WWF WrestleMania 2000

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developer: AKI Corporation, Asmik Ace Entertainment (Natsume for GBC)
Genre: Wrestling
Series: N/A
Released: October 31 1999 (US) and October 12 1999 (UK)
Certificate: 15+ (Nowadays 16)
Consoles: N64 and GBC

It's hard to imagine in the modern wrestling world where one WWE videogame is released each year, and has been published by 2K Sports since 2013 (and THQ for a long time before that), but in the autumn of 1999, two major WWF games were released by two different publishers. Acclaim released the much-anticipated WWF Attitude in August/September of 1999 but, by then, the WWF had already agreed a deal for THQ to become its new videogame developer. Wasting no time, WrestleMania 2000 would be their first game, and it would hit stores in time for the final Christmas season of the millennium (which makes it sound really grand, doesn't it?).

This would mark the end of an era and the beginning of a new one; the Acclaim period had seen the WWF grow and improve its videogame output, but even the latter titles like War Zone and Attitude, whilst fun at the time, were far from flawless games and were mostly acceptable due to the WWF branding (see the subsequent ECW Hardcore Revolution, which was essentially an ECW version of Attitude, which didn't get great reviews). THQ, on the other hand, had built up a great deal of goodwill with its WCW games World Tour and, in particular, Revenge, which was released in late 1998 and, from a gameplay standpoint, blew any of Acclaim's titles away. So, one can understand why the WWF would enter into a working relationship with THQ, and why fans were hyped when news came out that THQ would be developing a WWF game, WrestleMania 2000 as a Nintendo 64 exclusive, for the first time.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWF No Mercy

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developer: AKI Corporation and Asmik Ace Entertainment
Genre: Wrestling
Series: N/A
Released: November 17 2000 (US) and December 15 2000 (UK)
Certificate: 15+ (Nowadays 16)
Consoles: N64

WWF No Mercy, the successor to WrestleMania 2000, was released in late 2000, on a console which didn't allow for character models with polygons greater than 64-bit and which didn't possess any level of video streaming. The roster has greatly changed and even the company name has been different for nearly 15 years. Plus, HD gaming was a long way off, and the feature set was basic compared to modern titles. So how is it that No Mercy remains so revered as possibly the greatest wrestling game ever? Well, I shall explain.

Firstly, its two main single-player modes were excellent for different reasons. Championship saw you pursue any one of seven titles as literally anybody on the game, and follow various story paths and lifelike plotlines (some of which directly mirrored reality, from the APA protecting you to a replica of the WWF Championship storyline heading into WrestleMania 2000). Crucially, whilst there were some matches that required you to win in order to continue, many offered alternate paths based on specific results. And to complete the mode in its entirety, you would have to lose matches in order to unlock these various endings. Sure, there were no voiceovers, but it was phenomenally entertaining and the use of on-screen text actually explained the mode's flexibility. It was a standard-bearer for such modes with literally tons of replay value.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWF SmackDown!

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Wrestling
Series: SmackDown! (It would become SmackDown vs. Raw and WWE in future)
Released: March 2 2000 (US) and April 14 2000 (UK)
Certificate: 15+ (Nowadays 16)
Consoles: PS1

And so comes the time to review the game that started the entire SmackDown!/SmackDown vs. Raw/WWE flagship videogame series, the very first entry - the original SmackDown! As strange as it may sound now, fans weren't quite sure what to expect from SD, since it was the first WWF game to be produced on PlayStation by THQ. Acclaim had lost the WWF licence in 1999 to THQ, and whilst the highly-lauded WrestleMania 2000 had hit the Nintendo 64, that game had been developed by AKI, whereas SD would be developed by something of an unknown quantity in Yuke's.

