WWF Road To Wrestlemania (GBA) (WWF Road To Wrestlemania (GBA))

Member Name: thole09

Product:	WWF Road To Wrestlemania (GBA)
Date:	07/06/09 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gameplay, Graphics

Disadvantages: Audio

"WWF Road to Wrestlemania" is a video game released for the Gameboy Advance console in 2001 by THQ. It is a sports game with professional wrestling being represented. In the United States, the game received a rating of "E" by the ESRB panel which deemed it suitable for all ages.

Road to Wrestlemania marked the first WWF/WWE branded video game on the Gameboy Advance console. The game sports a variety of gameplay modes, including a quick exhibition mode and a versus mode which allows up to four players to connect by use of an optional game link cable for head-to-head action, but the bulk of the gameplay experience is held within the story mode. The story mode is very basic and has been seen throughout many of the professional wrestling video games released to date. Here, the player must first select a wrestler and battle against a roster of opponents to claim the world heavyweight championship. The player has access to a roster of 24 wrestlers with popular names to include Jeff Hardy, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H and The Undertaker. I found the controls to be quite responsive and did not suffer from any obvious slow down during more intense play. They are also quite simple to learn with the "A" button controlling strikes, "B" button initiating a tie-up and "R" grabbing a folding chair or other suitable object from outside the ring.

The graphics are presented from a top side perspective which focuses on the action in the ring. The majority of the arena is visible and this renders the appearance of the wrestlers to be somewhat small. I was able to distinguish clearly between the wrestlers but found some of their facial detailing to be poor. Costume and ring attire seems to be the only way to differentiate between the wrestlers, but are missing some finer points such as the stars and stripes on Kurt Angle's singlet or the flames on Kane's butcher tights. The game also includes a full stand of spectators who each jump and jive with the goings-on in the ring. The soundtrack is somewhat lacking with one generic rock theme and an assortment of grunts and "crashing" sounds when wrestling with an opponent.

Overall, Road to Wrestlemania is a good release which would likely appeal to professional wrestling fans. It offers a suitable play to the handheld market looking to take their favourite superstars on in a portable form but is not quite as advanced as more technologically superior releases for other consoles.

Summary: Thumbs up