Review By: Roger Taylor
Developer:	Asmik Ace Entertainment
Publisher:	THQ
# of Players:	1-4
Genre:	Wrestling
ESRB:	Teen
Date Posted:	11-27-00

It seems like THQ has been making wrestling games for the N64 since the dawn of time. In reality, it has been only three years. However, in that time the company has managed to create the best wrestling engine ever used in a video game, and refine it to perfection. And that is what WWF No Mercy is. The most complete, polished wrestling game in the history of wrestling games. Read on.

The control pattern in No Mercy is identical to its predecessor WWF Wrestlemania. B is used to hit, C-Down is pressed to run, and A is used for
grabbing. Once you grab your opponent you can do any one of a number of moves by pressing a button and a direction on the D-pad. This control pattern has been a large part of the reason that THQ's wrestling games have been so consistently good, and veterans and rookies alike should adapt well to it. The other main reason for the success of these games is the absolutely incredible amount of moves. I really can't describe how many there are, so I'll just say this: how many different variations on the powerbomb do you think were included in this game? If you said 5...you're wrong! I can't tell you exactly how many there are, because there are too many different situations were you can use powerbombs, so it is hard to count them all...but I can tell you that there are AT LEAST 20 different types of powerbombs included in the game. If you are a wrestling fan, you will definitely love this game, if for nothing else than for amount of moves, and how well they are animated.

A major part of wrestling games these days is the features and gimmick matches. If gimmick matches are all you are looking for, go buy Smackdown 2; because No Mercy just can't compete in that department. However, there
are more than enough modes to keep the average fan happy. Cage matches are included, but are poorly done. For some reason, no one bothered to inform the guys who made this game that the most intense part of a cage match is
when your favorite superstar leaps off the 15 foot cage onto his opponent, in a collision that shakes the arena in which they stand. Alas, the added offense in cage matches is the ability to slam your opponent’s face into the metal chain links, and the excruciatingly generic elbow-drop-off-cage.

Ladder matches in the game are much better. The object is to climb the ladder in the center of the ring to grab something (generally a title belt)
suspended 20 feet in the air. Of course, this will lead to all sorts of crazy bumps being taken when the ladder is pushed over. The fun doesn't
stop there though. You can smack your opponent in the head with the ladder, and even bash them with the corner of it when they are on the ground. Better yet: you can do all of your wrestlers turnbuckle moves off of the ladder.

The create-a-wrestler is greatly improved over last year's offerings. Like in Wrestlemania, you can pick an entire move set for your wrestler, choose a costume, set his friends and enemies, choose his strengths and weaknesses, and even how he reacts to blood. But No Mercy adds many more costumes and faces to choose from than its predecessor.

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