Rumours about the game, which would reach stores in the spring of 2000, ranged from a hybrid of WWF and Japanese talent to a reduced focus on actual wrestling to (and this was a frightening propsect) a virtual repeat of the largely-panned WCW Thunder game, since WM 2000 bore more than a passing resemblance to WCW/nWo Revenge (I should mention that THQ had been publishing games for WCW, and their success earned them the WWF licence). As the hype progressed, the announcement of certain new features suddenly had fans excited, since the end product would apparently be something totally different from previous wrestling titles. In the end, whilst the game didn't quite match expectations in certain key areas, it nevertheless delivered a thrilling overall package, one which blew away any previous wrestling games on the PSOne console, and ultimately began the most successful wrestling videogame series ever.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Wrestling
Series: SmackDown! (It would become SmackDown vs. Raw and WWE in future)
Released: November 21 2000 (US) and December 1 2000 (UK)
Certificate: 15+ (Nowadays 16)
Consoles: PS1

In hindsight, wrestling fans - or more accurately, WWF fans - were spoiled in 2000. Whereas in modern times we're lucky to get one truly great wrestling videogame in a generation, in the year 2000 we were treated to three. As well as the first SmackDown! title, the autumn/winter treated us to both No Mercy and the subject of this review, SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role. Although a shade inferior to No Mercy, SmackDown! 2 was still one hell of a game, and it was a superb end to the life cycle of wrestling titles on the PSOne. In contrast to the usual annual trend of releases, this came just months after the first SD (making 2000 the only year to have two releases of the flagship series), and it was the first game in the series (but not the last) to have different covers between the UK and US regions, as shown on the right; the UK image sits at the top, with the US image midway through. (Speaking of which, the reverse artwork shows The Undertaker in his Ministry-era attire, but it was his up-to-date American Bad Ass character who featured in the game, despite his Kid Rock theme not being included.)

Since this came in the latter stages of the Attitude Era, the roster consisted of many key players from that unforgettable time. Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, The Undertaker, Kane and others featured, but more notable was the incredible number and depth of new faces who hadn't featured in the first SD title. Kurt Angle, Tazz, The Radicalz, Rikishi, Too Cool, Trish Stratus, Lita and more than a dozen others made their series debuts in Know Your Role, with Shawn Michaels thrown in for good measure. Big Show was a notable absentee, although he was secretly thrown in as an unidentified character during occasional Royal Rumbles. With a roster total of 67 that wouldn't be matched again in the series until SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, and wouldn't be topped until two entries later with SvR 2009, this was a great snapshot of the Attitude Era, bettered only by the even larger line-up on the aforementioned No Mercy. By the way, who could have predicted that this would be the last game in the entire series, even at this early stage, to include Chyna?

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Wrestling
Series: SmackDown! (It would become SmackDown vs. Raw and WWE in future)
Released: November 18 2001 (US) and November 16 2001 (UK)
Certificate: 15+ (Nowadays 16)
Consoles: PS2

The year 2001 was massively significant in wrestling: ECW collapsed for financial reasons, and WCW - which was on the verge of its own self-destruction after a deal for Fusient to purchase the company was killed off - was purchased by the WWF, taking American wrestling from having three major wrestling organisations to just one. The impact of this changed the business forever, and nearly sixteen years after the famous Raw-Nitro simulcast, the industry has never truly recovered, making 2001 arguably the most important, and perhaps most devastating, year in wrestling history.

Something which is understandably forgotten in the wake of those major events is how another wrestling boom period ended in 2001, partly due to the above: in the year 2000, there were a whopping six wrestling games based around a major company. Sure, only two were great - and one of those, No Mercy, was perhaps the best wrestling game of all-time - but nevertheless, wrestling fans who enjoyed playing videogames had plenty of choice. Contrast that to 2001: the end of WCW and ECW also meant the end for their videogame histories (ECW had just two games, to be fair), and due to the transition between videogame console generations, Nintendo did not have a wrestling game for the first time in years (one had been scheduled but was later cancelled; I will take a fantasy look at this almost-title, WWF Backlash, in a future article). Add to that the sudden death of the Sega Dreamcast, and the fact that the Xbox wouldn't arrive until 2002, and therefore the only new wrestling game was WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It, the first wrestling title for the PlayStation 2 console.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Wrestling
Series: SmackDown! (It would become SmackDown vs. Raw and WWE in future)
Released: October 31 2002 (US) and November 15 2002 (UK)
Certificate: 15+ (Nowadays 16)
Consoles: PS2

