WWF Attitude

Infobox VG
title = WWF Attitude


caption=
developer = Iguana Entertainment
publisher = Acclaim Entertainment
designer =
engine =
version =
released = Game Boy Color
March 31, 1999
Nintendo 64
July 31, 1999
PlayStation
July 31, 1999
Dreamcast
November 10, 1999
genre = Sports game
modes = Single player, multiplayer
ratings = ESRB: T (Teen)
platforms = Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Dreamcast
media = CD-ROM, GD-ROM, Cartridge
requirements =
input = Game controller

"WWF Attitude" is a professional wrestling video game released by Acclaim Entertainment in 1999 for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64. A slightly enhanced port of the game was later released on the Dreamcast. Along with a handheld version for the Game Boy Color Named after the slogan of WWF's marketing campaign at that time, the game's tagline is "Get it!"

The game is the sequel to Acclaim's "WWF War Zone" and is also the last WWF game to be published by Acclaim. Acclaim followed "Attitude" with two games based on Extreme Championship Wrestling: "ECW Hardcore Revolution" and "ECW Anarchy Rulz".

Features

Features added include a Create-A-Stable mode and a Pay-Per-View mode, which allows players to set up their own wrestling event - a series of matches, the name of the event and an arena.

Perhaps the game's most intriguing feature was its customizable arena option, where a player was given full freedom to edit the color of lights, color of the ring ropes, color of the turnbuckles, logo on the side of the ring, and more.

Create-A-Wrestler mode is back from the first title and also includes the ability to customize individual moves for each created wrestler. Though not playable in the game, The Hardy Boyz did the motion capture for the moves. Original superstar music was also added, as well as superstar nicknames that the commentators would announce and accompanying crowd chants for each name. The game also allowed players to customize their favorite superstars.

Full WWF superstar entrances were also added, including voice overs from certain superstars during the entrance. For example, Triple H does his Michael Buffer entrances. The voice overs were dubbed over the music tracks. The game features an option to omit the bad language uttered by wrestlers during matches and entrances or bleep out the language. The option is toggled under the somewhat confusing labels of "teen" or "everyone." There were no ring announcer voices though. The game featured commentary from Jerry "The King" Lawler and Shane McMahon, who had recently taken a role as an announcer on "Sunday Night HEAT". McMahon takes the place of Jim Ross from the first game, who had recently been off WWF TV during his bout with Bell's Palsy.

Instead of the commentators talking about each of the wrestlers before the match, each wrestler has a set of pre-match taunts, including the created wrestler nicknames.

The handheld port of the game for the Game Boy Color is slightly different from its console counterparts. 20 playable characters are included, and data is kept via password. This port also has signature moves and includes TAKA Michinoku & Sable as secret characters.

Gameplay

Gameplay from "WWF War Zone" was for the most part retained. However, each wrestler had a set of "common moves" added that could be done by grappling and pressing a single button, including a hammer lock and a full nelson. Also added were a set of double-team moves for tag team matches, including a wish bone leg-splitter and a double-team powerbomb.

The previous edition's "Challenge Mode" was replaced by a Career mode which allowed a player to wrestle as a WWF star - first wrestling house shows and then working their way up to "RAW" and pay-per-view events, eventually getting title shots. Exhibition mode now allowed players to select specific opponents. New match types were also added.

The health bar from "War Zone" was slightly tweaked but the sequel retained most of the feel of the previous game, including innovative features such as "playing to the crowd", and attempting to get an advantage through fan support (thus increasing attack damage). Ways to turn the crowd against you were to repeatedly perform, or attempt to perform the same move, or to leave the ring.

One interesting quirk about the health system (also in Attitude's predecessor War Zone) was that once you worked your opponent into "the red", you could do your finishing move whenever you want, (as opposed to working your "spirit" into a "special" mode). If your opponent was so badly beaten that their health was deep into the dark red, (or even completely gone), you could perform your finishing move, pick them up, and as they stand "stunned", perform your finisher again, at your leisure, within a reasonable amount of time before they "wake up." Using this strategy you could mercilessly obliterate your beaten opponent with your strongest move into infinity (if they are in this state, they will always be pinned for a 3 count. This tactic could be seen as offensive or insulting to a human opponent as it is the equivalent of "running up the score" in a game of football, where the victor of the contest has already been clearly determined).

