Ringside Review: “WWF Attitude”
Welcome to this week’s edition of “Ringside Review.” Given the imminent release of WWE 13, I thought that this would mark an excellent opportunity to look at an old WWF title. WWE 13 has been sold heavily on containing “Attitude,” which obviously relates to the attitude era where stars like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker all came to prominence.
There was a game released at the time which was based and centred around the very same “Attitude.” It should be mentioned that the first two WWF games were a stable of my childhood. I spent many hours while others were playing football or being sociable playing “Warzone” and the game we’re focusing on today, “WWF Attitude.” It was the last game the WWF would have with “Acclaim” before leaving to go to THQ where the Smackdown series was born. Acclaim then went on to develop two games with the creators of Attitude, ECW, which saw the birth of two games “HArdcore Revolution” and “Anarchy Rules.”
The problem was that Acclaim were still using the Warzone engine, which meant they were using an antiquated system. By contrast, the WWF’s “Smackdown” series, went from strength to strength. There’s some irony in ECW giving the WWF the concept that went on to lead to their crushing win in the Monday Night Wars while all they got in return was a contract with a publisher who couldn’t be bothered developing a new engine and continued to use the obsolete “Warzone” engine.
Now that we’ve finished the history lesson, let’s take a look at “WWF Attitude.” At time of release, I loved this game. I never had an N64 so I never had the opportunity to discover “No Mercy,” but I didn’t care. For its’ time Attitude was the definitive WWF game. A hugely impressive roster was supplemented by commentary, unique taunts and ring entrances and celebrations. It also had a pretty deep create a wrestler function for its time.
And therein lies the problem: for its time. This game has not aged well in the slightest. The things which made it great now look laughable. Having The Rock plod to the ring and drop the People’s Elbow without bouncing off the ropes is nowadays unforgivable. The system is more like an old school fighting game than having the fluidity of the later games. To perform finishers you have to input a button combination, which is light-years away from the simplicity of “Press L1.” The game play isn’t fluent and it looks and sounds like crap by modern standards.
However, it is still better than the abomination that is TNA Impact. You can grapple from behind.
This game is a relic. If you played it when it originally came out then it’s going to have nostalgic value. This should be the yardstick for WWE 13. If it can be as fun as “Attitude” was at time of release, and as good as it was also for its time then THQ are without a doubt headed in the right direction.
Anyway, this rounds up another edition of “Ringside Review.” Apologies for the delay, but due to circumstances the day delay was unavoidable. We’ll be back next Friday with a special TNA column, as the company rolls up to it’s biggest show of the year, “Bound For Glory”.
Ta Ta For Now!
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I remember Attitude. For it’s time it was good. I’m glad WWE got with the times for their game series and progressed like they did.
I have this game on Playstation. That game doesn’t age well. I think I tried playing it again about a year ago and the gameplay was terrible. I wondered how I was able beat a single opponent when I was younger. The newer WWE video games like the SvR series are much more easier to play.
I would play the game again just to see the awesome opening video. That’s the video they need to show when they release the Attitude Era DVD.
Great video. I never had WWF attitude so thats the first time I’ve seen it.
Great video, short and simple: how intro videos should be.
Where’s the Marble Madness review!
Have this game but god knows where it is. I loved it, probably my 3rd favourite wrestling game.
I wouldn’t really recommend replaying it. It’s like rewatching old kids films: watching them now ruins how good they were in the time now you can realise how bad they are!
Had this game for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 (I had one console, my brother had the other), and felt the PS version was better and easier to play. The one thing that used to bother me though, was how many different buttons you had to hit to do just 1 move. It would drive me bonkers! I remember before it’s release being so excited because of how the entrances looked…looking back, I was easily pleased. I also remember there was some kind of code you could put in for “alternative themes” for certain stars…yeah, the alternative one for Jeff Jarrett just had him say “Don’t piss me off” halfway through his entrance haha. Love how Acclaim used this exact gaming model for the ECW games they sold (ECW Hardcore Revolution I think?)
One thing I did like about this, and you can spot it in the video Tony posted above is the dedication to Owen Hart. Always liked seeing that when the game was loading up.
Yeah, they used the exact same engine . Hence when the ECW games were released they were against the Smackdown series and the shinier WCW games (which played like crap).
Loads of unlockable characters as well.
Ohhhh, your reply about unlockable characters just reminded me…this was the game that featured Al Snow’s “Head” as a character!! If I remember right, it was just Head on an invisible body, and had such a weird voice. Did amuse me.