After three SmackDown! games which had plenty of positives but also a fair number of negatives, the fourth title in the series was the first to bring everything together. Every area that had been lacking was addressed, whilst the elements which had been lauded by fans remained in place, resulting in one hell of a wrestling game. It was also the first SmackDown! game since the WWF changed its name to WWE, and once again a SD game had two different covers between the UK and US versions, as you can see here.

Shut Your Mouth benefitted from the huge influx of former WCW and ECW talent in the preceding twelve months. Whilst the Invasion came too late for the previous game Just Bring It to include the key players, this was not an issue for SYM, which saw series debuts for Booker T, Rob Van Dam, Diamond Dallas Page, Billy Kidman, The Hurricane and legends such as Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and Kevin Nash, as well as newcomers like Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton. When you combine that with all of the usual big names, you end up with a roster that is stacked with star power. Granted, Scott Hall's firing meant that he missed out, and some even complained that Steve Austin remained in the game after his June 2002 walkout, even though an eventual return was inevitable (fools). However, the 60-strong line-up not only easily bested the previous year's roster, but was an all-time great selection of talent during a memorable time in WWE history.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Wrestling
Series: SmackDown! (It would become SmackDown vs. Raw and WWE in future)
Released: October 27 2003 (US) and November 7 2003 (UK)
Certificate: 16
Consoles: PS2

I've definitely been looking forward to writing this retro game review ...

Ask any longtime wrestling fan what the best videogame of the genre to date is, and there's an excellent chance that they will say WWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain. And with good reason: the fifth game of the annual SmackDown! series was not only the best to date, but it offered a fantastic mix of in-depth grappling, massive names, a plethora of matches and options, tremendously entertaining backstage areas and an exciting, unpredictable Season mode, all of which combined to form a truly exceptional wrestling game. Its most immediate predecessor, SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth, had been another strong entry, but HCTP built upon everything that SYM did well and improved it, as well as fixing some of the weaker areas in SYM and adding new content along the way.

For starters, the roster size had increased, with series debuts for Goldberg, Rey Mysterio, Scott Steiner, John Cena, Batista, Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas, Victoria, Eric Bischoff and others joining the wealth of big names already present such as Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Shawn Michaels and loads more. Even more importantly, though, this was the first WWE game to officially include Legends, inspired by the Legends Of Wrestling series of games by Acclaim. There were 11 in total, and the retro crew consisted of a vintage Undertaker, Roddy Piper, Ted DiBiase, Sgt Slaughter, Jimmy Snuka, Hillbilly Jim, The Legion Of Doom, Iron Sheik, Nicholai Volkoff and George "The Animal" Steele. Granted, the Legends didn't have their entrance themes nor their proper entrances (the old-school WrestleMania mini-rings were used for their intros, which was a bit cool to be fair), and some may argue that the choice of Legends was a bit questionable, but many of the absolutely massive names were still competing on some level, and as it was the first time out for Legends, it wasn't a bad line-up at all. The roster could have been even better, since Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior were removed for different reasons, and the character models for several then-current WWE wrestlers hadn't been completed in time. Nevertheless, even as it was the roster was fantastic, and one of the best all-round line-ups ever assembled in a WWE game, at least at that point in time.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Wrestling
Series: SmackDown vs. Raw (Previously SmackDown!; it would become WWE in future)
Released: November 2 2004 (US) and November 12 2004 (UK)
Certificate: 16
Consoles: PS2

Has any wrestling game had a tougher act to follow than SmackDown! vs. Raw? SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain was such an outstanding game from top to bottom that nothing less than absolute perfection would have been considered an acceptable sequel. Unsurprisingly, SvR failed to reach such a lofty standard, and some weak areas meant that it was ultimately a step down from HCTP. However, that isn't to discount what the game did provide, because there was still a lot to like about the first SmackDown! vs. Raw.

