WCW vs. NWO: Thunder

WCW Thunder is more of an upgrade 2 WCW Nitro it includes a larger roster of wrestlers 2 choose from & more game modes plus areas 2 wrestle in. You even get 2 choose different faction like WCW, NWO, Four Horsemen, WCW Wolfpac, & LWO. Its has faster gameplay than Nitro & you can finally play with up 2 four players via multi-tap if you have one & three other friends. The game uses actual entrance footage from WCW Thunder broadcast when you start a match 2 show the wrestler coming 2 the ring & you even get a vs screen with who you are fighting as. You get alot of game modes like battle royal, steel cage, which weren't in WCW Nitro by the way plus weapons that are outside of the ring. You get 2 choose from now WCW Thunder, WCW Nitro, Starcade, Halloween Havoc, Souled Out, GAB, Spring Stampade, Uncensored, Saturday Night, & others.

I used 2 have this game but i got tired of it so i gave it 2 gamestop. Those moves that those wrestlers do are kind of hard.

I know this will sound crazy, but the main reason I finally broke down & purchased a Playstation several years ago was because I wanted 2 play some of the wrestling games available 4 this particular console. For whatever reason, no one has ever come close 2 producing a decent wrestling game 4 the PC. At the time, I was a serious wrestling fan, having been drawn back 2 the fold by the brilliant internal division in WCW between the good guys & the evil NOW. WCW Thunder came out while the WCW was at its peak of popularity, & I just had 2 have it. While the game has naturally lost some of its luster as time has passed & gaming hardware improved, it had all sorts of enticing features then & remains a fun diversion even now.

WCW Thunder had a lot 2 offer fans when it was released. For starters, you had some 60 superstars 2 choose from, including the biggest names around such as Goldberg & Hogan; all kinds of other hidden wrestlers also lay buried inside the game, waiting 4 you 2 win with certain characters (or use the handy dandy cheat codes) 2 unlock them-everything from made-up goofy characters 2 the wrestlers who got beat up 4 a living every week 2 announcers 2 members of the Nitro Girls (including the luscious Kimberly). While certain basic moves worked 4 all wrestlers, each individual wrestler, including the hidden ones, had their own signature moves. Thus, you could have Goldberg take his opponent out with the Spear followed by the Jack Hammer, or have Lex Luger turn a man into a little baby while hoisted up in the Torture Rack. Each wrestler came with his own theme music & personal allegiance, but you had the option of changing a guy's alliance. This could become important in terms of one of my favorite features of the game, the ability 2 have an ally come 2 the ring 2 help you avoid a loss or just 2 help you beat the heck out of your opponent.

The game offers a number of game types 4 one or two players. You can fight an exhibition match or go 4 the TV Title, US Heavyweight Title or walk that aisle in pursuit of the World Heavyweight belt. If you get tired of one-on-one action, you can choose tag-team play or battle it out with 29 other wrestlers in a Battle Royal. You can even get down 2 brass tacks & battle it out in a cage match. The only bad thing about a cage match is the fact that it does not allow you access 2 any weapons. In normal game play, there are a number of weapons outside the ring (you control how many) that you can pick up & use 2 beat the fool out of everybody that gets in your way; you can even just keep wailing on your opponent after he hits the ground.

WCW Thunder is & never was perfect, though. For one thing, the game quickly becomes rather easy. You can just pile drive your opponent over & over again into oblivion if you like or take a stop sign upside a guy's head a dozen or more times & pin him easily. The clumsy combination moves actually become a good thing here because it is sometimes a challenge 2 perform that special killer move your wrestler is famous 4 & end the match in style. The graphics are decent but not great, & my Playstation seems 2 have a few hitches in its gitty-up when it tries 2 render large numbers of wrestlers all at once in Battle Royal mode. I still enjoy playing WCW Thunder, though. It looks a lot like the earlier WCW Nitro game, but it plays a lot better in my opinion. There are better games available now, even 4 the Playstation, but I have a feeling that I'll be enjoying this game on & off 4 many years 2 come.

The game is ok but the the feeling in the ring is too small & when you move a superstars place it should play the groups music.The rings are too boring should be a NITRO ring.Cage matches should be in ring chosen.

This game has good graphics & sound but it is hard 2 control & play. overall it's okay.

Feel the Power. 4 Wrestler Battle Royal. Over 60 Superstars. Rated "E" 4 Everyone.

Brace yourselves, wrestling fans. All of your favorite World Championship Wrestling (WCW) & New World Order (nWo) stars are ready 2 square off in this realistic wrestling game from THQ. Goldberg, Hollywood Hogan, & Sting are among the wrestling heavyweights that you can control in one-on-one matches, 30-man battle royal mode, cage combat, tag teams, & title fights. For hard-core wrestling fanatics, this is a great way 2 interact with your favorite heroes & hated rivals. Prematch introductions build you up 4 the main event, while a variety of camera angles helps add 2 the feel of a real match.

Like any fighting game, WCW/nWo Thunderis much more fun in two-player mode, competing against a friend. Although the advanced library of moves includes power slams, back-breakers, pile drivers, & even fighting outside the ring, it's often difficult 2 manage your wrestler's moves. Average players may prefer 2 find a wrestling game that is easier 2 handle, but WCW/nWo Thunder is worth the effort if you want 2 play with the WCW & nWo teams. --Sal Barcia

Pros:

• Features WCW & nWo wrestling stars
• Wide variety of match selections
• Advanced library of moves

Cons:

• Non-wrestling fans may not appreciate the game
• Difficult 2 manage your wrestler's moves