Anybody here interested in Wrestlemania X8? (1 Viewer)

[CameronS]

Being a big wrestling fan, I'm picking up Wrestlemania X8 for the Cube next week. Even though there are obvious things that keep it from being the perfect wraslin game (No Booker T music, No Hogan Red and Yellow), I'm hoping for the best. Any thoughts?

 

[teapot2001]

A long time ago, I was looking forward to this game since I thought it would be close to the N64 games. Unless the reviews are great, I will wait for Fire Pro Wrestling.

~T

 

[Dean DeMass]

Well, after reading some hands-on reports. I will be giving this a rent. It sounds like it is going to be more similiar to the Smackdown engine than the the No Mercy engine. There are only 5 front grapple moves. That means that grapples are going to get pretty boring.

I was excited and now I am not. I guess I'll just continue playing No Mercy on my N64. Hopefully Raw 2 for the X-box will be good.

-Dean-

 

[CameronS]

I feel the same as you guys, but I'm still buying it! Well, one of the main reasons for me is the inclusion of the 2001 Survivor Series set. I was in attendance, and some of my friends are looking forward to re-creating a few matches in this arena!
EB said I should be able to pick it up on Tuesday, so I'll try to post some impressions then.

 

[teapot2001]

Why is it that Booker T's music couldn't be included?

~T

 

[Romier S]

I'm buying it. My reason is for the create-a-belt. Its one of the features that kept me playing Wrestlemania 2000 for almost 9 months. Nothing like all night Wrestlemania tournaments at a buddies house.

I have seen videos of the game and it does look look allot like Smackdown (Which I have come to loathe). If in the end the gameplay is really horrid I'll be returning it.

Fire Pro Wrestling for the GC will be next on my list with Raw 2 close behind. What I wouldn't give for another game based on the No Mercy engine!

 

[CameronS]

Why is it that Booker T's music couldn't be included?

Not sure, but I would guess it was some issue with trademarks. Other wrestlers with different entrance themes are:

• Trish Stratus
• Hardy Boyz
• Hulk Hogan and the NWO
• Booker T (as mentioned above)
• Edge has his old music
• Tajiri

There may be more that I'm just not aware of yet. And by the way, all the changed themes suck.
Edit: Added TAJIRI to the list. This should make the list complete.

 

[CameronS]

Link Removed review is up and they gave it a 7.0.
Positive remarks were the game's multiplayer modes, paticularly the Hell in a Cell mode (which was highly praised), large roster, and the create a belt function.
Fran from IGN was hoping for a control system similar to AKI's No Mercy, but in reality it's a combo of this game and the Smackdown series on Playstation. The music sucks, and as mentioned above, a few entrances have different theme songs. The review explains that this game is solid in most areas, but is obviously rushed because of features that were originally announced, did not make it into the game (no backstage, no career mode.) Wrestlemania X8 is a strong multiplayer game and this reviewer felt the one-player mode left a lot to be desired.
Once again, the main complaint is about the grapple system, only 5 front available grapples compared to many more on No Mercy (there are more than 5 grapple moves that you can execute on X8, they are just not initiated from the front.) This doesnt bother me as much. In a way, It's good to see X8 take a more realistic WWE approach; wrestlers never lock up before a move. X8 moves at a faster pace than No Mercy, but not as fast as the button masher Smackdown games.
Well, I'm buying it anyway so I don't know why I'm busy reading reviews

 

[Romier S]

I absolutely hate the smackdown games and how the handle the grapple system. Seeing it in this game is very disappointing. Of course I'm a huge fan of the AKI/Asmik games. I'm gonna pick the game up nonetheless and give it a first hand try. No reason to judge it simply from a review but if Fran is right, I'll be returning it quite promptly!

*sigh* The days of a good WWF (Yes screw that WWE nonsense!) wrestling simulation game are over. Raw came the closest but was featureless and had its issues (Hopefully Raw 2 will be what Raw promised).