Blood could also be turned on or off. If turned on, wrestlers would rather humorously develop large red streaks and stains on "any" body part which has been damaged.

pecial moves

Throughout the course of a match, every player can attain 2 special moves. The first is the signature move, which is activated when your opponent's health is drained to the yellow. The second as mentioned prior, is the finisher when your opponent's health bar has been drained to the red. Playing as Steve Austin for instance, his yellow-activated signature move is the Lou Thesz Press (or as the game calls it, "tackle with punches"), and his red-activated finishing maneuver is the Stone Cold Stunner. Unlike other wrestling games, finishing moves can be performed without the premise of a grapple. Furthermore, every move in the game has a damage rating. Moves including the Pedigree, Stone Cold Stunner, Tombstone Piledriver, The Rock Bottom, Mandible Claw, Sharpshooter, Impaler, Ankle Lock, Curtain Call, and Dominator all share the games highest damage rating of 9. Moves such as the Piledriver, Chokeslam, Fame-Ass-er, and People's Elbow, garner an 8.(note that there are 2 Rock Bottoms, a stand ready version with damage 9, and a grapple version with damage 8)

Two other moves of interest that everyone can use are the moveable scoop slam and the movable belly to back suplex toss. They are "movable" because a player can actually walk around the ring with their opponent before completing the move, or, walk to the rope, and toss them over the top to the floor. These moves, designed mostly for Royal Rumble contests, add to the game's features, despite being awkward to look at. The ability of the player to dictate the exact timing and execution of a move has been featured in "WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW" and "WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006" (starting with the basic ability to manual lift and throw opponents over the top rope in Royal Rumble matches) and recently expanded upon in "WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007" with the new 'Ultimate Control Moves'.

Featured wrestlers

Main roster

¹ The Cactus Jack and Dude Love personas are included as alternate attires. However, they will still have Mankind's voice, moveset and entrance music.

ecret characters

¹ - Al Snow's mannequin head is included, and only has hands and feet, but no body. His voice is a cartoony voice provided by Al Snow.

² - The Trainer is based on game tester "Jello" Jeff Robinson.

All superstars on the roster have alternate attires if a specific button is pressed at the superstar selection screen. To choose alternate attires, press either X, L1, L2 or R2. However, it won't show a preview of the attire until it shows the superstar in his/her entrance or in the ring.

Late changes

Originally, both Steven Regal and Tiger Ali Singh were to be in "Attitude". However, they were removed and replaced with Big Boss Man, Christian, and The Godfather.

Additionally, early previews of the game spoke of fictional jobbers that players would face early on in the career mode. For unknown reasons, they were removed from the game. However, their voices, ring attire, and theme songs remain in the Create-a-Wrestler mode. Additionally, this idea became a reality when Acclaim produced "ECW Hardcore Revolution", where several fictional jobbers are used in the season mode and are playable. "WWF Attitude" was originally going to be the first wrestling game that allowed you to fight backstage. This feature was taken out for unknown reasons, and "WCW Mayhem" became the first wrestling game to include the feature.

External links

* [http://www.gamespot.com/gbc/sports/wwfattitude/index.html?tag=result;title;3 WWF Attitude (GBC)] at Gamespot.com
* [http://www.gamespot.com/n64/sports/wwfattitude/index.html?tag=result;title;1 WWF Attitude (N64)] at Gamespot.com
* [http://www.gamespot.com/ps/sports/wwfattitude/index.html?tag=result;title;0 WWF Attitude (PS)] at Gamespot.com
* [http://www.gamespot.com/dreamcast/sports/wwfattitude/index.html?tag=result;title;2 WWF Attitude (DC)] at Gamespot.com