To begin with, the name of the game had changed to suggest some sort of brand warfare theme, which played a role in the revamped Season mode (more on that shortly). The name change from a popular wrestling tagline to the concept of the two brands colliding was significant because, from the subsequent game onwards, the series retained this new title adding only the change in years, thus leading to the series becoming one associated more with annual updates than wholesale change. This would prove to be a major issue for fans in the future, and is a big reason why some would argue that there may not have been a truly exceptional WWE game since the mid-2000s. That was all to come, however, and in the first year of using the SmackDown! vs. Raw name at least, the game still added enough new content and features to satisfy its hardcore fan base.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Wrestling
Series: SmackDown vs. Raw (Previously SmackDown!; it would become WWE in future)
Released: November 14 2005 (US) and November 11 2005 (UK)
Certificate: 16
Consoles: PS2 and PSP

SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain was and is considered to be the holy grail of wrestling games, at least within the SmackDown! series of titles for a variety of reasons. However, one game which doesn't get quite as much adulation, but arguably provided a stronger overall package, was SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006.

The first SvR immediately followed HCTP and was more of an update than an innovation, but SvR 2006 would be a truly worthy successor to Here Comes The Pain. For starters, Season mode still utilised voiceovers, meaning fewer storyline options and reduced flexibility as well as not being able to use all of the available characters for the mode; however, the stories themselves were brilliantly told, and the presentation was spot-on, as realistic and close to actual WWE television as one could have reasonably expected at the time. A Legends Tour, a Whodunnit involving Theodore Long, an ECW revival - these were just some of the tales on offer, and whilst as noted the number of stories was on the short side, meaning that one didn't get to complete a full year of WWE action, if you emphasise quality over quantity, this was the most engaging single-player experience to date from a pure entertainment standpoint. Granted, the Season mode in HCTP had many more layers, but the voiceovers and minutes-long cut-scenes found in the Season mode on SvR 2006 swung things in the opposite direction.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Wrestling
Series: SmackDown vs. Raw (Previously SmackDown!; it would become WWE in future)
Released: November 14 2006 (US) and November 10 2006 (UK)
Certificate: 16
Consoles: PS2, Xbox 360 and PSP

The sequel to the outstanding SvR 2006, and the eighth game of the series in total, received more hype than any WWE game to that point, having been announced almost eight months before the game was officially released. In the end, despite the build-up, many felt that the game was a shade inferior to the 2006 SmackDown; however, the entertainment value and feature set were strong enough that it was still one hell of a wrestling title.

SvR 2007 introduced the analog-based control scheme, whereby you moved the right analog stick in a particular direction along with R1 for further move options. In particular, the analog sticks played a crucial role in the brand new Ultimate Control Moves, which allowed you to decide between several variants of a similar move. So, let's say that you're preparing to hit your opponent with a suplex. Via the UCM, you may hit a regular suplex, or you may hit a delayed suplex, or you may use the ropes to hit a slingshot suplex in the manner of Cowboy Bob Orton. This also extended to environmental hotspot moves, from Ric Flair-esque chops in the corner to slamming your adversary's head into the announcer's table, or raking his face across the mesh of a steel cage. Some argued that certain UCMs and environmental moves were a bit unrealistic, but they added more options and flexibility than ever before, and some - such as the infamous up-and-down straddling of an opponent on the top rope which leaves your enemy with pain in a sensitive area - were a lot of fun, as well as being mirror-images of real-life situations in the ring. Overall, they were definitely a positive addition to the games.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developers: Yuke's and Amaze Entertainment (DS)
Genre: Wrestling
Series: SmackDown vs. Raw (Previously SmackDown!; it would become WWE in future)
Released: November 13 2007 (US) and November 9 2007 (UK)
Certificate: 16
Consoles: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS and Mobile

At the time of its release, SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 was considered a big disappointment compared to its two most immediate predecessors, and in hindsight, it is considered the point where the highly-rated series began to decline. But is that fair or were fans too hard on SvR 2008? Let's take a look ...

