WWF Wrestlemania 2000

Overall: D
Violence: D+
Sexual Content: C+
Language: B-
Drugs/Alcohol: A

Platform reviewed: Nintendo 64
Publisher: THQ
ESRB rating: T

Next time you're in a toy department, pay close attention to the plethora of wrestling toys available--there's a doll (sorry, action figure) for practically every wrestling superstar on TV. Oh, and if you're planning a birthday party, take a walk down the novelty aisle--there's all sorts of cool things to make junior's party a special one (little fish... little hooks). Once he grows older, wrestling paraphernalia is presented on a more "sophisticated" level with boxer shorts, t-shirts, baseball caps, sunglasses, cologne, music CD's, videos and videogames (bigger fish... bigger hooks). The whole purpose of this fishing expedition is to promote Pro Wrestling. And what's the next best thing to being there? Acting it out in the comfort of your own home, in the fantasy world of WWF Wrestlemania 2000 (aka WM2K).

Prior to releasing all that pent up aggression, important decisions must be made. Would you prefer to beat up an opponent controlled by the computer, or by a buddy? Perhaps you don't like to take your lumps alone--no problem, you and a friend can duke it out with two others in a tag-team match (watch your back though, your faithful partner may switch allegiance at the most inopportune time). Next, decide how you'd like to battle: How about a Cage Match? (a cage surrounds the ring and prevents your opponent from running away). Are you tough enough for First Blood? (the first wimp to bleed loses). Don't forget Create-a-PPV (Pay-Per-View event), where you take control of the storyline. Then, the most time consuming of all, Road to Wrestlemania, gives you a full year to become the champ.

Your virtual wrestler is chosen from 50 current superstars (some wrestlers aren't available until later in the game). If you're unsatisfied with these choices, you can always create a new wrestler or edit an existing one. This option gives you full control over such things as strength, body type, special moves, and tattoos. Now that all the preliminaries are out of the way--are you ready to rumble?

Upon gracing the arena with your presence, an "entrance video" plays on the huge TitanTron screen, introducing you to the fans. Climbing the ropes, you strut around the ring and the fans eat it up. A similar ceremony greets your opponent. The audience is whipped into a frenzy. Finally, the match begins, and you proceed to tenderize each other with punches, kicks, choke-holds and pile-drivers. When the going gets tough (just like in the real world of Pro Wrestling), you have a few dirty tricks up your sleeve. Exiting the ring, you reach into the audience and grab a garbage can, an equipment case, a metal chair, or better yet--a baseball bat. Returning to the ring, you now rely on batting skills. Hitting the opposing gladiator in the crotch causes a bell to ring. Hitting him on the head causes abrupt changes in his skin color (but only if you have the bloodshed option turned on). Wait, what's this? Now that you have the upper hand, here comes one of his buddies to even things out. Hey, it's two against one... that's unfair! (No... that's "entertainment.")

WM2K's creators seem to have paid attention to every detail in an attempt to replicate a modern wrestling atmosphere. Audience members hold signs containing vulgar messages. Wrestlers possess the immature mannerisms of their real-life counterparts (one displays his trademark middle-finger salute, another points to his crotch while thrusting his hips back and forth). Also included are the scantily clad female stars of the sport, complete with their "distinguishing" features.

To find out what fans actually liked about this game, I visited a few "bulletin boards" and other websites. Many differing opinions were expressed regarding the graphics, sound, options, realism, and whether or not this was the best wrestling game on the market. Most disturbing was the manner in which opinions were presented. A good portion of the dialogue was vulgar and profane, including crude expressions made famous by wrestling idols. There were even comments expressing dismay at being unable to remove the female wrestlers' clothing (female nudity is something viewers of TV wrestling are constantly tantalized with, and live-event attendees have witnessed). Notice any similarities here? Violence, bad attitude, profanity, sex... the same components that make Pro Wrestling what it is today.

If there was anything good about my experience with this game, it had to be the part where I finally pulled the cartridge out of the machine.

Jim Fleming

Note: If you would like more information on TV's version of Pro Wrestling, read the article entitled Pro Wrestling - What Will They Think Of Next, contained within our Parent Alert section by simply clicking on the text link.

For other wrestling game reviews, check out our review of Playstation's WWF Smackdown! And if you're curious about the contents of a wrestling music CD, read our review of WWF: Vol. 5

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