Mini-Review of WrestleMania XIX

[BreakABone]

Well being that I'm a fan of X8, and Shut Your Mouth, well of most any wrestling game not made by Island, take this as you will.

Now for the boring stuff
Graphics:
They look like wrestlers, have weird animations when they walk, but other than that it's ok. Some of the wrestlers look a little too muscular, but eh.

Sound
Sound has really improved since X8. It features no commentators, which from prior experience is a big plus in my book. The crowd is a whole lot more lively this time, not just for big moves or entrances. They are there throughout, and will start to chant for your wrestlers if they are winning or getting their ass kick. Different for heels and faces. Some entrance themes are missing, which you can't really hold against the developes since some people just ask for too much money I guess.

Ok, I think that takes care of that now for the real meat.

GamePlay:
The best way to put it is a No Mercy, SmackDown: Shut Your mouth and WrestleMania x8 combination. It takes bits and pieces from each of those games and inject it's own creativity to give you this game. It has strong and weak grapples ala No Mercy, but the wak grapples are done in a manner which most SmackDown/WrestleMania x8 fans would know, well the strong grapples are more akin to the AKI engine with some differences.

One major difference from the AKI engine and this for strong grapples is, you only have 5 instead of 8 since A plus a direction does a move and B plus a direction does a combination of strikes which may or may not be grapples. This of course leaves the door open for combination. So you can go into a grapple deliver a right punch and then a left punch and then suplex the person. Or you can just beat the living snot out of them. It also adds a bit more strategy on defense as you got to predict whether it's a strike or grapple and press the corresponding button to reverse.

Reversals in this game are handled in pretty much the same manner in which they were handled in X8, even though it is a lot tighter now so it calls for timing than button smashing. They fixed up some reversals such as breaing up a grapple and stuff.

The speed of the game is rather nice, not too hectic like the SmackDown games, and faster than Raw. I believe it's also faster than No Mercy, which many won't agree with, but that is a plus in my book.

I always thought that WrestleMania X8 created the best system for a finishing moves. Now Yukes has expanded on it, in a way that shows the hybrid once again. Like SMackDown, you "stock" up on specials, there is a total of 3 slots you can fill. Once you have one of them filled, you can activate your special with a press of the "A+B" button. Your wrestler will do a short taunt much like in any AKI game, then your meter will start to glow, you have something like 10 seconds to pull off as many finishers as you can fit in that time. So if you are say Goldberg, you can nail someone with a spear, pick them up and JackHammer them. Of course, it would be a bit unfair to the oppenent so like X8, you have a chance to reverse finishers, if you reverse it, you gain one special bar so it's a bit of planning on both parts. I till think that system of doing it is the best, since it's a bit more unpredictable, and fun.

Controls have been fixed somewhat. I somewhat like the lay-out they used for X8 better, but once got annoyed with the combination. Now there is really only three combinations "A+B" to activate and deliver a special and "L+R" to reverse a special and "L+R+A+B" to steal your oppenents special (it's actually a lot easier to press those 4 buttons than I imagined). But most of the buttons serve double purposes which may or may not be good. X is used to pick up a wrestler, X is used to turn around a wrestler and X is used to pick up a weapon, you can just imagine how fun TLC or Ladders or even Hardcore matches are when the wrestler lays near a weapon. Y is used to run as well as enter/leave the ring and ascend the turnbuckle, again it takes some work, but it's ok. In what I consider the dumbest move of all, the C-stick is no longer used to focus on different oppenents, I thought it worked well, and considering that it's only used in Revenge mode, I don't think they should have changed it.

Overall, I think the game has improved in spades, it still needs some work, but it's fun.

As for those wondering why I didn't mention Revenge mode, well um.. I'll mention it later. I got class soon anyhow. Also didn't mention the CAW and CAE which is leaps and bounds improved over X8.

[Jonbo298]

A big plus is from what I've heard is a greatly expanded CAW mode. X8's was just plain horrible and unexcuseable on how limited it was.

I might rent XIX, depending on if I feel like it or whatever.

[TheGame]

Are there any Belts in the game?

and um, is Rock's new music in the game?

[nWoCHRISnWo]

Originally Posted by TheGame

and um, is Rock's new music in the game?

Yes it is.

[BreakABone]

Well, here are even more impressions of the game.

Revenge mode:
Probably one of the most questionable things from the game's unveiling until well now. This mode well to put it frank is different. At first, I found it annoying, I mean certain missions just seemed impossible. Then, I thought it was dumb and had no place, but now that I got the hang of most of the controls and what not, it's pretty cool, and offers a nice challenge. The real bonus is completing the stages, and getting bonus levels for exhibition, which I wil touch on in a second.

Anyhow, most of the missions are barebones. Some are as easy as tossing Vince's goons off the platform or knocking them out which means just busting them open. Others are a bit more like beat the clock where you got to keep the goons and wrestler from something for a well. Then, there are the destruction missions where you have to break something down or something similar. The missions are Metal Gear Solid deep, but then again this is a wrestling game. The story is well, weird, but eh.

