We're currently at a bit of a stalemate in wrestling game development, I think. And, for the record, I'm talking WWE/NWA development, rather than Def Jam here. Nothing against the game, I enjoyed the first, I simply am more or less focusing on the licensed wrestling titles.
The stalemate is really all the fault of THQ. I mean, Yukes has taken over both GCN and PS2 development, they've left the XBox title to the makers of Tao Feng, and the only good developer of western-released wrestling games is working with EA on Def Jam. And, nothing can really stop this.
But, I really want to see what THQ plans on doing with the WWE license when it comes to the two new handhelds hitting the market. Handheld wrestling titles, in the past, have been two dimensional, and on the whole really, really crappy. They've had no moves, no skill, and very simply have struggled to be GOOD.
But now, we have capable handhelds. We have handhelds with Graphics similar to N64, and then similar to PS2. We have 4 face buttons. We have shoulder buttons. There is everything there to actually develop real wrestling titles.
But, will THQ look to TRULY take adavntage of this? Already, they've got some definite options. The wireless multiplayer of both the DS and PSP should surely be used for multiplayer mayhem, and while I'd be worried about lag in Wi-Fi I think it could be done. But, will they actually use any of this? Will there actually be wrestling titles for the systems?
For instance...it may be a pipe dream, but I seriously think THQ should consider porting WWE No Mercy's Engine to the DS. Update the roster, maybe improve the entrances a bit, perhaps alter a few things in story mode, and offer wireless multiplayer, maybe even online. For me, the technology is there, and there's enough buttons to make it work. You've got four face buttons for Grappling, Striking, running, etc. And, to change who you're attacking, you could use the touch screen to select which wrestler you wish to target. I'm sure it's not going to happen, but if the technology is there why not take advantage of it?
We're finally to a point where handheld wrestling can actually be good. They can be 3D, and actually be worthwhile experiences, and not wastes of our money. The PSP is likely to see a port of an old Smackdown title with an updated roster, but I'd really like to see THQ do something with a No Mercy style, in order to give wrestling fans a good game not based on improved graphics or more matches, but instead good gameplay. Even if it takes a handheld, I'll take it.
The stalemate is really all the fault of THQ. I mean, Yukes has taken over both GCN and PS2 development, they've left the XBox title to the makers of Tao Feng, and the only good developer of western-released wrestling games is working with EA on Def Jam. And, nothing can really stop this.
But, I really want to see what THQ plans on doing with the WWE license when it comes to the two new handhelds hitting the market. Handheld wrestling titles, in the past, have been two dimensional, and on the whole really, really crappy. They've had no moves, no skill, and very simply have struggled to be GOOD.
But now, we have capable handhelds. We have handhelds with Graphics similar to N64, and then similar to PS2. We have 4 face buttons. We have shoulder buttons. There is everything there to actually develop real wrestling titles.
But, will THQ look to TRULY take adavntage of this? Already, they've got some definite options. The wireless multiplayer of both the DS and PSP should surely be used for multiplayer mayhem, and while I'd be worried about lag in Wi-Fi I think it could be done. But, will they actually use any of this? Will there actually be wrestling titles for the systems?
For instance...it may be a pipe dream, but I seriously think THQ should consider porting WWE No Mercy's Engine to the DS. Update the roster, maybe improve the entrances a bit, perhaps alter a few things in story mode, and offer wireless multiplayer, maybe even online. For me, the technology is there, and there's enough buttons to make it work. You've got four face buttons for Grappling, Striking, running, etc. And, to change who you're attacking, you could use the touch screen to select which wrestler you wish to target. I'm sure it's not going to happen, but if the technology is there why not take advantage of it?
We're finally to a point where handheld wrestling can actually be good. They can be 3D, and actually be worthwhile experiences, and not wastes of our money. The PSP is likely to see a port of an old Smackdown title with an updated roster, but I'd really like to see THQ do something with a No Mercy style, in order to give wrestling fans a good game not based on improved graphics or more matches, but instead good gameplay. Even if it takes a handheld, I'll take it.
PSP will have connectivity
