WWE Day of Reckoning was released earlier this week and we've been putting it through the paces as we prepare for our review next week. We've put a little over ten hours into the game and overall we have a good impression of what the game offers that is new, new features and new mechanics. We'll give you a brief walkthrough of the game and some general early impressions of the gameplay - our impressions of the game are obviously just a snapshot of the moment and could shift either way at this point as we head towards the finish line.

The most noticeable change in this year's edition of Yuke's and THQ's WWE wrestling game is the story mode. This year's story mode is much more in-depth, interactive and fun. The story mode is for created characters only and puts player characters entirely through the real training phases of being a WWE wrestler - from wrestling in developmental territory, then onto un-televised matches on Heat, and then ultimately onto the big time - either WWE SmackDown or WWE RAW. The story mode is less cheesy than previous attempts at it, and is very interactive in its presentation.

During many phases players will be asked to execute certain conditions during a match to accomplish their goals. For instance, management might ask the player to use a finishing maneuver twice or show off their countering skills during the course of a match. This earns players advancement, skill points and cash that can be used in the WWE ShopZone to unlock costumes, accessories, move sets and moves. And at certain points in the Story mode players can unlock other things like hidden legend characters - so far we've unlocked Andre the Giant.

The gameplay feels a bit smoother, but the guys developing the GameCube titles are still not up to par with the guys that develop the SmackDown series for the PS2. The gameplay still feels a little bit slower than SmackDown, even though the countering is more timing-twitch based.



Character presentation, music, entrances, etc and the CAW mode have all been refined and the game offers a lot of brand new game modes. Hell in a Cell isn't as good as SmackDown but at least its in there, along with tons of other new game modes.

So far, I'm enjoying Day of Reckoning and as I refine my created wrestler and try out all the superstars I'm seeing some interesting new game mechanics that do change the gameplay in a dramatic way. We'll let you know if Day of Reckoning is worth the price of admission next week, but so far, so good. I'm not going out on limb if I say that hardcore wrestling game fanatics familiar with the series (that enjoy it) should probably just go out and buy or rent the game now. For the rest of you cautious kittens, stay tuned for our review next week. In the interim, check out this official description of the game from THQ:

WWE Day of Reckoning Facts:

Developed by Yuke's Co., Ltd. of Japan, WWE Day of Reckoning features more than 40 WWE Superstars including John Cena, Eddie Guerrero, and Randy Orton. New features include an all-new story mode entitled, School of Hard Knocks, where players start in the "minor leagues" of sports entertainment and take their created Superstar up the ranks of the WWE. Throughout the story mode, players will encounter several deceptive twists in their elusive quest for a WWE contract and Superstar status. WWE Day of Reckoning also showcases several WWE Legends, including Andre the Giant, Brett Hart and Roddy Piper, giving WWE Day of Reckoning a massive stable of overall talent. In addition, WWE Day of Reckoning features the ever-popular Bra & Panty match, a first for a GameCube product. In addition to Superstar entrances, licensed music will be featured throughout the game for the first time. An enhanced grappling system with strong and weak grapples, location specific damage, unique Superstar attributes and improved presentation all serve to make WWE Day of Reckoning the deepest WWE title on GameCube to date.