WWF WrestleMania 2000
Encyclopedia
WWF WrestleMania 2000 is a professional wrestling
video game released in 1999
(2000
in Japan
) on the Nintendo 64
(N64) console
. It was based on the World Wrestling Federation's annual pay-per-view
, WrestleMania
. Released at the height of the WWF's Attitude Era
, WrestleMania 2000 marked the start of THQ
's relationship with the WWF. The wrestling company ended its long relationship with Acclaim Entertainment
after witnessing the video game success of its competitor, World Championship Wrestling
, on behalf of THQ.
The game would be succeeded by WWF No Mercy
in 2000
. Its Japanese counterpart was Virtual Pro Wrestling 2: Ōdō Keishō.
. More than 50 WWF wrestlers were included in the game, and, with the exception of existing superstars' move sets, all of them can be edited to the player's liking. Using the same system, the Create-a-Wrestler mode is extensive. The player is able to create a highly detailed wrestler with an extensive library of wrestling moves. Usual WWF modes such as Royal Rumble
and King of the Ring
modes are included, along with a pay-per-view mode, enabling the player to either recreate or create unique pay-per-view
s with TV
-style features. Players can also create up to ten belts and put them up for contest.
The story mode places the player on the long road to WWF glory. Starting out as a rookie, the player gradually works his way up the ladder and earns opportunities to gain various WWF titles, win various tournaments, be challenged by various wrestlers and ultimately main-event at WrestleMania 2000
. Although the story mode is long and extensive in the amount of matches it pits the player in, there are no branching story lines and if the player loses a match it is simply recorded as a loss in their win-loss record. In fact, wrestlers are expected to defend each title in Pay-Per-View events. For example, if one holds the European Championship
, Intercontinental Championship, WWF Tag Team Championship, and the WWF Title, the player must defend all four in one pay-per-view event, something that would be unrealistic in real-life.
There are often feuds at different parts in the storyline, occasionally with one wrestler calling out another wrestler in the ring. Also, feuding wrestlers often interrupt matches, helping the opponent. However, the season continues whether or not the player wins or loses matches. If the player progresses through a winning season with a created wrestler and then starts a new season as a new created wrestler, the first character will still be used in season mode.
The game features several arenas that WWF held events at in 1998 and 1999. There are also arenas based on each WWF television show, such as the Sunday Night Heat, Raw is War, and Wrestlemania stages.
This was the first WWF game to allow players to edit their favorite superstars, i.e. putting the Big Boss Man in Ken Shamrock's trunks, and also being able to create alternate attires for each wrestler as each character in the game has four templates that can be individually edited and switched between using the left and right 'C' buttons. If the player make changes that he or she doesn't like, a default button puts the original costume in the slot they were using. It was also the first THQ produced Nintendo 64 title to make use of a "Create a Wrestler" option.
In addition to the numerous default and secret characters, several other realistic likenesses and movesets in the create-a-wrestler mode make it possible to add even more characters. Some examples include The Road Warriors
, Hulk Hogan
, TAKA Michinoku, and Davey Boy Smith
. Also, some taunts and move sets were carried over from WCW/nWo Revenge
, allowing the player to create and include WCW wrestlers such as Goldberg
, Kevin Nash
, Scott Hall
, Diamond Dallas Page
, and Macho Man Randy Savage
. The drawback to the create-a-wrestler mode is the fact that there are limited slots available due to memory space, but players can edit the individual templates in the character models to include four different characters with separate appearances which allows a great deal of flexibility. However, wrestler in the same template are forced to have the same moves.
Additionally, by making two superstars' entrance music the same, if they are a real-life tag team they will be introduced as such; for instance, matching the Road Dogg and Mr. Ass's themes would lead to them being introduced together as The New Age Outlaws before a tag team match.
Also, some features are implemented in the game that weren't seen in WCW/nWo Revenge, such as a Cage Match and a First Blood mode. Reversals and counter moves were also made much more common place.
flipping off an opponent or Mr. Ass mooning another wrestler. Also, by pressing in a different direction on the joystick, a different taunt is performed. Rotating the joystick counter clock wise results in the player mimicking his opponent's taunt.
. At the end of the ad, he threatens to shove copies of the game up Santa Claus
"candy-ass."
