With AKI & THQ getting hold of the WWF license for the upcoming WWF WrestleMania 2000, EA stepped up to grab the WCW license they left behind for their own wrestling game. Instead of trying to directly compete with them, EA decided to go for a more arcade-style gameplay with their fast-paced WCW Mayhem.

WCW Mayhem is very quick, and fun for a quick blast. There aren’t that many moves to pull off, though, so you will see most of the game pretty quickly.

There aren’t a great deal of modes, either, with the biggest variety being the ring designs. You can also take the fights backstage, something I initially didn’t realise, as most wrestling games punish being outside the ring. Here you can find some overpowered weapons for some quick pins.

The create-a-wrestler mode is rather basic, too, with most of the options being some silly designs that only really work if you use the full skin and nothing else. The core game is fun in its simplicity, but there isn’t much here.

Fine

As a one-player game, Mayhem is short-lived. Matches are over too quickly, the stamina/energy bars seem stacked in your favour, and repeating one move is guaranteed to topple any fighter – we won the first ‘Hard’ belt on our first go within 15 minutes. But it’s a worthy multiplayer game, and although not as comprehensive, attractive or lasting as this month’s Wrestlemaina, its fast play makes it an enjoyable wrestler in its own right.

Mark Green, N64 Magazine #38. Review Score: 78%

Remake or remaster?

There are other wrestling games to focus on.

Official ways to get the game.

There is no official way to get WCW Mayhem