In my opinion, WWF No Mercy is still the top wrestling game on the market. If your like me, you hate the SmackDown! games. So in short, you hate WX8 too. The spirit meter (or attitude meter) is gone and is replaced with one akin to SmackDown!'s. The control is essentially the same, but with small improvements, like C-Stick targeting. The gameplay is frantic, almost fighting game-like, and it does that stupid thing where you stop your opponent on the mat, and you can stomp them back down when they're trying to get back up. It almost seems like they spent all their time programing the many different match types rather than improving the gameplay. The game just doesn't quite capture the feel of wrestling. Yukes obviously thought wrestling was some sort of frantic, fast-paced sport filled with people who move unrealistically. If you hate the SM! games, I doubt you'll like WX8. If your anyone else, have fun.
Graphics-8.5 If there's one thing this game has going for it (besdies the many different match types) it's the graphics. While No Mercy's gameplay is more like wrestling , WX8 character models look more like wrestlers.
Sound- 9.0 The sound is very realistic, but that is overlooked, because a huge problem is present. Yukes couldn't get all the music for some of the wrestlers!! Oh well, they did fairly well covering it up.
Control- 8.0 The controls are like SM! for the most part, but with some nifty improvements that really help begginers get into it more easily.
Replay- 4.5 Here's where the game falls flat on it's face. The game relies too heavily on aesthetics (see graphics and sound), but they weren't enough to keep me coming back for more.
Overall- 6.0 While it isn't the worst wrestling game (that spot is for WCW Backstage Assault) on the market, it isn't the best either. Give this a rent just to be safe.