Some copies of WWF WrestleMania 2000 shipped with a special card containing four holograms of the in game action, such as a wrestler's entrance or finishing move.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
video game released in 1999
1999 in video gaming
-Events:*British Academy of Film and Television Arts hosts the 2nd annual BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards*March – Game Over republished as “Game Over: Press Start to Continue”...
(2000
2000 in video gaming
-Events:* May 11–13 — 6th annual Electronic Entertainment Expo ; the 3rd annual Game Critics Awards for the Best of E³* June 26 — International Game Developers Association renamed from Computer Game Developers Association...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
) on the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
(N64) console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
. It was based on the World Wrestling Federation's annual pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
, WrestleMania
WrestleMania
WrestleMania is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced annually in late March or early April by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut...
. Released at the height of the WWF's Attitude Era
The Attitude Era
The Attitude Era was a period in World Wrestling Federation and professional wrestling history that began as a direct result of the Monday Night Wars, a television ratings conflict between the WWF and longtime rival promotion World Championship Wrestling that lasted from 1995 to 2001...
, WrestleMania 2000 marked the start of THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
's relationship with the WWF. The wrestling company ended its long relationship with Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment was an American video game developer and publisher. It developed, published, marketed and distributed interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms, including Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Game Gear, Nintendo's NES, SNES, Nintendo...
after witnessing the video game success of its competitor, World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
, on behalf of THQ.
The game would be succeeded by WWF No Mercy
WWF No Mercy
WWF No Mercy is a professional wrestling video game released in 2000 on the Nintendo 64 console and published by THQ. It is named after the World Wrestling Federation annual pay-per-view event of the same name. No Mercy is the follow-up to 1999's WWF WrestleMania 2000, and the last WWF game...
in 2000
2000 in video gaming
-Events:* May 11–13 — 6th annual Electronic Entertainment Expo ; the 3rd annual Game Critics Awards for the Best of E³* June 26 — International Game Developers Association renamed from Computer Game Developers Association...
. Its Japanese counterpart was Virtual Pro Wrestling 2: Ōdō Keishō.
Gameplay
WrestleMania 2000 uses the game engine previously seen in WCW/nWo RevengeWCW/nWo Revenge
WCW/nWo Revenge is a professional wrestling video game released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64 game console. It is the sequel to 1997's WCW vs. nWo: World Tour and would be THQ's last game for World Championship Wrestling...
. More than 50 WWF wrestlers were included in the game, and, with the exception of existing superstars' move sets, all of them can be edited to the player's liking. Using the same system, the Create-a-Wrestler mode is extensive. The player is able to create a highly detailed wrestler with an extensive library of wrestling moves. Usual WWF modes such as Royal Rumble
Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced every January by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut. The event was created in 1988, with its inaugural event taking place on January 24, 1988 at the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario...
and King of the Ring
King of the Ring
King of the Ring is a professional wrestling single-elimination tournament held by WWE. The tournament was held annually from 1985 to 2002, with the exception of 1990 and 1992, and from 1993 to 2002 the tournament was produced as a pay-per-view event....
modes are included, along with a pay-per-view mode, enabling the player to either recreate or create unique pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
s with TV
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
-style features. Players can also create up to ten belts and put them up for contest.
The story mode places the player on the long road to WWF glory. Starting out as a rookie, the player gradually works his way up the ladder and earns opportunities to gain various WWF titles, win various tournaments, be challenged by various wrestlers and ultimately main-event at WrestleMania 2000
WrestleMania 2000
WrestleMania 2000 was the sixteenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on April 2, 2000 at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California...
. Although the story mode is long and extensive in the amount of matches it pits the player in, there are no branching story lines and if the player loses a match it is simply recorded as a loss in their win-loss record. In fact, wrestlers are expected to defend each title in Pay-Per-View events. For example, if one holds the European Championship
European Championship
-List:Athletics* European Athletics ChampionshipsAustralian rules football* EU CupAuto racing* European Championship * European Formula Two Championship * European Touring Car Championship...
, Intercontinental Championship, WWF Tag Team Championship, and the WWF Title, the player must defend all four in one pay-per-view event, something that would be unrealistic in real-life.
