Title: ECW Hardcore Revolution
Release Date: February 2000
Platforms: Nintendo 64/ Playstation/ Sega Dreamcast

Wrestlers Featured:
Axl Rotten
Balls Mahoney
Angel
C.W. Anderson
Chris Chetti
Danny Doring
Dawn Marie
Francine
Jack Victory
Jazz
Jason
Jerry Lynn
Justin Credible
Lance Storm
Mike Awesome
Little Guido
Nova
New Jack
Rhino
Raven
Roadkill
Rob Van Dam
Sabu
Sal E. Graziano
Simon Diamond
Spike Dudley
Steve Corino
Super Crazy
Yoshihiro Tajiri
Wild Bill
Tracy Smothers
Tony Devito
Tommy Dreamer
Bill Alfonso
Joel Gertner
Joey Styles
Beulah McGillicutty
Cyrus the Virus
Judge Jeff Jones
Louis Spicolli
Tazz
The Sheik
Tommy Rich
*Alongside the ECW roster, the game also featured several fictional jobbers. One thing to note is that the jobbers were all given movesets of WWE superstars, as the publishing company “Hardcore Revolution” was Acclaim, the same company WWE published many of its titles from. Also note, that one jobber known as “The Trainer” was carried over to this title from earlier WWF releases.

Innovation & Gameplay: The only thing notable about “Hardcore Revolution” is that it was the first title released under the ECW logo, and it’s also notable that “Hardcore Revolution” was the first wrestling game to get a “Mature” rating from the gaming review board. Basically the game has the exact same feel as the WWF title “Attitude” because Acclaim used the same game engine for both, that is why several incidental characters use movesets taken from WWF wrestlers. The game was panned by fans, feeling that the title did little to identify itself as a new game, just a “painted over” version of an earlier WWF release.

Availability: Amazon has used copies of the N64 edition starting at $1.74, and copies of the Playstation version starting at $5.45.

Title: ECW Anarchy Rulz
Release Date: August 2000
Platforms: Playstation/ Sega Dreamcast

Wrestlers Featured:
Bill Alfonso
Elektra
Rhino
Amish Roadkill
Francine
Dusty Rhodes
Angel
Joel Gertner
Rob Van Dam
Balls Mahoney
Little Guido
Super Crazy
Big Sal E. Graziano
Paul Heyman
Simon Diamond
C.W. Anderson
Jason
Sandman
Chris Chetti
Jazz
Spike Dudley
Steve Corino
Jerry Lynn
Lance Storm
Justin Credible
Kid Kash
Joey Styles
Cyrus
Lou E. Dangerously
Tajiri
Dawn Marie
New Jack
Tanaka
Tony DeVito
Nova
Jack Victory
Tommy Dreamer
Mikey Whipwreck

Innovations & Gameplay: The second ECW title to appear, 6 short months after the first, was also the last ECW game published (unless you count the ECW roster on the 2008 “Smackdown vs. Raw”). This game tried to capture the ECW flavor by introducing a wider variety of hardcore matches such as dumpster matches, street fights and inferno matches. The gameplay and movesets were similar to what was found on earlier WWF releases as Acclaim, publisher of earlier WWF titles was also responsible for “Anarchy Rulz”. One thing to also note, was that this title was also developed for the Nintendo 64 but never produced for that console as it was already being phased out and being replaced by the GameCube.

Availability: Amazon has both the Playstation and the Dreamcast used starting at $19.55.

Title: WWF With Authority
Release Date: February 2001
Platform: PC

Innovations & Gameplay: I was debating whether or not to include “With Authority” in this list. It wasn’t a typical wrestling game in the sense that you don’t control a wrestler or fight competitors in the traditional sense. Basically, a player would buy a software “page” with a wrestler’s attributes, movesets and skills. You would then pit your player against other players online, in a similar fashion to “Pokeman” trading cards. Additional pages could be purchased for upgrades and different skills and the online site kept track of wins and losses. In 2003 the site was finally shut down, and new pages were no longer published. Before shutting the site down, a P2P site was established so that players who had already paid their money could continue playing.

