The essence of frustration. Waggling to escape a pin, a lame reversal system and bad AI. It all adds up to a bad game.
I'll give Midway props for the amazing graphics, they truly are stunning on a HD screen, and great use of the Havok physics system. The SFX are also very well done and have good impact.
That's were the fun ends....
I cannot believe MIDWAY can even consider using WAGGLING THE ANALOG STICK as an input for a game. It is the most annoying thing possible...and it takes away from a relaxing and natural gameplay experience. Having this affect the most important element of a wrestling match, the pinfall, makes it even more unforgivable. Take some hints from Smackdown vs. Raw in this area.
Player fatigue should never be a factor in gameplay, and the WAGGLING OF THE ANALOG STICK brings this to the forefront. The AI will always have the advantage because of this because it never tires....Not fun.
You are also very likely to cause damage to your controller by constantly abusing the analog stick in this fashion, there is no other way to play the game.
Also, the stupid submission system where you need to have a memory of the location of every button on your controller...a puzzle within a wrestling game. Not fun.
How about when I'm in a match, and I try and pin my opponent and my character just decides to roll out of the ring instead? Not fun...
Or when I am in a tag match, and my partner randomly decides to come in and save me....then I'm at the mercy of WAGGLING THE ANALOG STICK again. I've had occasions where I am right next to my AI partner in the match, being pinned and he is just casually standing there as if nothing is going on.
I don't normally write reviews, but this game has annoyed me so much that I just have to let everyone know about it.
The only reason I am completing this game, is because I am a wrestling fan overall and I have endured so much frustration and annoyance in getting as far as I have in this game and I want to see the end of my storyline.
Apart from that, I do not recommend this game in the slightest.