WWE: Day of Reckoning 2
Score: 76% ESRB: Teen Publisher: THQ Developer: Jakks Pacific Media: GCD/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Sports (Wrestling)/ Action/ Arcade
Graphics & Sound: The presentation of wrestling games has gotten better and better over the years, and THQ’s WWE: Day of Reckoning 2 keeps up with the visual quality that we’ve come to appreciate recently. The player models look great, and the arenas and rings are on par with real-life counterparts. The only thing that really bothered me was that the crowd’s cheering is all in sync. Combine this with signs that can be seen from behind with backward text, and the reality of the great ring entrances becomes overshadowed by the very un-lifelike feel in the stands. The audio isn’t so great, either. While the typical stadium sounds are fine and present, DoR2's voice acting isn’t the greatest by any means. And it doesn’t stop there. Even though we, as reviewers, may complain about the commentary of many sports games lacking quality, all it takes is a game like Day of Reckoning 2 to make you realize that without the ringside voice at your side, matches are much more boring and stagnate.
Gameplay: WWE: Day of Reckoning 2 is nearly identical to every other WWE wrestling title of recent days in the types and amount of game modes that are available. The Create-A-Wrestler is also a great setup, but there’s not much new if you’ve played Smackdown! on PS2, or Raw and WrestleMania on the XBOX. Where DoR2 sets itself apart from the others is in the combat system. While the newest WWE title is certainly a bit of a button-masher in general, it does have a unique combat system that allows for skill-based submissions. When you enter into a submission move, you’ll have the option of choosing from four different skill sets to get your foe to submit. Likewise, when you have a move performed against you, the same is true and you will also quickly choose which direction to move your control stick to determine your choice. One of the great things that I love about the gameplay in Day of Reckoning 2 isn’t anything special, per se. It’s actually a little addition of an on-screen icon to tell you when and how to counter your opponent’s attack. Now, if only the GameCube’s controller had a color coded system for those pesky R and L buttons... As it is, you really have to have quick reflexes to read the screen because both buttons are grey, and they only flash for a split second. As it is, one button combats holds while the other combats strikes. DoR2’s Story Mode continues from the first Day of Reckoning game. Your created wrestler has --look out for the male soap opera here-- lost the title belt that he worked so hard to earn last year. The only solution is to get it back! So now you will have to battle through a longer Story Mode to do so, fighting many superstars along the way. Also included in this year’s game are new WWE Legends, including the one and only Hulk Hogan, "Stone Cold " Steve Austin, Mankind, Bret "The Hitman" Hart, and Dwayne Johnson, who is also known as "The Rock," which all need to be unlocked in the Story Mode.
Difficulty: This year’s GameCube WWE game is much like all other games of its kind on any system. Most of the battles you wage aren’t that difficult until you work your way through the ranks. And even then, over time you can develop techniques to defeat the computer AI. The real challenge lies in playing against your friends, for sure, and learning different modes of combat so that reversals cannot take place too often to beat you down.
Game Mechanics: WWE Day of Reckoning 2 is a very good game and it is relatively easy to control. Most gamers should be able to pick up and play with the basics. Novice gamers may also feel a bit overwhelmed because of the use of all buttons and sticks. But either way you look at it, a little practice is all it takes to be able to Body Slam your way to victory. If it weren’t for the lack of an announcing team in WWE: Day of Reckoning 2, the game would probably be a pretty big success story, pinning the competition for the 1-2-3. However, because of this lack of background commentary, matches tend to be a bit on the boring side, which drops the enjoyment a lot. Hopefully next year’s effort will combine those from the best wrestling titles out there and give us a knock out performance. As it is, Day of Reckoning 2 is just another jobber and will never become the legend of video games.
-Woody, GameVortex Communications AKA Shane Wodele
S.L.A.I. - Steel Lancer Arena International Black & White 2