WWE Day of Reckoning 2

The second Day of Reckoning is upon us as THQ lays it down with its latest GameCube grappler. We enter the squared circle and provide play-by-play of all the action in our full review, plus hot gameplay videos.

	Version GameCube	Developer Yukes	Publisher THQ	Genre Wrestling

By Joseph Jackson

Hot on the heels of WWE Day of Reckoning comes the much-anticipated follow-up to last year's popular GameCube grappler, which featured a pretty solid wrestling engine, and a decent story mode that made for some great wrestling action. The game was loads of fun, and personally, I found it to be a much more enjoyable game than the feature-rich WWE SmackDown vs. RAW released for the PS2 later that same year.

While SmackDown vs. RAW was host to a number of cool added features that set it apart from Day or Reckoning, stuff like parking lot brawls, and voice-acting for the characters, something Day of Reckoning 2 still lacks; underneath all the glitz and glamour of SmackDown vs. Raw were also some annoying problems that resulted in gameplay mechanics that just didn't flow as smoothly as those found in Day of Reckoning. Let's not even mention the totally dismal WrestleMania 21 released for the Xbox earlier this year shall we?

While Day of Reckoning 2 still manages to come up a little short in its feature set compared to the aforementioned Xbox and PS2 titles, it still remains a highly enjoyable game and the heavyweight champ in the all-important gameplay department as far as WWE games go. In some ways Day of Reckoning 2 is almost indistinguishable from its predecessor as it retains much of the same formula that made the first game such a success (which to me is definitely a good thing). Players can choose from a roster of 45 grapplers, consisting of current WWE Superstars, Divas, and even a number of unlockable legends like Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bret Hart, Hulk Hogan, The Rock, and Mankind.

In addition to featuring a solid roster of fighters, Day of Reckoning 2 is also host to a modest selection of matches and match-types that players can choose from. The standard Exhibition mode allows players to engage in the usual quick match with the grappler(s) of their choice in single player as well as multiple player mode which allows up to four players to get in on the action depending on the type of match chosen. Selectable matches range from Singles, Tag-Team, Triple Threat, Fatal 4 Way, Handicap, and Royal Rumble. In addition, Players can engage in a variety of different match types ranging from Ladder matches, Cage matches, to Bra & Panties matches, and even Ironman Matches.

There are a total of 10 selectable match types in all and a few specialized matches that are only available in the story mode. Players will also be able to do battle in a variety of WWE arenas, 18 in all, ranging from WWE Televised shows such as RAW, Smackdown, Heat and Velocity, to all of the Pay Per View events.

Along with the aforementioned Exhibition mode, there's a handy Tutorial feature that serves as a training mode of sorts for quickly getting players up to speed with the controls and mechanics of the game. One of the coolest features of the game is no doubt the intricate Create-a-Superstar mode where players can edit pre-existing WWE superstars as well as create brand new superstars and adjust the physical attributes of their created grapplers from head to toe. In addition, with the experience points gained from their post-match evaluations players can further fine-tune other attributes of their characters by improving their strength, speed, technique, durability, striking, and submission skills among other things. The coolest aspect of the mode however is the option to customize your grappler's moveset with a wide variety of moves that can be added to their wrestling arsenal for just about any given situation in or out of the ring.

Further customization can also be performed in creating an entrance for your characters using a variety of default templates available in the Create an entrance feature, as well as decking out your custom superstars in stylish wrestling attire and accessories that can be purchased from the WWE Shop.com with the money earned from winning matches. Aside from the available clothing options, weapons, move templates, and Pay-Per-View events can also be purchased from WWE Shop.com.

After spending a lengthy amount of time navigating the in-depth Create-a-superstar feature and tweaking your created superstars to near perfection you can then tackle the Story mode, which is where the meat of the game lies. The storyline of Day of Reckoning 2 continues where the previous game left off and is actually a step up from last year's offering. After working your way up the ranks and fulfilling your life long dream of winning the world heavyweight title in the previous story, you now find yourself back in the title hunt again after having lost the title back to Triple H during your previous encounter. Fortunately, due to the controversial ending to Triple H's last title defense, RAW general manager, Eric Bischoff has vacated the world title and put it up for grabs in a tournament designed to crown a new world champion. With the world title now fair game, and with the support of Stacy Keibler, you set out to reclaim what's rightfully yours, all culminating in a battle for the world heavy weight title on the grandest stage of all, Wrestlemania.

But the road leading to the world title is never an easy one traveled and you soon learn that lies and deception are part of the overall big picture after the world title is stolen from Eric Bischoff's office on the night of the big event. The Wrestlemania main event is canceled as a result and what follows are a series of events leading to lots of finger-pointing and mistrust as the mystery behind the belt's disappearance is slowly unraveled with a couple of interesting plot twists and story related options presented to you at certain points throughout the game. These selectable options allow for a little deviation to the main story by providing you with the option to settle grudges and go after other WWE titles among other things - all while maintaining your course to the world title.

But regardless of how nice all of the aforementioned game modes and storyline elements sound, when it comes down to it, all of that stuff takes a comfortable back seat to the most important aspect of the game, the gameplay. As mentioned before, the gameplay of Day of Reckoning 2 is a lot like its predecessor albeit with some minor tweaks to the AI and other problems that plagued the first game.

The game controls quite well and maneuvering each grappler around the ring is handled easy enough with the analog stick and all of the buttons on the controller to perform a wide variety of moves. Players can perform just about any kind of move associated with wrestling. They can taunt, run, perform strikes/combos, wield various weapons, and perform a variety of devastating wrestling holds and moves by pressing the analog stick in the corresponding directions during light and heavy grapples. Like in the previous game the grappling system utilizes a sort of 2- step system where weaker moves can be performed during light grapples and more impactful, devastating moves can be performed during heavy grapples. The system works quite well and makes for quick and easy access to the variety of moves in each grappler's arsenal.

