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Dom Robinson reviews
THQ
WWE Rawfollows on fromWWF Smackdownon the Playstation in 2000 and it’s clear that the only thing that has changedis that we now have prettier graphics, a different moniker – since the wrestlingpeeps lost out to the World Wildlife Fund over who could use “WWF”, while thethe gameplay remains much the same.
All the usuals are here including The Rock, Steve Austin, Trish Stratus, Litaand many more, each with their own intros as they walk into the arena beforea match.
There are scores of options, as usual, which include creating a character,view the museum to check out superstars and their stats, then play a game.There are Exhibition matches like a Single Match (1 on 1), Tag Team (2 vs 2)and Fatal 4-Way (you against three others – defeat just one to win); Titlematches such as the big-name WWE Championship, the no-holds-barred Hardcoreand the spicy Women’s match; plus a King of the Ring tournament whereyou playoff to see who’ll be the… king of the ring, obviously.
When it comes to creating your own player, choose a mask for a head – such asone not dissimilar from the gimp’s in Pulp Fiction – and thebreasts of Debra, if that’s your desire.
Since the PSX game listed above, the graphics are definitely improved upon.Each of the participants are well represented and the way they interact seemsmore natural, although there is a tendancy sometimes for them to move sidewaysunnaturally when falling because you can’t have three people occupying the samespace at once.
The sound is a bit of slap ‘n’ tickle from the hunks of meat clambering aboutthe canvas, plus a very loud heavy metal soundtrack. On the downside, it canall get very overpowering very quickly, but if you don’t like your neighbours,this is the game for you.
While some of the interactivity is improved, though, I do find I get moresuccess just banging away at the buttons because when I do try to positionmyself and hit someone or make them go my way, it never works out the way I’dlike.
Definitely a case for a rental rather than a purchase, on first viewing,since it doesn’t offer a great deal of oomph over previous wrestling games.Rent it for a night and if it completely grabs you, then go out and buy it.
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Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.