Availability: No longer available.

Title: WWF Betrayal
Release Date: August 2001
Platforms: Game Boy Color

Wrestlers Featured:
The Rock
The Undertaker
Triple H
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Vince McMahon
Stephanie McMahon

Innovation & Gameplay: Okay, this was a weird little release unlike anything that had come out before it bearing the WWF logo. Instead of a straight wrestling game, “Betrayal” played out like the WWF version of a Mario Brothers game, with Stephanie in the Princess Peach role, and Rock, Austin, HHH or Undertaker in the Mario role. In the game Stephanie is kidnapped and Vince promised to give the player’s wrestler (one of the 4 mentioned above) a title shot if Stephanie is saved. You would guide your wrestler through backstage areas fighting referees and various arena staffers. The boss levels would be where you would fight the three other wrestlers you did not choose. For instance if you are playing as The Rock, the bosses would consist of HHH, Undertaker and Austin. As far as who kidnapped Stephanie and why, it’s never answered, because once you defeat the final boss, the game is over.

Availability: This game is no longer available on Amazon, maybe check Ebay periodically? (But I wouldn’t waste too much effort looking for it)

Title: WWF Smackdown! Just Bring It
Release Date: November 2001
Platforms: Playstation 2

Wrestlers Featured:
Mick Foley
Molly Holly
Albert
The Big Show
Billy Gunn
Perry Saturn
Bradshaw
Raven
Bubba Ray Dudley
Rhyno
Chris Benoit
Rikishi
Chris Jericho
Christian
The Rock
Shane McMahon
Crash
Spike Dudley
Dean Malenko
Stephanie McMahon
D-Von Dudley
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Edge
Steve Blackman
Eddie Guerrero
Steven Richards
Faarooq
Tajiri
Fred Durst
Tazz
Hardcore Holly
Test
Ivory
Triple H
Trish Stratus
Jeff Hardy
Jerry Lynn
Undertaker
Kan
Vince McMahon
Kurt Angle
William Regal
Lita
Matt Hardy

Innovation & Gameplay: This was the first WWF title released for the Playstation 2 (PS2) platform. This is the first game to feature commentary by Tazz and Michael Cole, other new additions for this game; wrestlers each had two finishing moves as opposed to only one, players could change their characters movesets for the first time and players could now have 6 and 8 man tag matches and battle royals. One of the biggest innovations that “Just Bring It” introduced was the Story mode of play. In previous WWF released games you could take a fighter from house shows to headlining pay per views, but you had to win matches in order for the story to progress. With “Just Bring It” you still chose a wrestler to go after a title, but the player gets to choose which title to chase, and if you lose a match it actually has consequences as to how the game plays out. Players could also have their wrestlers interact with various other characters such as managers, and Vince McMahon himself. Players could choose from various responses when dealing with these characters, and gameplay would be altered depending up your responses. Once again, a central goal to the game was to win matches and challenges in order to unlock new wrestlers and arenas. This was a popular title selling over 400,000 copies becoming the 2nd best seller of the year.

Availability: There are plenty of copies on Amazon starting at $3.90.

Title: WWF Road to Wrestlemania
Release Date: November 2001
Platform: Game Boy Advance

Wrestlers Featured:
Billy Gunn
Kane
Bradshaw
Kurt Angle
Bubba Ray Dudley
Matt Hardy
Chris Benoit
Perry Saturn
Chris Jericho
Raven
Rikishi
Christian
D-Von Dudley
Steve Austin
Tazz
Eddie Guerrero
Edge
The Rock
Faarooq
Triple H
Hardcore Holly
The Undertaker
Jeff Hardy
William Regal
X-Pac

Innovation & Gameplay: This is first WWE game release for the Game Boy Advance. One thing to note is that “Road” features a much larger roster than any previous release for a hand held system. “Road” featured improved graphics for a hand held, and some innovative gameplay. While not featuring a true “story” mode, there is a season mode where you guide a player through the ranks of the roster to win the title.

Availability: Amazon features plenty of used copies starting at $8.82.

