Despite a few flaws, this is still a great game.
The first thing you'll notice about WCW Nitro is that it's very bare bones when it comes to match types. Only offering a Championship mode, Single Match and Tag Match. This isn't that bad if you're in to the more "classic" wrestling where it was pretty much single and tag matches. But if you're looking for match variety like the current gen wrestling titles, you'll be dissapointed.
When it comes to gameplay, Nitro is pretty unique. Instead of the "button mashing" approach usually taken with wrestling games, moves are pulled of with small button combinations, similar to WWF Attitude. It feels slightly more intuitive than Attitude though. The only thing Is that most of the wrestlers have the same moves which are done using the same commands. Each of the main wrestlers have up to 3 signature moves though so it's not that much of a problem.
When this game was released back in 1998, the graphics ranged from slightly ok to pretty horrible. Nowadays they still look bad (obviously). All the wrestler's and arena's textures are very detailed but for the most part are very blurry, especially the audience members. But if you can get past the visual limits of the game and realise that it actually did capture the mood and settings of WCW Monday Nitro, it won't bother you much.
The sound is pretty decent, I think. While browsing through the different menu screens the actual Nitro theme plays in the background and sometimes the nWo (new World order) theme which is pretty cool. I like the music that plays during the matches too. They're a bit generic and repetitive in places but still sound good. And if you like the tunes you can always use the CD playback. The effects are good too in Nitro. Punches, Chops and Kicks sound great as does the sound of the mat when someone gets powerbombed or chokeslammed on it. the only let down I think is the commentary. You think the announcers are non existent until about 4 minutes in the match you here "Powerbomb!!!". The voices sound good but there should have been more of them.
Now, one of the main factors that makes this game really cool is the roster. At first there is only about 20 Top guys to choose from but once you start winning matches in championship mode you will unlcok a s**t load of others until you notice a roster of about 70 wrestlers.
Another good thing about Nitro is all the arenas. The main one is the Nitro arena but there are a lots of PPV's too including Halloween Havoc, Fall Brawl, Great American Bash and Souled out as well as fictional arenas.
Well that's the end of my review. This game is really old now but if you haven't played it, like old wrestling games or are a fan of WCW then you should definately pick it up. It's not a graphical powerhouse, doesn't have lots of features either but the in ring action is fun and the roster is awesome!!!