WCW Backstage Assault

Overall, it's hard to recommend a wrestling game that doesn't contain any actual in-the-ring wrestling. EA's Backstage Assault is a novel idea, but in the end, it doesn't have enough variation to make it worthwhile. This one is only for the hard-core WCW fan.

Un jeu de plus dans l'univers du catch et les ténors du titre peuvent dormir sur leurs deux oreilles, WCW Backstage Assault n'est pas près de leur faire de l'ombre.

So, nach Royal Rumble und nun Backstage Assault sollte es hoffentlich jeder Hersteller begriffen haben: Mit Action-Arcade-Wrestling und nur einem Spielmodus lässt sich kein Blumentopf gewinnen. Zwar sind die einzelnen Räume mit nettem Inventar wie Elektrozäunen und diversen Hardcore-Gimmicks wie Spülbecken oder Baseball-Schlägern ausgestattet, doch Spielspaß will sich einfach nicht einstellen. Dies liegt vor allem an der sogar für PS-Verhältnisse armseligen Präsentation wie auch am Mangel an Spielmodi. Mit Smackdown! 2 seid ihr um Längen besser bedient.

In one of the backstage areas, you can stick a 2x4 in a fire, then use it to ignite your opponent. I’m not saying this is really amazing, I’m just trying to come up with an aspect of Backstage Assault that doesn’t suck. Let’s see if I can come up with something else. Um, the opening FMV is okay…I guess. Now for the bad news. The graphics are worse than the already lackluster N64 version. Much of the commentary is repeated from Mayhem, and Mark Madden isn’t one of the announcers. Not having a ring in a wrestling game is as stupid as not having one in a boxing game.

Not only is the WWF killing the WCW in ratings, but if games like this continue to be made, the sales figures will also follow this pattern. If you own Mayhem, stick with that game and just brawl backstage. There's not a whole lot of difference between the two except for the fact that the year old Mayhem plays better.

The loading screens outshine everything else this game has to offer. No joke. The remainder of this mangled wrestling venture is nothing short of flaming elephant dung. Stinky!

Only a few redeeming qualities spare WCW Backstage Assault from the fiery depths of an F. Don't hate the playa, hate this game.