WWE Crush Hour

[Korly]

Well, let me preface this by saying that the only vehicular combat game that I enjoyed in the past was "Rogue Trip", so I'm not an expert on the genre or anything...



All of you who doubt what a genius concept this is, go to IGN and download the trailer. It seems the preface of this game is that WWE and Vince McMahon now own all the television networks and it's all WWE all day long. There's cooking with Kane, Survivor with Trish and Stacy, etc. However, WWE is about to unveil it's biggest, and some say deadliest, show yet: WWE Crush Hour!!!1 The digital version of Jonathan Coachman alone is worth the download!

I jumped right into Season mode. In the beginning there are 23 selectable superstars including Booker T, Chuck Palumbo, Brock Lesnar, and Jeff Hardy. As you progress, you can unlock 9 more (I've heard that they include Vince, Hulk Hogan, and a few others). So far, I've unlocked a bunch of new Arenas, but no new superstars. Every few matches in Season mode you are treated to a little "Commercial" featuring the WWE superstars, such as a shampoo commercial starring Edge.

The game modes include Hell in a Cell, Lumberjack, Battle Royale, etc. So far they've all been perfectly cool EXCEPT the goddamned Gauntlet mode where you need to race around the level to find 10 stars. Everytime you are killed, or fall off the building you lose a star, and the damn match takes FOREVER!!!

When competing on RAW, Smackdown, or Bottom Line there will occasionally be run ins from your top rival. Avoid him at all costs because he's invincible! Don't worry though, you'll get your hands on him later in Season mode.

All superstars have a short entrance accompanied by their video and theme song. However, not all songs are current or correct, and if it was messed up in Wrestlemania X8 for Gamecube, it's likely messed up here. (I haven't heard them all, but Jeff Hardy and Booker T both have the generic music from WMX8). Most people have their proper theme though, so it's no biggie. After you win, you get to watch a longer version of your entrance video, and since I always use Brock, and his video consists of him demolishing a bunch of people, I always enjoy watching it.

I found the controls much more manageable than TM:Black, or the Vigilante 8 games, but keep in mind I never played much of them. Also, I've only used Brock, so who knows if all the other guys control as tightly. There aren't any "combos" like TMB had though (you know, where you tap like, up up down shoot to do a super shot) but since I was never good with those, it doesn't bother me too much. However, vehicular combat veterans may be disappointed in the lack of depth.

All superstars also posess a unique finishing move that you can do when your special meter fills up. They are deadly.





Anyhoo, it was shitloads better than I thought it would be, and I think it's probably worth of a 20 dollar purchase to any WWE fan that just wants a laugh. Non WWE fans though, should probably steer clear.

More later after I unlock some stuff...

EDIT:

Oh, I forgot some things...

The commentary by Jim Ross isn't that bad, but it isn't very great either. I'd say it's not annoying enough to turn it off, but that's all.

Also, everytime you kill someone a little animated picture of your wrestlers head pops up onscreen and taunts your opposition. And, it's the actual voices of the WWE superstars, which kinda surprised me since THQ never puts speech in the actual wrestling games.

And, if the Hurricycle isn't an unlockable vehicle, I'll be OUTRAGED!!!!!!!!!!1111one I mean, Taker has a motorcycle (kinda) and Austin has a monster truck, but to be honest, not too many other people have a vehicle that really fits their character. The hurricycle would be perfect, and they'd be extremely foolish to leave it out.

[Jeremy]

Thanks for the impressions, they've given me some hope about the game.

[Lordmrw]

You guys are weird. I wouldn't buy this game even if I had $20,000 from robbing a liquor store.

[Dolemite]

I'm sorry, I mean, I'm a wrestling fan and all, but the whole concept behind the game is retarded. And if this game is successful, it'll mean that they'll just stick the WWE wrestlers into all sorts of different, ill-fitting videogame genres. Soon, we'll have WWE survival horror games, WWE puzzle games, WWE overhead shooters, WWE first person shooters, WWE RPGs, etc, etc...

[Jeremy]

Hey, as long as they don't do another WWE-licensed side-scrolling sort of beat-em-up, and the game in and of itself is solid, I don't really mind.

[Korly]

Originally posted by Dolemite
I'm sorry, I mean, I'm a wrestling fan and all, but the whole concept behind the game is retarded. And if this game is successful, it'll mean that they'll just stick the WWE wrestlers into all sorts of different, ill-fitting videogame genres. Soon, we'll have WWE survival horror games, WWE puzzle games, WWE overhead shooters, WWE first person shooters, WWE RPGs, etc, etc...

That's exactly what I'm hoping for.

Would you rather have these types of games (kart racers, puzzle games, Survival Horror) with characters that have no personality, or a couple of games starring your favorite WWE superstars? Me, I'll take the superstars.

Originally posted by Jeremy
Hey, as long as they don't do another WWE-licensed side-scrolling sort of beat-em-up, and the game in and of itself is solid, I don't really mind.

NO NO NO! That's exactly what I want!!! But I want it done properly this time! Betrayal was a great idea, it just shouldn't have been on GBC.

[AaronChance]

I hope for the WWE suvival horror game you won't have to look for various odd items to open a simple wooden door and instead have the option to smash the sucker down like you should have been able to all along.

[Korly]

You have to exorcise the spirit of Owen Hart from Titan Towers, where he currently haunts the McMahon family...

[Dolemite]

Originally posted by Korly
Would you rather have these types of games (kart racers, puzzle games, Survival Horror) with characters that have no personality, or a couple of games starring your favorite WWE superstars? Me, I'll take the superstars.

[Jeremy]

Our Olympic Hero has owned this thread.