The big story about this game was that it marked the first time when the series catered primarily to seventh-generation consoles. Sure, Xbox 360 had supported SvR 2007, but now Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii all boasted SvR 2008 within their game libraries, and the focus was very much on ensuring that the new generation of wrestling gaming began on a high. That being said, besides the undeniably impressive graphics which were greatly superior to those on previous consoles, one wouldn't be too disappointed if they opted for the previous-gen versions as opposed to PS3 or Xbox 360. Graphics aside, the only differences were that Xbox 360 allowed for custom entrance tracks to be used during entrances, whilst PS3 gave players a first-person view of entrances via Sixaxis. Otherwise, the differences were minor at best; it was a far cry from when 2K essentially abandoned PS3 and Xbox 360 to try and make WWE 2K15 shine on PS4 and Xbox One (a task which wasn't very successful anyway).

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developers: Yuke's and TOSE (DS)
Genre: Wrestling
Series: SmackDown vs. Raw (Previously SmackDown!; it would become WWE in future)
Released: November 9 2008 (US) and November 7 2008 (UK)
Certificate: 16
Consoles: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS and Mobile

After the disappointing SvR 2008, there was a lot of hope that SvR 2009 would be a superior sequel and set the previously-outstanding series back on the right track. As it turned out, this was partially achieved, with improvements across the board compared to the previous game, but other aspects of the game were unchanged and even removed, resulting in a game that was only slightly better than the one which came before it.

The biggest criticisms of SvR 2008 were the main single-player mode and the roster, so let's begin by analysing these two key areas. The 24/7 mode sounded good on paper, but the execution was poor and at times lazy. In response, the decision was made to scrap 24/7 after just one game, and to introduce a new mode named Road To WrestleMania. RTWM consisted of six stories, each lasting three game months, and each based around one wrestler tailored to a specific wrestler. The chosen few were John Cena, Triple H, The Undertaker, CM Punk, Chris Jericho and the tag team of Batista and Rey Mysterio.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developers: Yuke's and TOSE (DS)
Genre: Wrestling
Series: SmackDown vs. Raw (Previously SmackDown!; it would become WWE in future)
Released: October 20 2009 (US) and October 23 2009 (UK)
Certificate: 16
Consoles: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS, Mobile and iPhone

Although it seems silly to imagine in hindsight, at one point there was a genuine chance that there wouldn't be a SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 game. The previous SvR titles had been officially announced in March of their respective years, but whilst the late March release for Legends Of WrestleMania undoubtedly was a factor, there still wasn't a peep about SvR 10 as we entered August, leading to some concern about the future of the series. Fortunately, though, information soon trickled out, and as it turned out, an unexpected treat was on the way.

For SvR 10 focused on providing more creative options than ever before, beginning with an innovative new Story Designer mode. Here, fans could put together their own WWE storylines, from in-ring promos to backstage brawls to feud-deciding matches, and it stretched to an entire show and even a calendar year or more of action, meaning that fans could essentially create their own mini WWE. Sure, the matches were always a way to achieve this, but now you had the chance to put your own storylines together to complete the experience. The only downsides (and they were big ones) were that there could only be ten appearances by any created wrestlers in each story, and that text-speak couldn't be automatically inserted, meaning that unless you had a keyboard, it could take a long time to put together a simple back-and-forth promo. Of course, the unlimited dialogue in text form meant that voice-overs were absent, since it isn't possible for anyone to record absolutely every line imaginable.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011

