WWF No Mercy
System: Nintendo 64
Release Date: In Stores Now
Developer: AKI
Publisher: THQ

Review:
Review #1: By Tim Brechlin

Multimedia:
Click to view SCREEN SHOTS
Click to view VIDEO CLIPS

Characters: Click here to view current wrestler list

Features:
Ladder Match
Special Guest Referee
Steel Cage
SmackDown! Mall (used for purchasing new characters/arenas and the like)
Ability to interface with the Game Boy Color version of No Mercy for added features
Improved Create-A-Wrestler (CAW) mode

WWF WrestleMania 2000 was hailed by many gamers as easily the greatest wrestling game ever, and THQ hopes to follow up on their blockbuster with another stellar World Wrestling Federation title. No Mercy, slated for a release this fall, looks to be sending out the Nintendo 64 era with one hell of a bang. The tried-and-true World Tour/Revenge/WM2K engine returns for one final hurrah, and if early beta impressions/screenshots/media are any indication, we have another hit on our hands.

THQ has spent its year wisely, doing whatever possible to increase the quality of the engine's graphics. Of course, the gameplay is rock-solid, so very few refinements needed to be made. New to the gameplay is a running grapple, which sounds pretty self-explanatory. All the WWF moves, such as the 3D, are contained in the game as well. Raven will not be in the game.

New modes abound, especially the much-ballyhooed Ladder Match. Yes, finally we can relive some heart-stopping matches in history on our favorite game consoles. Early word is that the mode comes off in excellent fashion. There also is the SmackDown! Mall, which while somewhat confusing, makes for an interesting feature. You earn points in the single-player mode, and those can be used to purchase things in the mall.

All in all, WWF No Mercy is shaping up VERY nicely, and should be an immensely entertaining experience when it ships later this year.

Tim Brechlin
TPWW Games Senior Editor
Tim@tpww.net