Now onto the real tricks, after completing all the missions in a Revenge section (Harbour, parking lot, Shopping mall and dock), you unlock exhibition stages that have certain rules based on the environment, but use wrestling rules. I only unlocked 2 of them so far, but that got me a total of 5 areas. Anyhow, some of them have basic rules similar to a Royal Rumble. Basically, you got to beat up your oppenents enough to toss them off platform/level. Others have rules similar to well, I guess the original boiler room brawl, you got to fight and pick up an object. Another has rules similar to ladder match, where there is a belt hanging and you got to use like cables to get it. It's not entirely real, but ti's fun nonetheless and adds a bit more to normal gimmicks matches, and like I said they are fun. It's a pretty sweet addition IMO.

I will talk more about the CAW/CAE later.

Here is a video someone made that is pretty cool

http://www.sweetcrap.com/xix/xixvid2.avi

O and to answer Justin's questions
1)You can get belts if you win a KOTR tourney that has a belt on the line, and that is the just of it.

2)Yes, the Rock's new theme,look and intro is in.

[BreakABone]

I'm going to try something different for my next set of impressions. I'm going to do a match well provided commentary to go along with it.

Ok let's see. First the rules, it's a normal match with no DQs, falls out is 20 count, there is a 60 minute time limit. It will be on Raw (the ramp is high).

The match will pit Goldberg (myself) vs Triple H (cpu on normal).

JR:This is going to be one for the record books.

King: You are right, JR. Let's turn it to the fink.

Fink: This match is scheduled for one fall and it is for the World Heavyweight Title with a 60 minute time limit. In this match there will be no DQ.

Making his way to the ring from Atlanta, Georgia weighin in at 270 lbs, the challenger Goldberg.

JR: Goldberg looks in prime shape tonight.

The King: But is he ready to play the game.

Fink: And now making his way to the ring, he is the World Heavyweight Champion. The Game Triple H!

JR: The Champion looks like he means business. He can't get himself disqualified in this match. Almost anyting goes.

King: The Game will find some way to keep his title.

JR: Goldberg with a furious shoulder block out of the block knocing the World Heavyweight Champion off his feet.

King: But the chmap is back to his feet and rebounds with a punch, and another punch, wait no Goldberg reverses it!

JR: Yes, he reversed it into a step over throw. Andthe World Heavyweight Champon is down again. Goldberg is just dominatiing in the early going, sending the champion back to the mat with a tremedous clothesline.

King: He isn't human! Look at the power! He just gorilla press slammed the champ.

JR: What a thunderous powerslam by Goldberg. The early going has been nothing, but Goldberg, King.

King: Ina test of strenght, Goldberg just mowed over Triple H. The Game is going to have to pull something out to change the momentum of the match.

JR: The Champ finally knocked Goldberg down. It looks like he is going after the leg.

king: Yes! Yes! What a chop block by Triple H.

JR: Triple H with an underhanded eye rake, but Goldberg charged like a wild man knocking down the champ once again.

King: The Champ doesn' t seem to get anything going his way.

JR: That is inhuman. Goldberg just turned a military press into a front side slam. That is ungodly strenght.

King: Goldberg came with his A+ game today. He pulled off a snap DDT and powerbomb on the champion and the champ is hurting, and hurting bad.

JR: The Game was able to buy himself some time with that side russian leg sweep.

King: He is trying to kill the Game! Look at that superplex from the top rope.

JR: Triple H is desperate. He went for a small package and got nothing. Goldberg is to fresh for the champ.

King: And again Triple H returns to the legs with another chop block. Maybe that is his best bet.

JR: Triple H went for all or nothing on that play, but Goldberg showing his strenght once again, reversed the pedigree with a thunderous back body drop to the Game.

King: The Game doesn't know what to do, he went for it all there, and it didn't play off. The look on his face says it all. He is frightened.

JR: King it looks like the end may be near. Goldberg is calling for the Spear. He is poised.

King: He busted Triple H's ribs open with that one. That was one hell of a spear that sent the Champ rocking.

JR: Goldberg is going for it. Jackhammer! He got him up..

King: No the Game is showing the will to win. He reversed the Jackhammer! He reversed the jackhammer! Come on, Triple H!

JR: Goldberg went for another Spear and the Champ smartly sidestepped it, but he was taunting the fans and turned around into another Spear! Bah gawd, I think that one broke him in half.

King: Goldberg's going for all or nothing with the second Jackahmmer.

JR: It connects, we may have a new world heavyweight chmapion.

King: Goldberg has done it.

JR: GOLDBERG has down it! He has defeated the World Heavyweight Champion, Triple H in one hell of a match. It is a match that will be talked about for ages.

[TheGame]

I would like if the real match went this way...

King isn't stupid enough in the story though

[Dark Samurai]

If only it really went that way that would be cool.