Image Source: Zavvi

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Wrestling
Series: SmackDown vs. Raw (Previously SmackDown!; it would become WWE in future)
Released: October 26 2010 (US) and October 29 2010 (UK)
Certificate: 16
Consoles: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2 and PSP

Of all the games in the SmackDown/SmackDown vs. Raw/WWE series, probably the last one that people remember is SmackDown vs. Raw 2011. This is presumably because of the seen-it-all-before feel to the game, a sensation which one had felt for several games by that point, and due to the general staleness of WWE television in late 2010 (the release date for this game) which reflected onto the game. However, if one looks beyond the not-so-fresh vibe, SvR 2011 was actually pretty good, if not quite the game-changer (no pun intended) that we had hoped for.

It didn't help that the initial sales pitch for SvR 2011 was based around improved detection as it related to objects like tables and ladders. Whilst a nice improvement, it was a minor adjustment, and not something that the game should have based its marketing around. Fortunately, there was more to SvR 2011 than this. (Before I forget, this would be the last WWE release on PSP after six entries, and the final WWE title on PlayStation 2 after a whopping ten games.)

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE '12

Image Source:
Grainger Games

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Wrestling
Series: WWE (Previously SmackDown! and SmackDown vs. Raw)
Released: November 22 2011 (US) and November 25 2011 (UK)
Certificate: 16
Consoles: PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii

After years of the SmackDown! and SmackDown vs. Raw games, a new era began with WWE '12. Well, in some respects: the name obviously changed, and there were a number of new features or modifications, but the game as a whole still felt like SvR, and therefore I class this as a new chapter of the series, as opposed to a new series in general. Hopefully, that makes sense.

Anyway, WWE '12 changed the grappling system so that you executed moves using the X button. with the available moves dependant on the progress of the match. In addition, wrestlers now had a "Comeback" option to hit a number of signature moves in a last-ditch attempt to reverse the flow of the match (think of John Cena's two shoulder blocks and throwback slam). What's more, a new Breaking Point submission system was in place to improve the manner in which you make one tap out, and a new Limb Targeting system allowed you to prepare attacks on body parts. Finally, "wake up" taunts allowed you to pose en route to a finisher, a perfect example being Randy Orton slamming his fists into the canvas before executing an RKO. The new wrestling system was enhanced by Predator Technology, which allowed for even more realistic object detection and reactions (such as a wrestler's legs staying under the ropes if slammed close to the edge of the ring).

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE 2K14

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: 2K Sports
Developer: Yuke's and Visual Concepts
Genre: Wrestling
Series: WWE (Previously SmackDown! and SmackDown vs. Raw)
Released: October 29 2013 (US) and November 1 2013 (UK)
Certificate: 16
Consoles: PS3 and Xbox 360

So, at last we have the much-hyped WWE 2K14, the latest instalment of the lengthy WWE videogame series, and the first to be published by 2K Sports. Considering the quick turnaround after THQ folded in early 2013, it was likely that this would be a transitional game in some ways, and that is the case, with little in the way of major new features and a greater emphasis on minor tweaks, for the large part. However, the changes which have been made are almost all for the better, resulting in arguably the greatest WWE videogame since the mid-2000s.

Let's start with 30 Years Of WrestleMania, a mode which celebrates WWE's biggest event through a series of matches from the history of the show, along with in-game challenges. If that sounds familiar, it's because the WrestleMania Tour option from the 2009 game WWE Legends Of WrestleMania offered something very similar. Where 30 Years exceeds WM Tour is that the mode covers the entire history of WM so far (WM 29 is the most recent Mania so this is where the mode ends, despite its name), with a load of unlockables, photos and video content in the manner of last year's Attitude Era mode, and with a greater range of characters and a larger spotlight on the entire legacy of WrestleMania.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE 2K15

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: 2K Sports
Developer: Yuke's, Visual Concepts and n-Space (Mobile versions)
Genre: Wrestling
Series: WWE (Previously SmackDown! and SmackDown vs. Raw)
Released: November 18 2014 (US), November 21 2014 (Australia) and November 21 2014 (UK)
Certificate: 16
Consoles: PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Android and iOS

The WWE videogame series, which seemed to have peaked in the mid-2000s under the SmackDown! and SmackDown vs. Raw names, appeared to be making a comeback earlier this decade: WWE '12 set the series on a new path in terms of gameplay, with a surplus of content provided by WWE '13 and WWE 2K14, resulting in the best games since the heyday of WWE titles.

