Now we all know that WWF No Mercy is critically acclaimed and is widely regarded as the greatest wrestling game of all time. However, there have certainly been some other great titles since then, including my personal favourite: Smackdown vs Raw 2007, but as with everything in life – you always get the bad with the good. In this blog we will focus on the 5 worst wrestling games ever to make it to the shelves.
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RUMBLE ROSES
First up, we have Rumble Roses on the Xbox 360. Now, amazingly this game is actually the 5th highest-selling Xbox 360 game in Japan. The game’s sole selling point was the all female cast who wrestled in pretty much zero clothing. As a teenager 15 years ago, it might have seemed to be the perfect wrestling game – but with clunky gameplay and pretty much zero fun to be had apart from beautiful girls beating the crap out of each other – this game certainly wont be in anyone’s top 5 games ever.
WCW BACKSTAGE ASSAULT
WCW Backstage Assault was released towards the end of 2000 and was EA’s second attempt at a wrestling video game after their successful WCW Mayhem in 1999. The problem with this game is there was no actual wrestling ring to be found in the game. The game actually did exactly what it said on the box and focused on backstage brawls only. After a very successful WCW Mayhem that completely captured the feel and look of WCW in 1999, Backstage Assault did absolutely nothing correct. The only reason I still own the game is because of the inclusion of Daffney, which I suppose is a small win. The game also only managed to sell 200,000 copies and was the final WCW game to be released.
LEGENDS OF WRESTLING
With an all star cast featuring the best talent from WWF, WCW, ECW, and NWA, Legends of Wrestling should have been an instant hit with fans. But the likes of RVD, Terry Funk and Jimmy Snuka actually didn’t even resemble the likeness’s in any sort of capacity. The controls were awful and there was very little in the way of different game modes to choose from. The game would have struggled to compete with Smackdown 2 on the PS1, never mind any of the WWF games that it was up against on the PS2 at the time of release.
BACKYARD WRESTLING
The object of Backyard Wrestling was to beat the holy crap out of your opponent with any weapon you could get your hands on. This even included a chainsaw, which in theory sounds amazing. A game with tables, ladders and chairs (along with that chainsaw) should have had hours of gameplay, but (and I am going to really stress this here) if you make a wrestling game, it should include the option to actually fight in a wrestling ring. In Smackdown 2 you could start in the ring and yet be run down by a moving car in the same match. This is what you kind of expected with Backyard Wrestling but it simply didn’t happen.
ECW HARDCORE REVOULTION
Fun fact about this game: I actually skipped school to go pick this up the day it came out because I was so excited – but what I got was absolute trash. I was never a huge fan of the gameplay that came with wrestling games from Aklaim. WWF Attitude was rough to play mainly because of the insane combos that you had to remember for each move, and somehow this game was worse for that, taking every single bit of fun out of it. What also didn’t help was playing a first blood match and losing because you cut the back of your leg! The game captured nothing about what ECW was as a company, except the small crowds. Considering I had missed a day of school to pick it up, I was so upset with just how bad it was.
So there you have it – my personal 5 worst wrestling video games ever made. I know WWE 2k20 isn’t here, and even after the patches the game is not perfect at all – but in my opinion it is still better than these 5 (and has a wrestling ring in the game!).
Do you have a game that you think should have been included in this top five? Let us know your opinion below!
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No wrestling game will ever compare to the absolute garbage that was Smackdown vs Raw 2008 for the Nintendo DS.
I know what you’re thinking, “Smackdown vs Raw 2008 wasn’t a bad game surely a port to the DS won’t be bad.”
I know thats what you’re thinking cuz that’s what I was thinking.
However, since they decided they had to not just incorporate the touch pad but make it the focal point of the game its less of a port and more like a game with similar box art.
This game makes it difficult to finish 1 match without actively wanting to turn it off.
I’d tell you you have to play it to understand just how bad it is but then someone might get curious and try to play.
Please do not do that. I don’t want to be responsible for the long term psychology effects this game may have on you and your opinion of both wrestling and video games for years to come.