Wrestling games have slowly taken the world by storm. Creating as big a fan following as any hardcore fighter in the business, the tight-wearing toughmen of the WWF have invaded our video game collections just as powerfully as they have our Monday nights. Love them (No Mercy, Wrestlemania 2000) or hate them (Royal Rumble), THQ and it’s brand of wrestling know-how are here to stay.
That said, Xbox fans will be happy to learn that THQ’s first attempt at Microsoft goodness will follow the more wrestling-faithful path of its Nintendo 64 brethren in the form of Raw is War. Heavy on the simulation and light in the arcade department, RiW was drawing some heavy attention in the back rooms of THQ’s E3 backroom.
Developed by our boys at Anchor, Inc. (makers of the super-excellent Ultimate Fighting Championship), the infantile burn we got our mitts on was noticeably unfinished. Approximately 40% complete, the brawler was glitchy yes, but not without promise.
Exclusive new features include the ability to grab opponent’s clothing while they try to escape and force the crowd to flee in panic as the action flows out into the audience. While those features weren’t turned on in the version that we played, THQ promises us that the final will pass these off with flying colors. Other bonuses set to be included are an extensive create-a-wrestler option, multiple rings and arenas, and over 35 superstars and hidden wrestlers.
The actual list of wrestlers is being kept top secret, with a majority of the cast hidden in shadows. While we managed to squeeze some info out of our THQ buddies (like the fact that popular legends from yesteryear WON’T be in it), the complete rogues gallery is still in question. Fret not if you’re a fan of the big names however, as we can confirm that The Rock, Chyna, Stone Cold, Jericho, Angle, Kane, Triple H, and the Undertaker will all make the cut.
Speaking of cut, there’s going to be a heavy flow of blood. With all manner of ways to destroy your opponent readily available, you can smash them in the ring, out of the ring, and even backstage. Even cooler is that the backstage areas will be randomly generated from a set of 10 different environments, ranging anywhere from boiler rooms and parking lots, to the entrance ramp and waiting room venues. And for those of you who are curious about what kind of specialty matches are in store for the final, the unfinalized list includes cage matches, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumbles. WWF fans... rejoice!
Still a long way from taking shape, WWF Raw is War is far too early on the chopping block to form any definitive gameplay opinions. But if the folks at Anchor can keep the same effort of excellence they gave to UFC, and the animation and character models can continue their juicy path of digital goodness, then Xbox gamers the world over are in for a real treat come launch day. "We couldn’t be more pleased that WWF Raw Is War is being created specifically to take advantage of the awesome power the Xbox brings," said J Allard, general manager, Xbox platform and third party relations. "It will be one of the key launch titles." -January 6th 2001.
Let’s get ready to rumble, gaming style. Anchor, the developers of the award-winning Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipÔ, is bringing the Xbox into the ring with ‘RAW IS WAR’, a game based on the World Wrestling Federation. This Phenom of a game will be the first wrestling game to grace the Xbox, and boy are we excited!! Let me give you the SMACK DOWN on the LOW-down of this upcoming release from Publishers THQ, and Jakks Pacific. Unlike pip-squeek consoles that can’t handle the RAW power, and the RAW fury of a real wrestling game, the Xbox is the People’s System, and Raw will prove this through something that has been lacking in wrestling games since the beginning. Which means 3 things that are needed in a video game, and which RAW IS WAR promises to deliver: 1) Commentators - I want commentators to talk about what a pounding the ROCK is putting down on Helmsley, and how the Undertaker isn’t getting up from my Stone Cold Stunner. We’re talking about honest to goodness Commentators that will make this wrestling experience as exciting as possible. 2) Grab-for-all & Smash for all - Finally we get the chance to grab wrestlers from their clothing, and lay the Smack Down on some tables that shouldn’t be where they are. Broken furniture is on the menu, along with a boat-load of pain for all the wrestlers. THQ is allowing players to go back stage, which is really cool. Imagine going into a locker room to smack around another wrestler around, or chasing someone down the Ramp, all the way backstage. If this isn’t enough, what about having different backstage areas from venue to venue! What happens if the action spills into the audience? Total anarchy!! The audience will scatter while you bring a boat load of furry down on Bennoit or Austin. This will be action like never see before on a console. 3) Wrestlers!!! What’s a wrestling game without wrestlers? Well, a bad game. So all you Jericho-holics, get ready to celebrate, Mic fans, rejoice. THQ is bringing a boat-load of butt-kick’n wrestlers into the fray, and I personally couldn’t be any more excited.
Both THQ, Jakks and Anchor are coming together to bring you, what looks like, a great wrestling experience, and should help propel the Xbox into having a fantastic Launch. If you loved SMACKDOWN on the Playstation, then you should really enjoy what this game offers. There’s no information on whether or not there’ll be a ‘wrestler-creator’ function for RAW, but with everything else they’re throwing into the ring, maybe we’ll still see it happen. With the Xbox’s hard-drive, THQ is extremely excited about utilizing the power of Microsoft’s machine, and when the ROCK announced the game at the January CES in LA, nothing could stop us from “Smelling what the Rock is cooking”, and the best thing is ... It smells mighty good.