In a nutshell, the game controls as well as the first game did with intuitive controls allowing for reversals, counters, double-team moves, high-flying moves off the top rope, submission maneuvers as well as special/signature moves to be performed quite painlessly. Other familiar gameplay elements such as the weight-balancing system that prevents smaller, light-weight grapplers from out muscling sturdier heavyweights, as well Momentum Shifts, which allow grapplers on the losing end of a battle to quickly turn the tide, have also made the trip over intact. Fortunately the developers did a little more than just migrate the old engine as is and have implemented a few enhancements resulting in a more refined fighting system than before.

Like its predecessor, Day of Reckoning 2 utilizes a damage system that allows players to systematically and methodically take their opponents apart by focusing their attacks on specific areas of the body, wearing them down, and injuring them in the process - which works great for setting up submission moves. And speaking of submission moves, Day of Reckoning 2 introduces a nifty new skill-based submission system that presents players with a quick menu selection with 4 options to choose from whenever performing submission moves. Choosing one of the 4 options; Taunt, Drain, Rest Hold, and Submit, is easily accomplished with just a simple tap of the C stick in one of the 4 corresponding directions at the beginning of a submission move. Once you've selected one of the four options, your opponent follows suit - in a sort of paper, rock, and scissors fashion - and makes a selection of their own in hopes of matching your choice. If their choice matches yours they're break out of your submission hold, if not then they'll remain in your submission maneuver with further punishment being inflicted to that respective body part until they either escape, submit, or you break the hold.

In addition to the submission system, there's an all-new Stamina system represented by a stamina meter that gets depleted as wrestlers expend energy performing moves during their matches - adding an additional element of realism to the game by forcing the combatants to pace themselves during their matches or risk complete exhaustion. As your stamina meter gets depleted there are two ways to replenish it. The slower method is to just remain idle long enough for your stamina to automatically regenerate. The second, faster method works in conjunction with the submission system and relies on selecting the Rest Hold option during submissions to not only punish your opponents but also allow your grappler(s) to rest a bit and regain their stamina, adding a nice element of strategy to the gameplay as you try to pace yourself and keep from becoming completely winded.

Despite how great of a game Day of Reckoning 2 is, it's still not without its fair share of problems though. Two problems that immediately spring to mind with regards to last year's game were a few collision detection issues and the game's questionable AI. And while the collision detection in Day of Reckoning 2 has been improved, the AI happens to remain the major culprit in this year's edition.

On the one hand the AI has seen some noticeable improvements and puts up a better fight than before, making for some occasionally challenging singles and tag-team matches. On the other hand, the AI could still use some tweaking as CPU opponents can still be quite dumb at times, especially in singles matches where players can often times repeat the same submission moves over and over again without the CPU making you pay for it.

However, the biggest problem with the game's AI is that it goes from being partially brain dead to down right infuriating at times, specifically in multiple opponent matches like the Fatal Four Way, triple threat matches, and the Royal Rumble where it's supposed to be every man for himself. However, in those matches there's obviously a giant bulls-eye on you as the AI opponents tend to zero in on you, often times ignoring each other. Just wait until you work your way through the story mode and experience the infamous Fatal Four Way cage match in which you battle against 3 other opponents and have to be the first to escape the cage. Good Friggin Luck! You'll be hard pressed to NOT toss the controller against the wall at that point. Fortunately, these types of multiple opponent matches don't happen very often, so despite a few AI hiccups here and there, playing through the story mode is actually lots of fun and quite a rewarding experience when you finally complete the journey.

Visually, Day of Reckoning 2 is no slouch in the graphics department and features significantly improved visuals over its predecessor. The character models are no doubt the stars of the show as each model has been very well-crafted with intricate details and great textures giving them a seemingly uncanny likeness to their WWE counterparts. And as good as the characters look, the character animations are equally as impressive with most of the characters mimicking the mannerisms of their real life counterparts quite well in the ring and during their spectacular ring entrances. The developers have squeezed in a lot of details into the visual presentation of the game and it definitely shows when watching stuff like Batista's energetic intro, as well as the cocky smirk that forms on Chris Master's face as he makes his way down to the ring.

The various TV and PPV arenas in the game also look good with each sporting slightly different designs along with a modest array of background activity featuring the usual WWE pyrotechnics displays and some pretty decent crowd animations.

The audio portion of the game is also another of the game's high points as the audio consists of a number of licensed tracks along with the all familiar entrance themes of each and every WWE Superstar included in the game. The sound effects are also pretty solid with every smack, thwack and smash coming through with great clarity. The only downside to it all is that with the added features in last year's Smackdown vs. Raw, primarily voice-acting, the developers of Day of Reckoning 2 still didn't make any kind of effort to include such a thing in the game. The only speech to be found here comes from the ring announcer, as well as a few short voice samples from the referee regulating all of the action.

While the lack of voice-acting doesn't necessarily detract from the overall experience, still, it would have been a nice option to have. Perhaps in Day of Reckoning 3?

Overall, despite being a total mark for the Day of Reckoning games, there hasn't really been a lot added in this 2nd installment. The new submissions system is pretty cool and works beautifully well in conjunction with the game's damage system and new stamina system. Special moves remain incredibly easy to pull off thankfully and are accompanied by some cool dramatic camera shots displaying the impact of the moves from various angles. The create-a-wrestler feature is also pretty cool and can eat up a great deal of time with the level of depth it presents players, allowing for some deep level customizations and fine-tuning for the created grapplers. In a nutshell, WWE Day of Reckoning 2 is a great follow-up to last year's GameCube offering and will likely maintain its firm grip on the championship crown as far as WWE licensed games go this year.