WCW/nWo Revenge

Infobox VG
title=WCW/nWo Revenge


caption=North American boxart
developer=Asmik Ace Entertainment
Aki Corporation
publisher=THQ
designer=
engine=
released=flagicon|USA October 26 1998
genre=Wrestling
modes=Single player, multiplayer
ratings=ESRB: E (Everyone)
platforms=Nintendo 64
media=Cartridge
requirements =
input=

"WCW/nWo Revenge" is the sequel to the 1997 game "". Like the previous game, it features AKI's revolutionary grappling system, heavily improved graphics, a better championship mode, and a large roster of wrestlers (real and fictional).

History

At the time of the game's release, the Monday Night Wars were starting to go in the WWF's favor. Despite this "WCW/nWo Revenge" was generally recognizedWho|date=December 2007 as the best wrestling game of 1998 and the greatest wrestling game ever released at that point. It also was voted best WCW/NWO game of all time.

"Revenge"'s main competition that year was "WWF War Zone" by Acclaim. In contrast to the simpler but more consistent visuals and accessible but slower play mechanics of "Revenge", "War Zone" possesses more complex controls, inconsistent collision detection, a lack of impact on grappling moves and occasionally awkward animations, despite having more refined character models and faster gameplay. The "Revenge"/"War Zone" comparison is a notable example of the old debate in video games regarding graphics versus gameplay, with each game presenting vastly different design approaches to comparable results, not unlike the competing wrestling brands themselves.

The "Revenge" grappling system is part of what ensured the game's success and popularity. The graphics were improved from "World Tour", and for the first time, THQ introduced actual arenas into games, such as "Monday Nitro" and "Starrcade". The game also has an expansive collection of wrestlers, as almost every WCW/nWo wrestler of the time was included in the game. The Championship Mode enables the player(s) to select a belt and then fight various wrestlers until eventually the player(s) defeat the reigning champion.

New features and additions since "World Tour"

As the direct sequel to "World Tour", "Revenge" possesses certain tweaks and additions. Some additions included wrestler entrances, a larger roster, ringside valets and managers, brighter more colorful graphics, a cartoon referee modeled after WCW referee Mark Curtis, and real TV and pay-per-view arenas. It also boasts EEPROM, which eliminates the need for a controller pak. [ [http://ign64.ign.com/objects/003/003875.html WCW/NWO Revenge] IGN.com (October 1998). Retrieved March 22, 2008.] In addition, there are new gameplay mechanics such as more frequent reversals, the introduction of multiple reversals, tall wrestlers stepping over the top rope, being able to run into the ring, and being able to slide out of the ring.

New post match features include replays of the last moments of the match, as well as a scoring system for wrestlers' performance. During gameplay, players can for the first time "steal" their opponents taunts, as well as perform their "down" taunt more easily. Also, certain wrestlers can not ascend the top rope unless they are in "special" mode (the time when a player's spirit is maxed out and can perform their finishing maneuvers).

In addition, "Revenge" introduced a combo system where some wrestlers could do a combination attack followed by a move. The system was criticized as doing more harm than good as it is awkward to use and eliminated "half" of a wrestler's strong front grapple moves. Subsequently, the combo system was excluded from WWF's "WrestleMania 2000" and "No Mercy".

The game also saw many new moves added since "World Tour", as well as existing moves improved or made more accurate. For instance, in "World Tour", Kevin Nash's finishing move is a generic powerbomb, (which makes little sense since; for comparison, Chris Benoit has a kneel-down double under-hook powerbomb for a "weak" move.) In "Revenge", it is unmistakably Nash's Jackknife Powerbomb, complete with trademark Nash flourishes during execution. Other moves which were improved included the "Stinger Splash," the "Outsider's Edge," and the "Diamond Cutter." Also, certain characters like the aforementioned Chris Benoit were given their real finishing moves for the first time. Each wrestler also possesses more than 700 frames of animation.

Added since "World Tour" were such superstars as Bret Hart, Bill Goldberg, and Chris Jericho. One notable omission, however, who actually "was" in "World Tour", is Ric Flair who was fired from WCW for no-showing an episode of "WCW Thunder" in early 1998; although, he would be rehired by WCW late in the year. By then though, "Revenge" was in the final stages of production, and it was too late to add Flair to the game.

While "World Tour" has but a small game introduction, "Revenge" features a lengthy and impressive introductory montage. It focuses on the feud between nWo Hollywood and nWo Wolfpak but more specifically on the epic battle between Hollywood Hogan and Sting, who ultimately joins the Wolfpak. This reflected WCW's on-screen environment decisively and set the standard for following wrestling titles that would have similarly expansive introductions.