...heres waiting for Fire Pro Wrestling on the Gamecube (That should be damn good!)

 

[Steve Lockwood]

Why is the WWF now called the WWE?

 

[CameronS]

Steve,
http://www.rajahwwf.com/wwf/headlines/3734.shtml

 

[dave_brogli]

I will be buying a GC for the sole reason of WWF Wrestlemania(WWF They should have never changed it, the wwe sounds like a pussy animal loving group) Arghhh get the F out, haha, who care about the world wildlife fund..... they just wanted to get some exposure because they losing donations!!!! HAHAHAH... Sorry yes this could be the best wreslin' game out there. But I hope it doesnt suck like wwf raw :frowning:

 

[Romier S]

But I hope it doesnt suck like wwf raw

I disagree there. I think Raw came the closest to duplicating the feel of the N64 games but was a bit too overhyped. It was pretty much featureless and rushed ot of the door but the game had a solid wrestling engine to build upon. I really like the grapple system.
Opinions will vary though

 

[Romier S]

I have the game sitting in the Gamecube as we speak. I'll post impressions later tonight. (Its nice to come home to a message from Electronics Boutique)

 

[CameronS]

I get up at a bright and early 9:15am this morning to get down to Electronics Boutique as soon as the doors open. After asking the manager if copies of Wrestlemania X8 were in he informs me that

The shipment was lost in flight. I don't know where they are.

Once the store employees helped me from the weeping fetal position I had assumed, the manager told me that they would definitely be I today and he's be giving everyone a call as soon as he knew something.
:frowning:

 

[Dean DeMass]

OK Romier, we are waiting.

-Dean-

 

[Romier S]

