Yuke's latest World Wrestling Entertainment game for the GameCube is a pretty decent endeavor, if players take the time to master the new gameplay mechanics. If players don't take the time to work through the early parts of the story mode in the game (where most people will spend the bulk of their time), then they'll never get the full experience that the game has to offer. We'll detail some of the cool things that Yuke's and THQ's latest GameCube title has to offer as well as some of its shortcomings.
Day of Reckoning brings a lot of new features to the table in terms of gameplay, one additional mode and offers 40 or so wrestlers into the mix (with a handful of classic characters added in as rewards for story mode). But the most significant thing that Day or Reckoning brings is a revamped grappling system that refines the gameplay in new and exciting ways. At first I hated the new system, but after learning how it works and how the computer uses it, I found that I could dominate most any match.
The new system provides a deeper level of countering, a momentum meter that truly affects gameplay and a momentum shift function that can turn the tide of battle when a player is in "danger mode". Day of Reckoning also adds location based damage that works pretty well, a knockout meter and a submission meter that gives players the chance to use momentum to escape sure defeat. Most of that is handled by vigorously pounding the A button. The controls are similar to the previous game on the GameCube, but offers more of an arcade feel. The challenge in story mode is that your character's stats are low and those stats truly have an affect on gameplay. Lower stat characters tend to take a beating more easily, while characters with high stats can do in an opponent in less than two minutes. In the early parts of the story mode players that make their way to Heat will get a harsh dose of reality when a character like Lance Storm takes them to town.
Speaking of story mode, this year's GameCube wrestler offers a better story mode, but unfortunately is just as linear, albeit not quite as mind numbing. In this year's iteration of the story mode, players must create a new character and take them from start to finish from the developmental territories of the WWE, to the minor leagues of Heat (untelevised matches) get a spot on Heat's TV show and then get to choose to RAW or SmackDown. The choices you make in that regard won't affect the storyline much - it'll just change who your friends and foes are in the game.
The game does throw some unique curve balls at you during story mode including various match conditions including doing an aerial move or using your special. Sadly there are no choices in the story mode for you to partake in but the story is entertaining enough to warrant at least one play through. One caveat is that you can not take seasoned wrestler like Triple H or Chris Jericho through the story mode. It makes sense because the idea is that your wrestler is a wet-behind-the-ears rookie, but an option to do so after your first run through it would have been nice.
Day or Reckoning does have some problems that were in the previous Wrestlemania titles on the GameCube like turnbuckle to outside the ring moves still not connecting, problems with focusing at certain times and pacing when using certain moves (like throw moves while players are moving that don't always choreograph properly). The other problem that players won't appreciate is the massive amount of button mashing players will have to do during a match like when they apply a move, when they are trying to escape a move, or when they are down on the mat. Once players learn how the system works things aren't so bad, but even then there's a bit too much button mashing. Players will also need how to learn how to use countering effectively in conjunction with momentum, or suffer from their mistakes in massive quantities. The countering system is a bit too much timing based and is pretty hard to master, even for a seasoned veteran.
Day of Reckoning offers the usual amount of match types including last year's Bra and Panties match as well as Iron Man, Ladder, Hell in a Cell, Cage, Tag, Hardcore, TLC, Ladder, etc. Elimination Chamber wasn't included in the mix, nor was the popular I quit Mode. Day of Reckoning is also missing a few characters here and there like JBL from SmackDown and other odds and ends like Ric Flair's actual theme music. Too br fair, Day of Reckoning offers just about everyone else's licensed entrance music and even throws in a hardcore soundtrack for various artist that is fun and hardcore.
ShopZone (where you can buy moves and other goodies) and the Create a Wrestler mode have been refined this time out, as well as the engine that powers the game. Day of Reckoning is now as good looking as any wrestling title in recent memory and the animations, models and backgrounds have all been given a decent facelift.
If players can take the time to learn how to play Day of Reckoning, there's no doubt that they'll find it a rewarding and enjoyable experience. A more forgiving countering and less button mashing intensive game engine would have been preferable, but what's there is pretty solid. If players are willing to put the time into early parts of the game (or play tougher characters in exhibition until they learn how to play) then Day of Reckoning will be a pleasant and surprising gaming experience for the GameCube crowd.