This, combined with a new publisher in the form of 2K Sports and the potential advancements that new technology could provide with the fresh PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, all suggested that WWE 2K15 could have ended up being the greatest wrestling game ever seen.

Erm, not quite.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE 2K16

Image Source: Zavvi

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: 2K Sports
Developer: Yuke's and Visual Concepts
Genre: Wrestling
Series: WWE (Previously SmackDown! and SmackDown vs. Raw)
Released: October 27 2015 (US), October 29 2015 (Australia) and October 30 2015 (UK)
Certificate: 16
Consoles: PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows

The latest WWE videogame was under big pressure to deliver. The much-ballyhooed 2K15 was a low point for the long-running flagship WWE series, with many features removed for the PS4/Xbox One iterations and a lack of real development for PS3/Xbox 360 copies. If 2K16 flatlined, it could have sent WWE games on a downward spiral from which it could take years to recover.

Fortunately, 2K16 is a big improvement on the previous entry in the series. Not everything is perfect; that's an understatement. But enough features have been restored, along with some nice improvements across the board, that this year's WWE game provides a far more satisfying playing experience.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE Legends Of WrestleMania

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Wrestling
Series: N/A
Released: March 20 2009
Certificate: 16
Consoles: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and iPhone/iPod Touch

With WrestleMania just days away, it is a perfect time to focus the latest retro game review on a release dedicated to the big event, and one of my favourite games ever, WWE Legends Of WrestleMania.

The 2003 game WWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain was the first to officially include a line-up of Legends. As the SmackDown vs. Raw series continued to feature older names, and some add-ons like retro arenas and championships, rumours circulated that one day a WWE Legends game would be released, something of a WWE incarnation of the previous Legends Of Wrestling titles. Finally, in May 2008, it was officially announced that WWE Legends Of WrestleMania was being produced for a planned release to commemorate WrestleMania 25 the following spring.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here

WWE '13

Image Source: Play.com

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Publisher: THQ (Note: 2K Sports re-published it in 2013 after THQ folded)
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Wrestling
Series: WWE (Previously SmackDown! and SmackDown vs. Raw)
Released: October 30, 2012 (US), November 1, 2012 (Australia) and November 2, 2012 (UK)
Certificate: 16
Consoles: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii

In 2012, it was announced that the next installment in the flagship WWE videogame series would be dedicated to The Attitude Era. Now, I loved this period in wrestling history; it was by far the greatest time to ever be a wrestling fan. And I had hoped for a dedicated videogame for this era for a long time. (I know there were some at the time, but I'm talking about a modern game looking back on it.) But to remodel the present-day game to hark back to the past? Granted, WWE's product at the time could have been better, but the annual game should reflect the last 12 months rather than ignore current names. So, whilst I was looking forward to seeing some old faces again, there was a danger that the modern era would feel a bit secondary.

Having played the game, I can't honestly say that WWE '13 succeeds at positioning the 2012 era WWE alongside the Attitude Era WWF/WWE. The key mode for modern names is Universe which does deliver a great experience for the hardcore wrestling fan gamer - fans could now create specific shows and dedicated rosters for those programmes - but as the likes of John Cena, Randy Orton and cover star CM Punk would not be involved in the main mode of the game, it did feel like the 2012 era stars were shafted a bit here.

Visit our Games sub-page for full article by clicking here