OK here it is:
Wrestlemania X-8
Graphics
Not bad at all. The character models are decently detailed and and the animation is *GREAT*. The game shares its graphical style with the old N64 games. The characters are kind of short and stumpy if you get my meaning. (I actually like this look). If I were to make a a comparison I would say take the graphics in No Mercy and make them a good bit more "Next Gen".
The Arena's are nice and detailed with some nice lighting effects. Though they have a bit of a boxed in feeling to them, not nearly as expansive in appearance as the Smackdown or Raw games. Though again its very much like the N64 games in that regard so its not much of a concern.
The Audience is of course a blob of pixels holding signs. I'm waiting for the day when a wrestling game actually models a 3d crowd and allows you to fight through it. As it stands the audience is on the level of every other wrestling game, meaning no that great.
I cannot emphasize how nice the animations in the game are. No ROBO-WALK here as in WWF Raw for the X-box. Characters move fluidly and sell there moves damn good. You'll love it the first time you see a stunner. The person taking the move will flail around on the floor selling the move. Awesome.
There are some graphics glitches here and there such as weapons falling out of the ring at wierd times and other goofiness but these are minor and dont affect gameplay.
All in all a solid effort from Yukes/Asmik and THQ. A nice looking game that hearkens back to the old N64 games.
Sound.
One word. Bad. The sound quality here is terrible. Upon loading the game you get this semi-porno music that will grind on your nerves. Once you go in and start choosing wrestlers and watching entrances you realize the music is this low-quality low-sampled mess. In this case, X-8 again takes it cues from the N64 games by matching its sound quality.:frowning:
The music that plays during matches is just goofy but you get to busy playing to worry about it. Its worth mentioning as well that THQ could not get theme music for Booker T or the NWO. The substituted music is awful. Definitely not the best sounding game out there.
Gameplay
What an absolute suprise. I am actually enjoying the game! After all that I heard about it and my dislike for the smackdown games I thought for sure that I would be returning this promptly. Lo and behold I was wrong. Whats here is flawed but fun.
X-8 plays like an almalgamation of WWF No Mercy and WWF Smackdown. Grapples are performed very similiar to the smackdown games. You hit a direction and the A button and your character will perform a move automatically. Also once an opponent is down you can hit Y+A and it will pick up the opponent into a grapple position where you can do the the same motions to perform a grapple move.
Now this sounds great because it seems you have the best of both worlds. You get the Smackdown "arcade" style grapples that are easy to pull off and you get the "simulation" grapples of the N64 games. The problem is that you perform the SAME EXACT MOVES from both positions. In total you have only 5, yes count them 5 front grapple moves (Only 3 back grapple). Its one of the reasons that I dont like the smackdown series. Some would argue that wrestlers don't "grapple" before a move but in a *wrestling game* this grapple position allows you have ALLOT more moves. No Mercy had almost 14 grapple moves from the front alone. WWF Raw had over 10. The point? You will be doing the same moves over and over and over and over again. Not allot of variety.
Something else I wanted to mention about the grapples. You can do 2-button combinations, for instance A+X and you will do an "evade" grapple. That will allow your wrestler to sidestep and go directly into a grapple move. Again this is a good innovation but you do the EXACT same moves again! (Come one Yukes!) You can also hit Y+A and that will perform the irish whip.
Submissions are done as with any other wrestling game. Hit the grapple button (A) while at the legs, head or side of the downed opponent. Thankfully the submission system takes some damage into account. In other words you can't just put an ankle lock on Stone Cold at the beginning of the match and expect to win. You have to wear the opponent down. The amount of damage you have done also determines how long you hold move for. The submission system is still not as in depth as No Mercy but it is a HUGE improvement over Smackdown and Raw. Good Job Yukes!
The game also includes a reversal system that is nearly identical to No Mercy. The left shoulder button reverses grapples and right shoulder reverses strikes. Holding both down will reverse the finishing maneuvers. You have get the timing down but once you do you will come to the realization that there is a good bit of depth to X-8.
Picking up weapons is a bit problematic but it works. You have to be positioned nearly perfectly over the weapon and the hit X+A to pick it up. Positioning is key. Now if an opponent is on the ground in front of the weapon you may accidentally flip him over because that same combination performs that action as well. It can be a bit frustrating at times but again it works.
You can setup tables and other weapons such as ladders by double clicking X. You can set them up on the turnbuckles and perform the Gore through the table (). You can also slam folks through tables. Allot of interaction can be done with the weaponry. Good stuff here.
The Hell in the Cell mode is TOO damn fun. They actually included area specific damage on the cell so if you are on top of the cell and keep choke slamming someone on a particular section, you can see that part of the cell bend and distort. Eventually, it will break and the wrestler will fall through. Now this area specific damage is not present on the whole top of the cell. Only in 4 sections in the middle. Nonetheless its a neat addition. This mode almost makes the game worth owning alone!!
Also worth noting is that wrestkers stay down (thank god). If you do a hip toss the wrester will pop back up failry quickly. Now if you do a powerbomb, the wrestler will not be getting up for awhile. It gives you time to setup your moves ala No Mercy and Its nice to see this particular playstyle here in X-8.
If anything the game is fun to play though limited in variety. Yukes could have very easily given you different moves to perform from the "pick up" and grapple position and the evade grapples.(The Piledriver is not even the game ladies and gentleman)Instead, the game was no doubt rushed and it suffers a tad for it. I will say though that I was suprised and I like it. Allot more so than I thought I would.
Extras
This I'll keep short. Every match type you could want is here. Table, TLC, Ladder, Hell in the Cell and Royal Rumble. A nice big array of match types to keep you interested. No problems on this front.
There are no backstage areas. Apparently they didn't get this added in time but its not a huge loss. Of course I wouldn't mind if they were there.
The create a belt is great and its where I see the longevity of the game coming through. You can create, customize and battle it out for your custom belts with your friends. The game even tracks the win loss records of the belts! A+ on this since it will keep me and my buddies talking trash for a while.
One word to descibe the Create-A-Wrestler. LIMITED. Ok two words. HORRIBLY LIMITED. The game has a whopping total of 14 shirts!!! If I remember right it includes 9 faces, so forth so on. Suffice it to say this was really disappointing since its where I spend most of my time in wrestling games. I was able to make some close approximations of some of my favorites but Yukes really screwed the pooch in this department. Astonishing considering the depth of the CAW in the Smackdown series.
Finally there is no story mode in the game. You have the "Path of Champions" which is essentially a climb the ladder style mode where you fight to win the belts. Nothing flashy here at all. It works. I'm not much for story modes so I don't consider this a big loss, some may be more upset about it.
Conclusion
I have no doubt this game will sell like hotcakes and some of you may buy it regardless of what I say but I'm pretty sure allot of people will be happy with it. I think its a good game. Its has a good number of problems but there is a solid engine here to build on.
It has allot in common with Raw in that regard. I thought Raw had a great wrestling and grapple system but its lack of features really drug it down. Wrestlemania X-8 comes through (for the most part) in the features department but Yukes needs to work on the variety of moves available via the grapple system. If they can get that corrected and next time actually put some effort into the lackluster CAW we should have a good series of games to look forward too.
Good game all around.

