ECW Hardcore Revolution

Last updated
ECW Hardcore Revolution
Ecw hardcore revolution.jpg
Developer(s) Acclaim Studios Salt Lake City
Publisher(s) Acclaim Entertainment
Platform(s)
ReleaseGame Boy Color, Nintendo 64, PlayStation
  • NA: February 17, 2000 [1]
  • EU: March 3, 2000
Dreamcast
  • NA: February 29, 2000 [2]
  • EU: March 17, 2000
Genre(s) Sports
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

ECW Hardcore Revolution is a professional wrestling video game released by Acclaim Entertainment, based on the professional wrestling promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). The game was released for the Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Game Boy Color, and Dreamcast in 2000. It was the first wrestling game to be based on ECW, as well as the first professional wrestling video game to receive a Mature rating from the ESRB, although the Game Boy Color version was rated Everyone. Acclaim followed this title with the release of a sequel, ECW Anarchy Rulz , in August 2000.

Contents

Gameplay

Gameplay for ECW Hardcore Revolution is identical to WWF Attitude . Much of the content was the same, but with ECW images replacing all WWE owned material. The match rules are also retained.

Two (or more) participants attempt to meet one of the win conditions over their rival/s. They can reduce their opponent's resistance by decreasing their health. This is done by performing successful attacks and reversals.

Nearly all of the main characters were performers and staff members involved with ECW during the game's production. Some personalities who had left the company before or during the production were left in as unlockable content. The additional "jobber" characters are loosely based on other ECW or Acclaim staff, or are completely fictional.

The season mode is similar to the one used in WWF Attitude. The player(s) must win matches to move up the rankings before they can challenge for championship titles at pay-per-view events. In 'Versus' career, the player must first challenge for the fictional Acclaim Championship. After clearing the first tier, the player moves on to the ECW Television Championship division, and then the ECW World Heavyweight Championship. The tag team career only allows players to compete for the ECW World Tag Team Championships.

The game features all of the attacks and taunts that appeared in WWF Attitude, with some renamed, as well as some new ones. However, many of the added moves are just duplicates of moves that are already in the game. For example, Danny Doring's finisher "Whambam Thankyou Maam" is identical to the "Double Arm DDT".

One of the unique features is that match commentary is performed by Joey Styles alone. This is one of the very few wrestling video games in existence to use just one commentator.

Reception

The Nintendo 64 and PlayStation versions received mixed reviews, while the Dreamcast and Game Boy Color versions received unfavorable reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Critics praised Joey Styles' commentary, and the use of weapons during the game. However, many reviews criticized Revolution for being a near copy of its predecessors, WWF Attitude and War Zone , and not reflecting ECW's unique style, just covering over everything with ECW wrestlers and themes. [22] Daniel Erickson of NextGen gave the Dreamcast and Nintendo 64 versions negative reviews in two separate issues, calling the latter "One of the few games to inspire active anger and hate. Just having to handle the cart with our bare fingers made us feel dirty" (#63, March 2000); [34] and later calling the former "A blatant insult to the intelligence of wrestling fans and Dreamcast owners" (#65, May 2000). [33]

In one review, Lamchop of GamePro said of the PlayStation version, "If you liked Attitude and you're a big ECW fan, then you'll like ECW Hardcore Revolution—but there's little evolution here. It has a different name, but it's pretty much the same game." [37] [lower-alpha 4] In another review, Lou Gubrious said of the same console version, "For all of you who liked WWF Attitude and wanted to see an ECW game, this was designed for you. Non-wrestling fans might want to rest their thumbs with a less-complex grappler like WCW Mayhem or the upcoming WWF SmackDown! ." [38] [lower-alpha 5] Jake The Snake said in one review that the Nintendo 64 version "is so much like Attitude, you should stick with the latter (or WWF WrestleMania 2000 ) unless you're a huge ECW fan or [you] must have every wrestling game that comes along." [39] [lower-alpha 6] However, The D-Pad Destroyer said of the same console version in another review, "Attitude fans who dig the ECW might want to give this one a look, but if you really want to play ECW wrestlers, then try to create them in Wrestlemania 2000[ sic ] or Mayhem. In an age where both wrestling games and wrestling itself are centering on the show behind the sport, Acclaim's difficult and bland engine is showing its age." [40] [lower-alpha 7] Later on, Lamchop said that the Dreamcast version "isn't an improvement over Attitude. In fact, it heads in the other direction with less-popular wrestlers and done-this-before gameplay. Only hardcore ECW fans should pick this one up; everybody else should keep their Attitude." [41] [lower-alpha 8]

The Game Boy Color version was heavily criticized by critics and fans alike.[ citation needed ] Players complained about sluggish controls, poor sound effects and graphics and glitches.[ citation needed ] It was rated as one of the two worst GBC games of all time by MobyGames. [ citation needed ]

Characters

This game has up to 55 wrestlers 51 males and 4 females. [42]

See also

Notes

  1. Four critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Nintendo 64 version each a score of 6.5/10, 7.5/10, 5/10, and 8/10.
  2. In GameFan 's viewpoint of the Nintendo 64 version, three critics gave it each a score of 63, 50, and 47.
  3. In GameFan 's viewpoint of the PlayStation version, three critics gave it each a score of 45, 40, and 53.
  4. GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 3/5 scores for graphics and sound, 4/5 for control, and 3.5/5 for fun factor in one review.
  5. GamePro gave the PlayStation version 4/5 for graphics, 3.5/5 for sound, and two 3/5 scores for control and fun factor in another review.
  6. GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version two 4/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, and two 3.5/5 scores for sound and control in one review.
  7. GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version 4/5 for graphics, and three 3.5/5 scores for sound, control, and fun factor in another review.
  8. GamePro gave the Dreamcast version 4/5 for graphics, and three 3/5 scores for sound, control, and fun factor.

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