Also included is the ability to interchange wrestlers' costumes and apply different colors to them. Masks and other head wear are also interchangeable for wrestlers that possess them. This limited feature would be heavily advanced in future THQ wrestling titles which boast the create-a-wrestler mode.

Titles

*WCW World Heavyweight Championship
*WCW United States Heavyweight Championship
*WCW World Television Championship
*WCW Cruiserweight Championship
*WCW World Tag Team Championship

Issues with the game

Complaints about the Asmik Ace/AKI engine include some major collision detection problems, ie: characters' heads and arms passing through another's, as well as animation lock-out issues where a player is invincible from attack, such as when they are getting up. The graphics are also infamous for the "floating arms," where a character's arms are often clearly disconnected from their torso. While the magic of the gameplay is the offensive attack/grapple versus the defensive reverse-attack/break-grapple mechanic, it is occasionally exposed for its lack of realism. Since defensively there is only "block" and no "evade" for an incoming attack, a player can successfully block a running kick to the head or say, Goldberg's spear, by standing firm and offering their chest. Players can also attempt a reversal by pressing the block button at the exact moment of impact from the attack, which may result in a reversal. However, reversing the spear for example is unrealistic as the attacker's speed and momentum was instantly canceled out and the defender catches the attacker and lays down into a front side headlock choke. In addition to these problems, Hollywood Hogan did not use his real finishing move (leg drop), instead he did a cheap low blow. This was seen to be quite disappointing as he had it in the previous title.

One of the major flaws in this game is in the 2-player mode; no matter how hard the player damages their opponent, all the opposing player has to do is toggle the analog stick and they will kick out of a pin every single time.Fact|date=January 2008 Another gameplay anomaly is that when weapons were dropped, they fall through the floor into nothingness, an unrealistic aspect of the series which wasn't rectified until "No Mercy". While the game has wrestler entrances, the music consists of the "Monday Nitro" theme and a generic, ominous sounding tune--not the wrestlers' actual themes (memory issues were a major concern during the old days of the cartridge).

Ultimately though, graphical, audio, and gameplay quirks aside, "Revenge" was heralded as an incredibly fun, detailed, and well-balanced title. [Casamassina, Matt [http://ign64.ign.com/articles/153/153875p1.html WCW/NWO Revenge] IGN.com (October 26, 1998). Retrieved March 22, 2008.] And because Asmik Ace/THQ signed with the WWF when Acclaim's contract expired in 1999, "Revenge" is universally accepted as the apex of WCW gaming.

Featured wrestlers

"Revenge" features about 63 WCW and nWo wrestlers divided into either factions (nWo White, nWo Red, Raven's Flock) or divisions within WCW (WCW 1-4). Generally speaking, wrestlers were placed in the WCW divisions based on their position in the company, with top-tier main eventers making up WCW 1, the mid-card wrestlers in WCW 2, and low-card wrestlers forming WCW 3. WCW 4 is reserved for cruiserweights. Note that WCW 1-4 are not actual factions.

Additionally, "Revenge" features several non-WCW/nWo wrestlers, mostly from Japan, in the form of two "fictitious" wrestling federations: EWF (Empire Wrestling Federation) and DAW (Dead or Alive Wrestling, originally featured in "World Tour" as DOA). In light of copyright concerns, the names and appearances of these wrestlers were changed, but their movesets remained intact.

nWo Hollywood

WCW 1 (Heavyweights & High card wrestlers)

* 'Wrath' was to be included in the game but was not included in the final version for unknown reasons. He can be unlocked with a Gameshark; although, his moveset is slightly glitchy and he has no formal ring attire.

WCW 4 (Cruiserweights)

Managers/Valets

"Note: Managers and valets are not conventionally playable characters (with the exception of Eric Bischoff) though they can be controlled by plugging in a third and/or fourth controller. They are not an actual faction within the game."

Notes

# Must be unlocked by completing the World Heavyweight Championship mode.
# Must be unlocked by completing the United States Championship mode.
# Must be unlocked by completing the World Television Championship mode.
# Must be unlocked by completing the World Tag Team Championship mode.
# Must be unlocked by completing the Cruiserweight Championship mode.
# Requires the use of a GameShark to unlock.
# The names Kim Chee, Ming Chee, and Han Zo Mon were later reused for special characters in another THQ production on a Nintendo system, "WWE WrestleMania XIX".

References