 

[Marshall Alsup]

Romier,

I must thank you for the reviews you do for games over here. You da man!

[rant!!!]
WHY did they change from the N64 grapple system at all? I dont understand why they would F.U. a good thing. I haven't played this one yet but I hated the controls of RAW. And judging by what Romier said the controls in this game are better but still not as good as the N64 titles. Everyone I know that played the N64 games loved the controls. They were easy and fun. Everyone I know also dislikes the Smackdown controls. Perhaps my friends dont represent the wrestling game playing audience as a whole but from what I've read online it seems that most people are in agreement with this. Why did THQ change from what was considered great? Was it change just for the sake of change? so they could call it a "new" game?
[end rant]

Sorry to lay that on you guys but it drives me nuts that they cant keep a good thing going!

Well, I'll be renting this one this weekend and see for myself but unfortunatly I already have a bad taste in my mouth.....

-Marshall

 

[Romier S]

Sorry to lay that on you guys but it drives me nuts that they cant keep a good thing going!

Part of the problem with keeping the control scheme is that Aki, the developer that created the N64 grapple system is no longer working with THQ and from what I hear have disbanded (Though that may not be true).
Orginally with this game I was hoping beyond hope that they would in fact use that grapple system but of course, Yukes had to find ways to interject its Smackdown engine into the game. As I said in the review, its not a bad game. I am still enjoying it but the lack of depth and moves really starts to show the more the you play. You can only do the same move so many times before you get sick of it. Theres no reason for this deficiency as well. There are plenty of grapple positions here to variate the moves, they just didn't feel the need too.
And thanks for the kind words on the reviews Marshall!. Truth be told I love writing them.

 

[Dean DeMass]

I played X8 over the weekend and ended up buying it yesterday. The game is fun. I actually like the new engine and am really looking forward to seeing the next incarnation of it. The only thing X8 is missing for me is more moves. I don't really mess around too much with the CAW, but as long as I can create HBK and one of the faces of Foley, I am happy (which you can in X8). The Hell in the Cell is just awesome as is the TLC matches. The thing I was worried about in this game was that your opponent wouldn't stay down after a beating (like in the Smackdown series), but thankfully they do. The animation for the finishers is incredible. The Rock Bottom looks fantastic, especially the way the Rock gets up after performing it.
I was skeptical about X8 at 1st, but after playing it, I think Yukes finally got a game engine right. Luckily we will see a lot of the things we want in next years addition since the engine was the most important thing to get hammered out 1st.
If Yukes can keep the gameplay tight and improve it just a bit, add more moves, and maybe a story mode, next years Wrestlemania game will be one of the best ever.
I rate X8 behind No Mercy, but it isn't far behind. I will be having lots of fun with this game.
Oh, the only negative as far as gameplay goes, is the AI in the single player Triple Threat matches. The CPU gangs up on you way too much, but I found if you get away for a sec, they will focus on each other more.
-Dean-