. The graphics are more impressive than those of my previous favorite, All Star 3 on PS2. From the wrestlers to the environments, everything looks extremely nice. There are though a couple of wrestlers that look a little off, nothing major though.
GAMEPLAY- For me, I dig the wrestling engine and what Studio Gigante attempted to accomplish. While it's not without a flaw or two plus a warp here and there, I can honestly say that I enjoy my matches on a NJPW4 or KOC2 type of level meaning that I can really tailor and work my matches.
Add in the fact that you can adjust the sliders for damage and your heat meter and you can have some long, back and forth matches. The reason I see potential in this engine (don't they all have unfulfilled potential) is because against the comp, it feels like a wrestling match.
Like stated, I'm a guy that likes to work my matches and carry out my game plan. The match pacing can be tailored to your particular style. This pacing may or may not be for everyone. I think the more sim oriented guys/gals will enjoy the matches more than non-sim ladies and gents.
There are some standard, or should be standard, missing items that are either missing entirely or I just can't figure out how to do such as, manual apron moves, running dives and planchas and dives and planchas at the ropes. Like stated, it may just be me.
For a first grappling engine, it works well. There are weak, strong, quick and submission grapples. That's 20 front grapples and dependent on your specials, there is the potential for 22 front grapples. And speaking of finishers, what the hell is the deal with Edge's spear?
Talk about some serious warping. What else, um, you can switch from front to back grapples, have some pretty decent hardcore matches in which you can totally bloody your opponent, which is always a good thing.
PROS-
* Plenty of items to unlock. Increased replay value.
* Very nice and detailed CAB. It would have been nicer had it included match stipulations for each belt or weight class but as a first attempt, it's not too bad. I look for Studio Gigante to go all out with this feature if there is a next installment.
* For the most part, the Wrestlers animate nicely only with a few hiccups here and there.
* Good voice acting and cut scenes in story mode.
* The crowd counts along with the ref in a LNS match.
* Very good cage, HIAC and LMS match.
CONS-
* No Female CAW.
* No caw entrance attire.
* No Stable Features.
* Tag teams enter separately.
* Game freezes at most inopportune times.
* Seemingly random computer A/I issues.
* Commentary, as in most American Wrestling games is repetitive and uninspired. While not great by any stretch, it's better than most, which isn't saying much. Along with that, it's the small details that add up. For instance, Tazz and Cole can be doing commentary and J.R and The King will be sitting at the tables.
* No editing of any type for default Wrestlers.
* Non standard height, width, length, and colors interface. A numbers scale would have worked wonders for this particular item.
* Caw call names could have been much better. They are very limited.
* No submission tap out animations.
* No struggle or attempt to get to the ropes during a submission.
* Weight detection, as in most Wrestling games is iffy as hell. Example: Wrestler A can't body slam Wrestler B but Wrestler A can armdrag Wrestler B all day long. Attention to detail is sorely missing whereas WD is concerned is most Wrestling games.
ONLINE- The online portion of this game could have been something very special, but as it stands, it's just bare basic. There are more match types than the other American wrestling game, SvR, with this feature. There aren't any leader boards or rankings. In addition, the online experience can be very cheesy to say the least. Because there is a bit of lag in the button commands. One has to input the command earlier than offline. This can make for some serious frustration especially when the countering system isn't that great to begin with. Since the online life bar is the default, the matches can end very quickly. Add in some constant kicking and weapons strikes plus a bad countering system, and you see my points.
IN A NUTSHELL- While the first batch of games have issues, some of which can be addressed with a patch, supposed corrected versions will be available shortly. This is a first game by SG and they attempted to make something along the lines of the great No Mercy, yet they come up short in many areas.
While not a bad Wrestling engine, many of the by today's standards, are absent. The game seems very unpolished at times. The number 1 selling feature, online, didn't work as described and needed a quick patch and while it now works, isn't that great because of some of the above mentioned faults and cases of unbearable slowdown at times.
The story mode is pretty decent yet very repetitive. The voice acting is pretty good, not DJ:FFNY type of good, but good enough in its own right. This is a game that has gotten some serious thrashings from some of the sites with their reviews. It's not as bad as they would have you to believe. It does have some major issues that hopefully will be addressed in the sequel. For a first effort, I give Studio Gigante the nod. Aside from the shortcomings, I enjoy the Wrestling engine which is something I can honestly not say for Anchors 2nd offering. The only OPINION (There's that word again) that matters is yours.
Score: 7.0/10