WWF Warzone on the N64 is a Great Arcade Wrestling game

It feels like I’m the only person who likes or has fond memories of WWF Warzone. All of my memories are of the PS1 version, so I’m looking forward to playing the N64 version for the first time. I know what I’m getting into with this one.

This game is a bridge between arcade wrestling games and simulation games. There isn’t a career mode, but you have a mode similar to fighting games. I like this quite a bit, and I also enjoy the game.

This game isn’t for everyone. It has a strange engine, and some people seem to think you have to open the menu all the time for moves like you’re playing the arcade version of Tag Team Wrestling from the 1980s. Let’s put that aside and go through the game to see what it has to offer.

TLDR: WWF Warzone is a Fun but Janky Wrestling game.

Narrative

There is no storyline here. Like the PS1 game, there is a mode that mimics a career mode but falls short of being one. It is a challenge mode that lets you go through a ladder of opponents, similar to a fighting game.

What makes this similar to a career mode is that your opponents change order every now and then. Grudge matches and rivalries might also occur. It is an awesome addition to the game.

Much like the other arcade wrestling games and the other games from the 1980s and early 1990s, you need to use your imagination to craft a story. It isn’t necessary to enjoy the game, but it would’ve been nice to have one. This style of game was a bit out of date at this point.

Gameplay

The controls are great. It is annoying to open a menu to see what moves you can do, but this isn’t an issue once you learn the button commands. The finishing moves are the only thing I didn’t get a handle on in this game.

When I hear other people talk about this and the other games that use a similar engine, they make it sound like you need to open the menu every time. This isn’t true at all. The menu is there as a reminder in case you forget something.

I will say that the addition of the C buttons is a little rough at times. I prefer the controls in the PS1 version of the game, but the N64 version is still good. It did take me some time to adjust to the N64 controller.

When I was playing this, I used the D-pad instead of the analog stick. I found it easier to control with the D-pad, and it was easier for me to do the moves. This is just a personal preference.

The manual is available online. It is helpful for getting some of the basic information on the game. The controls are explained, but the manual doesn’t go into depth on each move or situation.

The game has a good roster of wrestlers. This was right around the Attitude era’s start, so we have some great choices. Here is a list of the wrestlers:

• Steve Austin
• Shawn Michaels
• Mosh
• Thrasher
• Kane
• Ken Shamrock
• The Undertaker
• Owen Hart
• Brett Hart
• Ahmed Johnson
• The Rock
• Mankind
• Triple H
• Goldust
• Faarooq
• British Bulldog

There is also a create-a-wrestler mode. This is fun to play around with and it can help to make a storyline for yourself. While there isn’t a career mode, you have a lot of options. Here is a list of the game modes:

• Challenge
• Versus
• Tag Team
• Cage
• Weapons
• Royal Rumble
• Gauntlet

There are some options available for each of these modes. If you want to experience most of them, try the challenge mode. I did this for this review.

I like the gameplay in WWF Warzone. It isn’t for everyone and better wrestling games exist, but there is something about it that I enjoy.

Visuals

The game looks good for an N64 game. It is missing the FMVs, which added a lot to the game, especially the promos other wrestlers would cut on you. Everything else looks good for a game released in the late 1990s.

A serious knock against the game is the lack of cutscenes and full-motion video. It is an understandable concession due to technical restrictions, but the game lost a lot by not having them. The taunting scenes were one of my favorite parts of the PS1 version of the game.

It was great to see each wrestler cut a promo on your character. Not having that in this version of Warzone was a disappointment. Also, the rest of the FMVs had to be cut out.

The rest of the game looks fine. The graphics are what you should expect from a game like this, and they look good. The characters, animations, and ring entrances look very good.

Overall, I like the way the game looks. Its graphics will not blow you away, but they do look good. It is disappointing that the FMVs had to be removed from the game.

8/10. This is probably a time when nostalgia is clouding my vision, but I enjoy this game more than most people. I like the graphics and the controls. It is a fun game but by no means the best.

Pros

• Good Graphics
• Good Controls
• Great Roster
• Plenty of Game Modes

Cons

• No Career Mode
• No FMVs

Conclusion

This was pretty good. I like WWF Warzone more than most people, and this version of the game is close enough to the PS1 version for me. It is missing the FMVs, but everything else is there.

I still prefer the PS1 version of the game. The N64 version is much better than the WCW Nitro game I played earlier. I know other games will suffer from the N64’s technical limitations, and I’ll have to get over it.

At this point, I would rank this one ahead of WCW Nitro. The issues I have with this game are minor overall, and I don’t mind the menu with all its moves. It isn’t like you have to open it up to do a move; it is just there as a reminder of the controls.

If you’re looking for more wrestling posts, check out my review of the PS1 version of WWF Warzone or my rankings of the PS1 wrestling games.