WCW/nWo Revenge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WCW/nWo Revenge
WCWnWoRevengebox.jpg
North American Nintendo 64 cover art featuring Hollywood Hogan, Kevin Nash, Raven and Goldberg
Developer(s)Asmik Ace Entertainment
AKI Corporation
Publisher(s)THQ
Director(s)Geta San
Producer(s)Takeshi Kajii
Programmer(s)Hiro Abe
Artist(s)Kenji Kimura
Composer(s)Kouji Niikura
Yukie Sugawara
Platform(s)Nintendo 64
Release
  • NA: October 26, 1998
  • EU: November 30, 1998
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

WCW/nWo Revenge is a professional wrestling video game released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64 game console. It is the sequel to 1997's WCW vs. nWo: World Tour. Like its predecessor, Revenge features AKI's revolutionary grappling system as well as heavily improved graphics, a championship mode, and a large roster of wrestlers (real and fictional).

Revenge gained critical praise and tremendous commercial success. According to a 1999 article by IGN, Revenge was the best-selling wrestling game for the N64 console,[1] and at the time, was the top selling third-party Nintendo game ever.[2]

Revenge was the last AKI-developed WCW game for the Nintendo 64. The next AKI wrestling game released for the console, WWF WrestleMania 2000, sported THQ's newly acquired World Wrestling Federation license.

Background[]

At the time of the game's release, the Monday Night Wars were starting to go in favor of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Despite this WCW/nWo Revenge was generally recognized as the best wrestling game of 1998.

The Revenge grappling system is part of what ensured the game's success and popularity. The system was simple to learn and allowed for a variety of moves to be performed depending on the character. The graphics were improved from World Tour, and many new features were introduced to expand the popular series.

Reception[]

WCW/nWo Revenge surpassed the success of its predecessor, World Tour. Within a month, it became the highest selling console game in North America.[3] Like its predecessor, Revenge also won 1998's "Fighting Game of the Year" by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, marking the second consecutive year an AKI/THQ title achieved the honor.[4] It would quickly reach Player's Choice status and become heavily responsible for THQ's profits in late 1998 and '99,[5] eventually selling 1.88 million copies in the US and ranking substantially among the best-selling N64 games.[1]

Next Generation reviewed the Nintendo 64 version of the game, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that "the full exhibitionist phenomenon of professional wrestling is served up by Revenge better than by any other game we've seen."[6]

Revenge's main competition that year was WWF War Zone by Acclaim, based on WCW's rival promotion, the World Wrestling Federation.

The game achieved critical favor for its numerous improvements on World Tour. Matt Casamassina of IGN commented: "More than any other wrestling game on the market, Revenge feels, moves and plays like the real thing. . . My suggestion: if you own World Tour then sell it. Take the money you get for it and put it towards Revenge. It's a much more complete game with tons of style and ambiance. Once again, the four-player mode is addictive and reason enough to buy the game, especially if you're a big wrestling fan."[7] In IGN's 2008 "History of Wrestling Games" article, Rus McLaughlin also commended Revenge for its expanded roster, authentic venues, and "style to burn".[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "US Platinum Videogame Chart". The Magic Box. December 27, 2007. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
  2. ^ IGN Staff The History of Wrestlemania IGN.com (September 24, 1999). Retrieved on 2-13-11.
  3. ^ IGN Staff THQ's Revenge Explodes in the Charts IGN.com (November 13, 1998). Retrieved on 2-13-11.
  4. ^ 'Revenge' Tastes Sweet Reward IGN.com (May 24, 1999). Retrieved on 2-13-11.
  5. ^ IGN Staff THQ Posts Pretty Penny IGN.com (October 27, 1998). Retrieved on 2-13-11.
  6. ^ "Finals". Next Generation. No. 48. Imagine Media. December 1998. p. 126.
  7. ^ Casamassina, Matt WCW/NWO Revenge IGN.com (October 26, 1998). Retrieved March 22, 2008.
  8. ^ McLaughlin, Rus IGN Presents the History of Wrestling Games IGN (November 12, 2008). Retrieved on 2-03-11.
Retrieved from ""