Title: WWE RAW
Release Date: February 2002
Platforms: X Box/ PC

Wrestlers Featured:
The Undertaker
X-Pac
William Regal
Al Snow
Kane
Lita
Kurt Angle
Albert
The Big Show
Billy Gunn
Matt Hardy
Bradshaw
Molly Holly
Bubba Ray Dudley
Perry Saturn
Chris Benoit
Raven
Chris Jericho
Rhino
Christian
Crash Holly
D-Von Dudley
Eddie Guerrero
Rikishi
The Rock
Spike Dudley
Edge
Shane McMahon
Stephanie McMahon
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Faarooq
Steve Blackman
Fred Durst
Funaki
Vince McMahon
Tajiri
Ivory
Haku
Hardcore Holly
Taka Michinoku
Tazz
Test
Triple H
Trish Stratus
K-Kwik
Justin Credible
Jeff Hardy

Innovation & Gameplay: This was the first release for the X-Box by WWF and developers took full advantage of the in depth graphics the new system was capable of. The actual gameplay for “Raw” was very difficult, in that the controls were difficult to work with. Controlling your character was difficult, and the motion capture had the wrestlers lumbering around like stiff legged Frankenstein monsters. The fluidity and realism found on the Playstation and Nintendo 64 releases was gone. But the graphics were fantastic, creating great detail. The “Create” a wrestler mode found on “Raw” was the most extensive, detail oriented aspect of the game. Players could choose ring attire, body type, attributes, skin color, hair color, tattoos, and eye color; basically you could create anything you could think of. Unfortunately, once you unleashed your creation in the game, it still moved like an ancient mummy in the ring. One other thing to note; this game was released just before WWF lost the rights to use the WWF logo to the World Wildlife Fund. When this game was re-issued all references to WWF was replaced by WWE on the cover artwork and instruction booklet, however, when you play the game, even the re-issued game, the WWF logo is still present.

Availability: Amazon lists “Raw” starting at $4.43.

Title: WWF Wrestlemania X8
Release Date: June 2002
Platforms: GameCube

Wrestlers Featured:
Scott Hall
Jeff Hardy
Albert
The Big Show
Kane
Scotty 2 Hotty
Booker T
Kevin Nash
Shane McMahon
Bradshaw
Kurt Angle
Stacy Keibler
Bubba Ray Dudley
Lance Storm
Stephanie McMahon
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Lita
Chris Benoit
Chris Jericho
Matt Hardy
Tajiri
Christian
Molly Holly
Tazz
D-Von Dudley
Raven
Test
Triple H
Rhino Edge
Trish Stratus
Ric Flair
Faarooq
Hollywood Hulk Hogan
Rikishi
The Undertaker
The Hurricane
Rob Van Dam
Vince McMahon
Jacqueline
The Rock
William Regal

Innovation & Gameplay: WWF was in the middle of producing “Wrestlemania X8” when it lost the rights to use the WWF logo. As the product was basically finished, just not distributed, you will notice the WWF “Attitude” era scratch on screen when playing, from the title screens, to the on-screen graphics. However, the instruction booklet refers, for the first time, to the company as WWE. (if you look at the two pictures at the top of this entry you will notice the re-issued cover where WWF is replaced by the scratch logo WW instead) This would be the last product issued referencing the WWF logo and even that would disappear from the box cover art when re-issued. This was also the first WWE title published for the new Nintendo GameCube. Even though this was a new game for a new gaming platform, there really wasn’t anything new added to the gameplay. The graphics and sound were on par with what had been available on the Playstation, N64 and Dreamcast systems with earlier releases. Actually, as far as gameplay goes, “WMX8” kind of took a step backward, in that the “Career” or “Story” mode is not present. But what was great about “WMX8” was looking through the roster. For the first time, you had WWF, ECW & WCW talent on one game, highlighted by having the NWO as a playable stable. This was really the first WWF title to enjoy the luxury of a totally combined roster.

Availability: Amazon has used copies starting at $3.59.

