Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

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

WCW/NWO Thunder builds on the foundation laid by its predecessor with a suite of match types that cater to both casual button-mashers and hardcore wrestling fans. The core controls are intuitive, allowing you to execute strikes, grapples, and signature maneuvers with ease. Whether you’re chaining together combo attacks or timing a perfect reversal, the game strikes a good balance between accessibility and depth. The responsive feel of the controls ensures that each fight feels dynamic, with plenty of room for mastery as you learn the unique move sets of over 50 superstars.

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The variety of modes—Battle Royal, Tournament, Tag Team, Cage Match, and Single Player—adds significant replay value. Battle Royals can become chaotic in a fun way, while the tournament bracket mode gives you a sense of progression as you fight your way to a championship belt. Tag Team battles introduce cooperative strategies, and cage matches leverage the newly introduced steel cell to heighten tension. Close-range weapons stationed near the ring offer an extra layer of unpredictability, rewarding players who risk a dash outside the ropes for a well-timed table slam or weapon strike.

Single Player mode serves as the heart of the experience, throwing you into a series of challenges against CPU opponents. As you climb the ranks, you’ll unlock hidden characters, new arenas, and even special match stipulations. The presence of real entrance videos—lifted directly from WCW Thunder broadcasts—adds to the immersion and underscores the game’s attention to authenticity. Backed by the in-ring commentary of Tony Schiavone and Mike Tenay, each match feels like a televised event rather than a simple exhibition fight. This blend of arcade action and television presentation makes for a highly engaging gameplay loop.

Graphics

Graphically, WCW/NWO Thunder was a standout on its platform, leveraging both sprite-based animation and full-motion video to create an authentic WCW atmosphere. Wrestler sprites are well-detailed, capturing signature gear and facial expressions that make your favorite stars instantly recognizable. While not a photo-realistic showcase by today’s standards, the art style holds up with its colorful palettes and clear ring environments. Body movements and collision animations feel weighty, which reinforces the visceral impact of each piledriver or suplex.

The inclusion of real entrance videos is a major visual highlight. Before every match, you’re treated to the same clips aired on TBS’s WCW Thunder, complete with pyrotechnics and live crowd reactions. These FMV sequences break up the action in impressive fashion and heighten the anticipation as your chosen superstar makes their way to the ring. The transition from video to gameplay is seamless, thanks to quick loading times and crisp video compression.

Arena designs also deserve credit for variety and authenticity. From the standard Thunder set to special event arenas, each stage features accurate ring skirts, side banners, and crowd backdrops. Dynamic lighting effects help convey the spectacle of a live broadcast, spotlighting wrestlers during critical moments like finishing moves or championship bouts. The user interface is cleanly laid out, with health meters and momentum indicators that are both informative and unobtrusive.

Story

While wrestling games rarely offer a traditional narrative, WCW/NWO Thunder weaves its own brand of storytelling through tournament brackets and unlockable vignettes. As you progress, you’ll encounter rivalries pulled directly from WCW’s weekly programming, giving each match context beyond the simple goal of “pin the opponent.” Special pre-match promos feature voiceovers by Mike Tenay and Tony Schiavone, heightening the drama and setting stakes for your upcoming battles.

The commentary team does a remarkable job of injecting personality into matches. Tenay’s technical breakdowns and Schiavone’s enthusiastic calls mirror the ebb and flow of a live broadcast. They comment not just on the action in the ring, but also on wrestler histories, past feuds, and current championship aspirations. This dynamic duo effectively constructs mini-stories on the fly, making each encounter feel like part of an ongoing season rather than an isolated skirmish.

Unlockable content further extends the game’s narrative approach. Rare interviews, highlight reels, and classic WCW moments become available as you meet certain criteria in Tournament mode. These extras enrich the overall experience, giving long-time fans nostalgic callbacks while providing newcomers with a crash course in late-’90s wrestling drama. Though you won’t find branching dialogue trees or cinematic cutscenes, the game’s presentation style successfully captures the spirit of televised sports entertainment.

Overall Experience

WCW/NWO Thunder offers a highly satisfying wrestling game package that remains enjoyable decades after its release. The generous roster of over 50 superstars—including legends like Goldberg, Sting, and the New World Order faction—ensures that you’ll find a favorite character to master. Multiplayer sessions shine brightest here, where two players can go head-to-head in tag matches, cage fights, or chaotic Battle Royals that devolve into wildly entertaining melee situations.

However, the game does show its age in certain aspects. AI patterns can become predictable on later difficulty settings, and the limited ring out-of-bounds detection may occasionally feel inconsistent. Yet these issues are minor quibbles in an otherwise robust package. The seamless blend of arcade-style wrestling action with an authentic broadcast feel—thanks to the entrance videos and live commentary—sets Thunder apart from contemporaries.

In the end, WCW/NWO Thunder succeeds as both a nostalgic time capsule and a genuinely fun fighting game. It captures the energy of late-’90s wrestling on TBS, inviting players to recreate iconic moments or craft their own inside the steel cage. Whether you’re reliving your favorite WCW feuds or discovering these characters for the first time, this title remains a must-play for wrestling aficionados and fighting game fans alike.