GameShark | GameCube | Reviews | WWE WrestleMania XIX

While Yuke's latest wrestling game for the GameCube is less than perfect the company is proving that it is committed to improving the franchise, and the best proof of that is what WrestleMania XIX offers GameCube wrestling fans. The latest game from THQ and Yuke's offers a lot more gameplay variety in its latest version of the popular GameCube Wrestling franchise. Much like WWE RAW 2 (which we'll be reviewing very soon), XIX brings a lot of neat things to the table and takes some serious chances on some new game modes that haven't been done in a next generation videogame.

Putting those things aside (which, for the record take very little away from the flow of the actual gameplay) Wrestlemania XIX is light years away from the first game. XIX offers all the latest stars (Rey Mysterio, Chavo & Eddie Guerrero, Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, Scott Steiner, Batista) as well as new match types like Hell in a Cell and TLC, more spots to do all kinds of moves, and little touches like the ability to use tables in corners (ala SmackDown). The grappling system feels a bit like a cross between SmackDown 4 and No Mercy, but the difference is that now Yuke's system is beginning to gel into something tangible, playable and fun. XIX does a better job of using the directional pad and all of the buttons on the GameCube controller. That means that the superstars and the characters you make can have access to even more moves across all situations including specials, prone position (face down upper, face up upper, face down lower, face up lower, etc), top rope moves, turnbuckles, standing, Irish whip moves, running moves, etc.

The Create a Wrestler feature also adds more options for creating a custom looking character, with new move sets, outfits, and various body parts that can be tweaked and fine tuned to your liking. While the Create A Wrestler isn't quite as in-depth as the SmackDown series, Yukes has made enough improvements to it to earn a slight pat on the back.

But the most extraordinary thing you'll find in this new game is a mode called Revenge. Revenge is the game's answer to story mode, and it is a story indeed. In XIX players take their favorite character through a series of levels where they battle construction warriors, security guards and wrestlers in an effort to ruin Vince McMahon's vast wrestling empire. Players will be battling it out in a "walk-through fight" style as they take the battle to the docks, parking lots, malls, construction sites and many other locales. Players earn money that can be used to by moves and other goodies at "the ShopZone" in the game and unlock the levels for play in the exhibition mode.

Yuke's did a great job with this mode, and taking a chance on it (and having it succeed) is one of the reasons why they are at the top of the Wrestling game development dog pile. Revenge offers a lot of neat and violent acts like the ability to destroy objects, take on multiple opponents, destroy vehicles and escape from areas without getting your backside kicked. Revenge is a lot of fun as a single player experience but it would have been nice if the game took a page from RAW 2 and allowed four players to go through it cooperatively. Hopefully Yuke's and THQ will listen to the fans and add a few minor improvements to the game.

You have to give credit to THQ for listening to the fans of the series - they asked for more modes, blood, location-based damage and a more intriguing story mode and THQ delivered all that and more. While Wrestlemania isn't perfect it is a very good game that I recommend to wrestling. With each new iteration of this game series Yuke's proves that the Wrestlemania game franchise is not just the red-headed step-child of the WWE wrestling game line-up - it's a true blue game that is much different from what the company is trying to accomplish on other platforms. For the time being, Wrestlemania XIX is the undisputed wrestling game for the GameCube - and it doesn't look like any other company is making a real effort to unseat it from its position at the top.

Volume One of this series of books does a grand job of introducing gaming to the masses, but offers a lot of familar information for gamers already in the know.