[BreakABone]

Well after reading GameSpot's new preview, it really gets me hyped for the game. The most important thing to me is it seems that the Story Mode has a branching plot since you are able to pick things for your character to say/

Day of Reckoning's gameplay style hearkens back quite a bit to the days when Aki Corporation-developed wrestlers ruled the N64 ring. In last year's WrestleMania XIX, developer Yuke's debuted an interpretation of the Aki wrestling engine that, while a big improvement over the first WrestleMania game, didn't quite make for a fully successful mesh between that style of wrestling and the more traditional Yuke's style. In Day of Reckoning, the pacing of the action has shifted even further toward the more methodical, sim-based Aki style, making better use of the control scheme and ultimately making the game more fun to play.

Hmm if methodical is anything like JR means, that just means slower...

You'll still be able to perform weak and strong grapples and strikes by tapping or holding down the proper buttons, but in Day of Reckoning, it seems as though the basic flow of the game caters much better to this style of control. The countering system won't be changing, so you will still have to time hits of the right and left triggers to counter strikes and grapples respectively.

I hope the reversing isn't as "loose" as it is in the WrestleMania games since you can basically just tap the buttons for the entire match and probably pull out a win.

Though not many other major changes seem to have been made to the gameplay, there is one other notable addition. Day of Reckoning will feature an all-new weight-balancing system to help make matches between wrestlers of significant size differences closer to the realm of WWE TV. Even though it's highly unreasonable to expect a little guy like Rey Mysterio Jr. to be able to lift a behemoth like the Big Show, it is, in WWE terms, possible. Anyone remember John Cena lifting that monolithic Big Show a couple of times a Pay-Per-View or two ago?


Fans of THQ's old-school Nintendo 64 wrestling games will find a lot to like about WWE Day of Reckoning.
To make this a reality in the game, the developers have added a new pickup meter that comes into play when smaller wrestlers try to pick up the bigger ones. By tapping the A button repeatedly, you'll see the meter go up, and if you get it high enough, you'll be able to slam a big guy. This also plays into your wrestler's statistic in the category of strength, so if you've got a stringy-armed guy, he also will have some trouble lifting the larger fellows.

Well, I think this is a bit similar to No Mercy's system, where you couldn't really pick up a guy like Andre, but the closer you got to your special, the easier it is for you to pick him up. I like this system, I mean it doesn't give little guys a distinct disadvadvantage, but they also have to work a bit more to win. I hope it's pulled off well.

While last year's WrestleMania XIX was ultimately a good game, it was held back significantly by one of the least pleasurable story modes we've ever had the misfortune to experience. The good news is that Day of Reckoning seems primed to correct that mistake with a brand-new story mode that is actually enjoyable to play. Essentially, the story mode follows the path of an up-and-coming rookie wrestler looking to make it in the big leagues of the WWE. You create this green recruit by using the game's create-a-wrestler mode (or by using one of the default, generic schlubs already in the game), and then once he or she is created, you have your first meeting with Vincent K. McMahon. Vinnie Mac tells you that he's heard good things about you and that he's willing to give you a chance to make it in the WWE, but before he'll put you on TV, you'll have to earn your shot in the bush leagues of WWE Developmental.

Your first series of matches will be against no-name rookies in the developmental league. As you begin to work your way through the ranks of generic plebes, Jonathan Coachman (aka "The Coach") acts as your trainer. Rather than train you with typical mat technique or weight lifting, however, he will instead send you out night after night with specific objectives to achieve during your matches. One night, for instance, he will ask you to perform a certain number of counters to your opponent's grapple moves. Another night, he may ask you to win without ever performing a special move.



The new story mode puts you in the role of a wannabe WWE superstar.
Once you have managed to prove yourself, you'll earn a spot on Sunday Night Heat and eventually gain a contract with either the Raw or SmackDown roster. However, as with any rise to success, your character will encounter a lot of opposition and backstabbing once within the ranks of the WWE elite, which will eventually lead you to a number of feuds with the WWE's finest.

I actually like the idea of the story mode, reminds me somewhat of the one in SmackDown: Shut Your Mouth I think it is. When you create a character, he starts from the bottom then works his way up.

I like the "development" system challenges as it gives more purposes to a match, and gives you ideas on how to get over in the game.

I also like that you are forced to go through with a CAW, though it would be fun to do it with a normal wrestler, I always go through with a CAW eventually, atleast now there is a reason.

And a whole lot more believeable then Triple H starting on Heat or something...

And news that may be great to some of you people...

A few of the classic names we saw included Rowdy Roddy Piper, Andre the Giant, and Bret "The Hitman" Hart.

Roddy Piper and Bret Hart, how did they pull that one off?