WWF No Mercy Review

Hot on the heels of last year's WWF Wrestlemania 2000, THQ's latest effort, WWF No Mercy, seeks to be this year's game of choice for pro wrestling fans. While No Mercy will seem immensely familiar to fans of WWF Wrestlemania 2000, THQ has added quite a bit to the fray in order to provide a pleasant experience to seasoned veterans. At the outset, exhibition, royal rumble, pay-per-view, king of the ring, guest referee, iron man, ladder match, championship, and survival modes are available. Each of these modes allows you to pick from a stock of 52 wrestlers, eight arenas, and a multitude of official and unofficial rules. Should you progress up the championship ladder, you can earn bonus dollars to spend in the game's SmackDown Mall, bringing the total number of wrestlers and arenas to 60 and 10, respectively.

The SmackDown Mall is perhaps the coolest addition to WWF No Mercy, in that it not only allows you to create and edit wrestlers, but it also lets you purchase a variety of secret items. Unlike past games that gave you a hidden item for winning a belt, WWF No Mercy lets you choose exactly what goodies to unlock and when to unlock them. Additional costumes, moves, arenas, weapons, props, and wrestlers are for sale in the SmackDown Mall - all of which may be utilized in any of the game's modes. If this isn't enough, the in-depth create-a-wrestler mode is sure to please. Physically, you can alter a wrestler's gender, facial features, body type, costume, moves, and even his or her fighting style. On the glitz and glamour end of things, ring introductions, background music, TitanTron graphics, and allies/rivals are all fair game for adjustment. Looks, moves, finishers, and celebrations - it's all up to you. The game leaves room for 18 customized wrestlers, which should be plenty for those looking to add recent additions to the WWF lineup to the game's stable.

As far as wrestlers are concerned, Chris Benoit, the Dudley Boys, and Rikishi join the hallowed ranks of such WWF mainstays as Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, and Kane. It's taken GameSpot roughly three months to profile each of the game's wrestlers at the rate of one a day, so that ought to be some indication as to how diverse WWF No Mercy's character selection is. For those who'd prefer a list, though, here's what you'll find initially: Albert, Kane, Al Snow, Ken Shamrock, Tazz, Scotty Too Hotty, Kat, Grand Master Sexay, Shawn Michaels, D'Low Brown, Chris Benoit, Billy Gunn, D-Von Dudley, Big Boss Man, Triple H, The Rock, Christian, Bradshaw, Mankind, Buh Buh Ray Dudley, Eddie Guerrero, Chyna, Mark Henry, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Perry Saturn, the Godfather, Rikishi, Faarooq, Crash, the British Bulldog, Lita, Hardcore Holly, Terri, Edge, Steve Austin, Tori, Dean Malenko, the Undertaker, Stephen Richards, Bull Buchanan, Steve Blackman, Ivory, X-Pax, Road Dogg, Mr. Ass, Taka Michinoku, Val Venis, Test, Essa Rios, Viscera, Stephanie McMahon, Cactus Jack, Earl Hebner, one of the Godfather's "hoes," and Trish Stratus. If this rather long list isn't enough, just beat the championship a few times to find a few more friends or create your own stable of daffy deviants in the SmackDown Mall.

On the gameplay end of things, punches, kicks, and basic attacks are the same for everyone - exactly as they were in last year's Wrestlemania 2000. Tap A to grapple and B to strike. Combine them with a direction, and watch as every wrestler executes the same stale punch, kick, arm bar, or takedown. The C buttons control your wrestler's basic focus, ring position, and running, while the digital D-pad executes general body movement. Need to yank a wrestler up to a seated or standing position for a special move? Hit the R button. Prefer the pin instead? Get close and tap the L button. While the general move timing remains the same, WWF No Mercy does have one noticeable change from last year's release - easier counters. Shake the analog stick or tap the appropriate button a few times, and you can escape from your opponent's hold. Exhaustion is still a factor in how easily you can escape, but the level of button mashing and frustration is much less than in Wrestlemania 2000.