There are often feuds at different parts in the storyline, occasionally with one wrestler calling out another wrestler in the ring. Also, feuding wrestlers often interrupt matches, helping the opponent. However, the season continues whether or not the player wins or loses matches. If the player progresses through a winning season with a created wrestler and then starts a new season as a new created wrestler, the first character will still be used in season mode.
Features
This was the first WWF game to allow players to edit their favorite superstars, i.e. putting the Big Boss Man in Ken Shamrock's trunks, and also being able to create alternate attires for each wrestler as each character in the game has four templates that can be individually edited and switched between using the left and right 'C' buttons. If the player make changes that he or she doesn't like, a default button puts the original costume in the slot they were using. It was also the first THQ produced Nintendo 64 title to make use of a "Create a Wrestler" option.
In addition to the numerous default and secret characters, several other realistic likenesses and movesets in the create-a-wrestler mode make it possible to add even more characters. Some examples include The Road Warriors
Road Warriors
The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team composed of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis. They performed under the name "Road Warriors" in the American Wrestling Association, the National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling, and the name Legion...
, Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
, TAKA Michinoku, and Davey Boy Smith
Davey Boy Smith
Davey Boy Smith was a British professional wrestler, better known as "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith, who was born in Golborne in North West England, United Kingdom. Smith is known for his appearances with Stampede Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling...
. Also, some taunts and move sets were carried over from WCW/nWo Revenge
WCW/nWo Revenge
WCW/nWo Revenge is a professional wrestling video game released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64 game console. It is the sequel to 1997's WCW vs. nWo: World Tour and would be THQ's last game for World Championship Wrestling...
, allowing the player to create and include WCW wrestlers such as Goldberg
Bill Goldberg
Goldberg earned a scholarship to play for the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team where he served as a defensive tackle. He was taken in the 11th round, with the 302nd overall selection, in the 1990 NFL Draft....
, Kevin Nash
Kevin Nash
Kevin Scott Nash is an American professional wrestler and actor. As of 2011, Nash is signed to a five year contract with WWE under their WWE Legends program and appears as part of their Raw brand roster...
, Scott Hall
Scott Hall
Scott Hall is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation in the early and mid 1990s under the ring name Razor Ramon, as well as for his period in the mid 1990s and early 2000s with World Championship Wrestling under his real name...
, Diamond Dallas Page
Diamond Dallas Page
Dallas Page , better known by his ring name "Diamond" Dallas Page , is an American retired professional wrestler, fitness instructor and actor...
, and Macho Man Randy Savage
Randy Savage
Randall Mario Poffo , better known by his ring name "Macho Man" Randy Savage, was an American professional wrestler, best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling .Savage held twenty championships during his professional wrestling career and was a...
. The drawback to the create-a-wrestler mode is the fact that there are limited slots available due to memory space, but players can edit the individual templates in the character models to include four different characters with separate appearances which allows a great deal of flexibility. However, wrestler in the same template are forced to have the same moves.
Additionally, by making two superstars' entrance music the same, if they are a real-life tag team they will be introduced as such; for instance, matching the Road Dogg and Mr. Ass's themes would lead to them being introduced together as The New Age Outlaws before a tag team match.
Also, some features are implemented in the game that weren't seen in WCW/nWo Revenge, such as a Cage Match and a First Blood mode. Reversals and counter moves were also made much more common place.
Signature taunts
In WWF Wrestlemania 2000, many players have their signature taunts, such as Stone Cold Steve AustinStone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
flipping off an opponent or Mr. Ass mooning another wrestler. Also, by pressing in a different direction on the joystick, a different taunt is performed. Rotating the joystick counter clock wise results in the player mimicking his opponent's taunt.
Advertising and release
In a TV commercial promoting the game, The Rock becomes furious at how the game includes his name, likeness, and move-setEstate (law)
An estate is the net worth of a person at any point in time. It is the sum of a person's assets - legal rights, interests and entitlements to property of any kind - less all liabilities at that time. The issue is of special legal significance on a question of bankruptcy and death of the person...
. At the end of the ad, he threatens to shove copies of the game up Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
"candy-ass."
Some copies of WWF WrestleMania 2000 shipped with a special card containing four holograms of the in game action, such as a wrestler's entrance or finishing move.