WWE 12 Video Game Review

With the longest running Monday night TV show and some of the most popular TV characters in the world, WWF or WWE or WW whatever these days is a big brand. We all have either watched or heard about the world of wrestling and you either love it or hate it. It’s an entertainment TV show, as they say, but why do we want to watch men in Speedos beating each other up? Okay, the fighting part is not bad (if only it was real) but, from the old days where it was an hour of fighting, now it’s become 45 minutes of talk and 15 minutes of fighting. If you don’t get enough WW whatever during the week on your local TV station then you can control the WW universe on your console.

The story mode (WW universe) will have gamers playing as various characters though out the night’s broadcast; there will be three fights and a main event. Each night’s “broadcast” will be from either Raw or Smackdown and the gamer will have to work his way through the year’s schedule.

There are other game modes available too; Road to Wrestle mania will let the gamer work their way up through the ranks to reach the main event. One on one, tag team, Royal Rumble, TLC, Hell in a Cell… the list goes on. Fight in any condition with any type of match that suites your blood thirst.

From the start of the game the graphics are very well done. The menus are easy to use, read and navigate through, while the in game graphics are great. Each character is noticeable and almost identical to their real life counter parts. When the gamer enters the ring with his selected wrestler, the entrance of each wrestler is just as it would be on TV. These wrestlers look real enough and do not have blocky limbs, they move well around the ring and behave just as they do on the program, complete with their own personality. The wrestlers all have their own traits, which make them unique, and are just as unique in the game.

The crowds in this title play a small role, but make a huge difference to the end result. The crowds do move and cheer at the right time but also have repetitive movements.

The in-game sound, as well as the commentary, is also very good with only a few minor issues. The sound effects and general music are really good and fit with the whole WWF attitude beautifully. The character music is the same as the TV program and while the wrestler makes his entrance to the ring, you’ll be able to hear the ring announcer introducing the wrestlers. The crowd ooh and aah during the fight and commentators tell the story of events happening in the ring but also do speak about the characters, too. The commentary does get repetitive at times when the gamer uses the same characters over and over, though. Sound effects, like running on the matt, slamming chairs to the head, and breaking tables, all fit in well and don’t sound cheap or under done.

Controlling the wrestler is not too complicated, and the control setup is laid out very well. The only issue I have is that there is no block… the gamer will only have an option to counter. When the time is ready, the gamer will see a prompt above the character’s head, which will give you literally a split second to tap the button. Getting this right will take some getting used to, unless you have already played the previous WWF games, as the button setup is the same. When controlling the character in the game it’s best to take a slower approach or more precise attack on you opponents limbs. Targeting your opponents limbs is quite simple it this title and makes for a fun torture style game, if you don’t rush for the 3 count. Tapping out of a three count will also require a precise eye and finger, but I guess you’re not going to be losing anyway.

This WWF title is very difficult but can be adjusted in the options menu; this is good in a way because you would like a challenge when you buy a game. There are numerous game modes and story modes available which is great, too, and which will keep the gamer busy for a long time.

Verdict:

This one is not just for the WWE Fans

Developer: Yukes

Publisher: THQ

Distributor: Ster Kinekor

Platform:

Xbox 360

PS3

Wii