Title: WWE Road to Wrestlemania X8
Release Date: October 2002
Platform Game Boy Advance

Wrestlers Featured:
Booker T
The Undertaker
Triple H
The Rock
Test
Rob Van Dam
Kurt Angle
Kevin Nash
Kane
Hollywood Hulk Hogan
Edge
D-Von Dudley
Christian
Chris Jericho
Bubba Ray Dudley

Innovation & Featured: “Road to Wrestlemania X8” had much improved graphics for a hand held title. The moveset included for each wrestler matched their real life counterpart, and the speed of gameplay was greatly improved over previous Game Boy titles. The game featured 4 championships to fight over, Hardcore, Tag Tea, Intercontinental and Undisputed. Players could create their own pay per views, create matches and compete in the Royal Rumble & King of the Ring. This title also featured a ton of unlockables, from baseball caps to ring attire and arenas, to additional wrestlers. One neat feature was that you could trade items with other Game Boy players as well. By far “Road to WMX8” was the best title released for a hand held device yet.

Availability: Amazon lists this title used starting at $12.74.

Title: WWE Smackdown! Shut Your Mouth
Release Date: November 2002
Platform: Playstation 2

Wrestlers Featured:
Eddie Guerrero
Mark Henry
Al Snow
Spike Dudley
Albert
Edge
Matt Hardy
Stacy Keibler
The Big Show
Farooq
Maven
Stephanie McMahon
The Big Valbowski
Goldust
Molly Holly
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Tajiri
Billy Gunn
Hollywood Hulk Hogan
Billy Kidman
Randy Orton
Tazz
Raven
The Hurricane
Booker T
Bradshaw
Ivory
Rhyno
Test
Torrie Wilson
Ric Flair
Jazz
Brock Lesnar
Bubba Rey Dudley
Jeff Hardy
Rico
Triple H
Kane
Rikishi
Trish Stratus
Chris Benoit
Kevin Nash
Rob Van Dam
The Undertaker
Chris Jericho
Kurt Angle
Vince McMahon
The Rock
Lance Storm
Christian
Chuck Palumbo
Lita
Scotty 2 Hotty
William Regal
Reverand D-Von
X-Pac
Shawn Stasiak
Shawn Michaels
Scotty 2 Hotty
Diamond Dallas Page
Debra
Jerry “The King” Lawler
Jim Ross
Linda McMahon
Michael Cole

Innovation & Gameplay: “Shut Your Mouth” featured some genuinely exciting changes from what had become a standard formula when it came to wrestling games. First and foremost, “Shut Your Mouth” featured the WWE draft. Vince McMahon (either the computer or a player) would choose a wrestler from the roster for Raw, while Ric Flair would choose a wrestler for Smackdown. When a character is chosen, he or she could only compete on the show they were drafted to. This was a fun new aspect of WWE games, because when playing general manager, you really had to think about the choices you were making. Also, wrestlers were given ratings based on popularity for this game. The higher the rating, the better for your show as your goal was to increase your shows popularity. So if you put Undertaker in a Hardcore Match against the Big Show, your popularity would increase, whereas if you put Scotty 2 Hotty in a singles match against Rico, you wouldn’t get the pop, and it would hurt your overall game rating. Wrestlers finally got full entrances, and for the first time, your champions would actually appear with the belt. All of the WWE titles were represented on “Shut Your Mouth” with the exception of the Women’s Title. The graphics were top notch for this release, and the movement was more fluid than in previous titles released. Once again the “Create” a superstar feature had quite a bit of depth. You could create your own superstar who would start out on Sunday Night Heat and have to work his way up to headlining pay per views. “Shut Your Mouth” was the high water mark of wrestling games in 1992.

Availability: Amazon offers quite a few used copies starting at $1.00.

So ECW and WCW were folded into the WWF, which had to change its name to WWE. THQ was now the only company making officially licensed merchandise. Acclaim responsible for so many great WWF titles went on to produce the “Legends of Wrestling” games using the same engine they had designed for the WWF. Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast and Playstation were phased out in favor of the GameCube, Playstation 2 and the X Box.
Look for the next (and final installment??) soon. And again, if you would like copies of this article with pictures of the games discussed, just shoot me a request using the feedback box at the bottom.
Thanks for reading!