Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Name: WCW/NWO Revenge
Item: WCW/NWO Revenge
Author: Retro Replay

WCW/NWO Revenge puts the player in direct control of more than 60 of the era’s biggest and meanest wrestling superstars, from Hollywood Hogan and Kevin Nash to Raven and Goldberg. The control scheme is simple to learn yet deep in execution: the B-button delivers strikes and the A-button initiates grapples, while holding either button performs a heavier variation of the move. This accessible engine encourages players to chain together light strikes, heavy strikes, grapples and high-impact slams, creating a satisfying flow in every match.

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Each wrestler’s weight class and physical attributes directly influence move availability, adding a layer of realism to the ring. Heavyweights lumber into power bombs and massive lariats, while lighter cruiserweights use speed to execute top-rope moonsaults and springboard attacks. The game’s signature Spirit Meter fills with every successful hit, enabling a wrestler’s special finishing maneuver. Pulling off a special move triggers a TV-style instant replay that captures the biggest moments of the fight.

Revenge offers a wide variety of match types and modifiers to keep the action fresh. You can battle in standard one-on-one or tag-team bouts, turn the match into a no-disqualification brawl with hidden weapons, or even let four combatants square off in a 40-man battle royal that introduces new entrants as soon as someone is pinfall-eliminated. For players seeking a challenge, the single-player Championship Mode tasks you with climbing the ladder from TV Title contender all the way to World Champion, unlocking new wrestlers and belts as you conquer each tier.

Customization and progression are woven into the gameplay loop. Exhibition matches allow you to tweak rules—handicaps, tag settings, rope breaks—and track your stats and high scores via the battery backup. You can even recolor or redesign wrestler costumes in the edit mode, giving you full creative control over your roster. All these options add layers of replay value, ensuring that Revenge stays entertaining well beyond the first few matches.

Graphics

For a Nintendo 64 title of its time, WCW/NWO Revenge impresses with crisp sprite-scaled wrestlers that capture each superstar’s physique and ring attire with surprising detail. Animations flow smoothly from strikes to grapples, and the game’s camera angles dynamically shift to spotlight impactful slams and high-flying maneuvers. The sprite work strikes a balance between arcade flair and faithful representation of the real-life roster.

The arenas are modeled after actual WCW pay-per-view events—from Bash at the Beach to Starrcade—complete with authentic ring mats, crowd backdrops and commentary boxes. Crowd sprites and referee models may appear repetitive up close, but they recede naturally into the background, keeping attention focused on the action in the ring. Instant replays are enhanced by quick zooms and dynamic transitions, giving each finisher a television-quality feel.

Wrestler portraits and title belt graphics in menus and load screens look sharp and colorful, contributing to the game’s broadcast-style presentation. Particle effects such as sweat, dust and debris from table breaks feel extra visceral, adding weight to every collision. While the N64 hardware imposes some texture blur and occasional pop-in, overall the visual package remains one of the cleanest and most vibrant on the platform.

Though polygon counts are modest by today’s standards, the game’s art direction and animation timing more than compensate. Every wrestler move is clearly readable, even in the heat of 4-player free-for-alls, ensuring that players always know what’s happening. The smooth frame rate holds up admirably during the most chaotic sequences, delivering responsive controls no matter how many bodies are piled into the ring.

Story

While WCW/NWO Revenge doesn’t include cinematic story cutscenes, it weaves narrative through its Championship Mode, creating a sense of progression and personal rivalry. Starting with the mid-card TV Title, each successful bout brings you closer to the prestigious WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Unlocking new belts and wrestlers serves as a reward system that powers the storyline of your own rise to wrestling stardom.

The kayfabe atmosphere is reinforced through character rivalries and championship lineage. Defeating a dominant champion like Hollywood Hogan or Goldberg in the final round feels like the climax of a well-built feud, even without voiced promos or branching dialogue. Each match simulates the tension of a pay-per-view main event, and unlocking hidden grapplers or custom creations deepens the sense of continuity across play sessions.

Multiplayer bouts naturally create emergent narratives among friends—betrayals in tag matches, surprise run-in interferences and sudden upsets in battle royals can spark impromptu feuds that feel every bit as dramatic as TV storylines. With the right group, every exhibition match writes its own script, complete with heroes, villains and shocking betrayals that keep players invested beyond the single-player path.

For those who appreciate a structured challenge, the tiered championship hierarchy gives enough context to each match that you feel you’re earning your spot as the top dog of WCW. The lack of a traditional story mode may disappoint fans seeking branching narratives, but the game’s pacing and unlockable content ensure that the core wrestling drama remains front and center.

Overall Experience

WCW/NWO Revenge stands as a pinnacle of classic wrestling action on the Nintendo 64, blending fast-paced gameplay with deep mechanics and a roster that reads like a who’s who of late ’90s wrestling. From the first lock-up to the final pinfall, the game delivers the thrills and spectacle that fans expect from a televised pay-per-view event. Its combination of accessibility and depth makes it equally appealing to newcomers and seasoned grappling enthusiasts.

Multiplayer is where Revenge truly shines. Four-player free-for-alls, tag-team brawls and the iconic 40-man battle royal turn living rooms into arenas filled with triumphant cheers and groans of defeat. Even today, gathering around to challenge friends in this game creates memorable moments—whether you’re orchestrating a surprise interference or pulling off a last-second special move to steal victory.

The robust suite of match settings, stat tracking and customization tools extends the game’s longevity, encouraging players to experiment with new rulesets and costumes. The save-battery feature means your progress in Championship Mode and your high-score records are always at hand, ensuring that every play session contributes to your personal wrestling legacy.

In sum, WCW/NWO Revenge remains a must-own title for retro wrestling fans and anyone seeking an arcade-style sports experience packed with character, variety and replay value. Its enduring appeal lies in its finely tuned gameplay, authentic presentation and the sheer joy of stepping into the ring as one of the era’s most unforgettable superstars.