Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

WCW vs. NWO: World Tour offers an expansive wrestling playground that caters to both solo competitors and party matches. With more than 40 wrestlers drawn from the height of the WCW/NWO rivalry, players can step into the boots of fan favorites like Hulk Hogan, Sting, and The Giant, or join the rebellious New World Order alongside Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. The variety ensures that every match feels fresh, whether you’re executing Hulkamania’s signature leg drop or unleashing nWo’s ruthless power moves.

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The game’s multiple modes—including Exhibition, League Challenge, Tournament, and the themed WCW vs. NWO showdown—add layers of replayability. Exhibition mode lets you jump straight into the ring for one-on-one, tag team, or four-player battle royals. Meanwhile, League Challenge and Tournament modes provide a structured progression, pitting you against increasingly formidable opponents as you strive to capture the world wrestling title. WCW vs. NWO mode intensifies the faction rivalry, forcing you to strategically manage alliances and betrayals.

Controls are surprisingly deep for an N64 title, allowing for grapples, strikes, reversals, and environmental interactions. You can throw opponents out of the ring to gain a breather or pick up chairs and trash cans from the audience for more devastating attacks. Each wrestler features a unique move set, from high-flying maneuvers to bone-crunching suplexes, giving matches an authentic arcade feel. The responsive input and combo opportunities reward timing and strategic thinking, making every bout a dynamic experience.

Graphics

While WCW vs. NWO: World Tour is unmistakably a product of the late ’90s, its visuals hold up better than many peers on the Nintendo 64. Character models are blocky by modern standards, but their distinctive color palettes and exaggerated proportions ensure immediate recognition. Signature attire—like Sting’s facepaint or Ric Flair’s robes—translate effectively into 3D, preserving the wrestlers’ iconic looks.

Arena designs capture the roaring atmosphere of live wrestling events. The crowd is a sea of pixelated fans whose collective reactions rise and fall with every slam and suplex. Spotlights sweep the ring, and the jumbotron displays digitized images of the current match-up, adding authenticity. Texture quality may blur at times, but the overall presentation remains vibrant, with bold colors and lighting effects that heighten the drama.

Animation is where World Tour truly shines for its era. Wrestlers move with a surprisingly fluid range of motion, from running clotheslines to powerbombs. During signature finishers, dynamic camera angles and slowed-down action sequences underscore the impact, making each finishing blow feel monumental. Even loading screens and menu transitions maintain the game’s wrestling show atmosphere, complete with entrance themes and faction logos.

Story

WCW vs. NWO: World Tour doesn’t rely on an intricate narrative in the traditional sense, but it channels the high-stakes drama of 1997’s wrestling wars. The underlying storyline revolves around the power struggle between WCW stalwarts and the invading NWO faction, playing out across League Challenge and WCW vs. NWO modes. As you progress, rivalries flare, alliances dissolve, and the fate of the promotion hangs in the balance.

In League Challenge mode, you choose your side and battle through a gauntlet of opponents, building momentum toward a climactic title match. Each victory fuels the storyline, as in-ring promos and roster shake-ups briefly punctuate the action. While these interstitial scenes are rudimentary by modern standards—consisting mainly of text and static portraits—they capture the spirit of weekly wrestling TV shows, complete with taunts and faction spats.

The tournament bracket in Tournament mode offers its own narrative thread, with underdog wrestlers rising through the ranks to face the era’s biggest stars. Unlockable hidden characters and secret matches add surprises, encouraging players to revisit the brackets and see who ultimately prevails. Though not a cinematic story, the emergent rivalries and championship pursuits deliver plenty of drama.

Overall Experience

WCW vs. NWO: World Tour remains a standout wrestling title on the N64, offering robust multiplayer mayhem and a surprisingly deep solo challenge. Whether you’re seeking nostalgic trips down memory lane or new fans exploring ’90s wrestling culture, the game delivers an enticing blend of arcade action and faction warfare. Its roster diversity and match-type variety ensure that each session feels distinct.

The balance between pick-up-and-play simplicity and advanced techniques lets casual players have fun immediately, while hardcore fans can dive into reversal timing and combo chains. Four-player battle royals can devolve into chaotic brawls, making it a perfect party game, whereas one-on-one title defenses in League Challenge mode test your mastery of each wrestler’s toolkit. The ability to grab weapons from the crowd adds an unpredictable edge that keeps every match suspenseful.

Despite aging visuals and minimal story sequences, World Tour’s core gameplay fundamentals—responsive controls, varied modes, and authentic wrestler representation—stand strong. For collectors and wrestling enthusiasts alike, WCW vs. NWO: World Tour remains an essential addition to any Nintendo 64 library. Its enduring charm lies in the raw energy of ’90s wrestling, encapsulating an era where factions battled for supremacy and every match felt like a headline event.

Retro Replay Score

7.5/10