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The wrestling genre has changed quite a bit since its first appearance in the Arcades in 1984. Tag Team Wrestling was quite a fun game. When it was ported to the NES in 1987, little if any of the fun factor was sacrificed. This was the beginning of console wrestling. At the time, the gameplay was rather simple yet very effective. However, it wasn't long before it was strayed from. Tag Team Wrestling sported a "first guy to the punch" style in which after a clinch, the wrestler who initiated would have to scroll through highlighted moves, then clicking on the desired move before the allotted time of three seconds was over.

A few years later wrestling games were showing off what was to be a lasting style of gameplay in the wrestling genre. No longer was the initiator of the clinch at any advantage, rather now it was a matter of button pressing (A Track and Field style that awarded the fastest fingers). This was the style for over a decade and a paradigm that all publishers seemed to follow. This trend continued until a new breed of wrestling games surfaced in the Late 1990s fusing the wrestling genre with the popularity of the real life professional wrestling licenses. WWF Attitude is an example of the new breed of wrestling games.

Presentation/Graphics : 85
Upon powering up at are we are treated to a fantastic introduction. A blistering tune rips us into a fierce, fast sequence of video clips displaying all of the slams and smackdowns of the real life WWF. This intro will get even non-wrestling fans pumped up and ready for action.

WWF Attitude appears to sport a rather high budget. The result is a presentation that is above average, including audio and visual effects to be admired. At the title screen things are easy to read and in your face. Once embarking on a match it is impossible not to notice the complete digitization of every wrestler included in the game. At the start of the game one is able to select from 30 wrestlers. Each looks like his real life counterpart, and moves with a motion capture style that is fairly impressive.

The detail put into each character is vast. The actual faces are digitized on to a polygonal model. Every tattoo, streak of makeup, facial expression, and kneepad is present. This makes for a very real look while you are standing still, yet when walking around your character will at times look like an action figure put together by a mad scientist.

The problem lies in the fluidity and speed of the movements. Any still frame taken of this game would look incredible, while the in game graphical fluidity leaves much to be desired.

The arena is nicely done. You have the option to customize its look, from the padding to the ring apron. The crowd is impressive as well being comprised of knuckleheads from all walks of life. Many fans can be seen sporting signs and cheering on their particular wrestler. The background splits the stands, and in the center a path leads backstage. This is where each wrestler will make his entrance. Some entrances are more glamorous than others--once again, the individual's real life entrance is closely modeled.

Presentation/Audio : 80
Each character's voice has also been sampled, this adds as a real attention-getter to hardcore WWF fans. "Can you smmmmmeeeeeeeeeelllllll……what the Rock….is cookin?", amongst other popular phrases are represented in full force. Each character is responsible for roughly a dozen sound samples, thus offering a great variety in words spoken. The announcers of the action are more obnoxious than ever, spouting the words "idiot" and "moron" as if it were second nature. At times this chatter can be hilarious, at its worst it's still entertaining.

There is no music during the game, but the pre-game intro music is hardcore to say the least. Most of the other sounds you will hear are dull thuds and slams, along with an occasional chant from the crowd. At times it can be inspiring but when viewed as a whole, nothing but the sounds of the wrestlers' voices and ringside announcers voices will impress you. This genre doesn't lend itself well to actual sound effects.

Interface/Options : 95
At the title screen there are a number of routes one can take in this option filled mayhem. The main styles of play are Exhibition, Career mode, King of the Ring, or a Pay-per-view. Exhibition allows you to explore various other options in an exhibition bout. Career mode is as it sounds; you are enabled to embark on a career. King of the ring is a contest that is structured in tournament style with up to eight players. In the Pay per view mode you are able to select numerous matches while configuring your very own pay per view event.

Rather than explain all the various options, it is far easier to say that anything, and any fight or match style that you have seen in the WWF is here to be enjoyed in this game. Every type of match is available including royal rumble, king of the ring, battle royal, steel cage match, 2-on-1, tornado, lumberjack, gauntlet, tag team gauntlet, survivor series, war, stable match, triangle, triple threat, and hardcore matches. Whew!

This title makes for great four-player fun. I have rarely, if ever, seen such detail in the modes of play of a wrestling game. Standing out are the ability to toggle adult/child options that allow for a more extreme experience. The language borderlines on offensive and the blood and gore are over the top.

An option deciding how matches are won or lost (one that wrestling games need more of) is featured in all its glory in WWF Attitude. You are able to dictate whether a pin, submission, count out, or first blood drawn is the declarative factor required for victory. At the tile screen there are a number of routes one can take in this option filled mayhem. The main styles of play are Exhibition, Career mode, King of the Ring, or a Pay-per-view. Exhibition allows you to explore various other options in an exhibition bout. Career mode is as it sounds; you are enabled to embark on a career. King of the ring is a contest that is structured in tournament style with up to eight players. In the Pay per view mode you are able to select numerous matches while configuring your very own pay per view event. Rather than explain all the various options, it is far easier to say that anything, and any fight or match style that you have seen in the WWF is here to be enjoyed in this game. Every type of match is available including royal rumble, king of the ring, battle royal, steel cage match, 2-on-1, tornado, lumberjack, gauntlet, tag team gauntlet, survivor series, war, stable match, triangle, triple threat, and hardcore matches. Whew! This title makes for great four-player fun. I have rarely, if ever, seen such detail in the modes of play of a wrestling game. Standing out are the ability to toggle adult/child options that allow for a more extreme experience. The language borderlines on offensive and the blood and gore are over the top. An option deciding how matches are won or lost (one that wrestling games need more of) is featured in all its glory in WWF Attitude. You are able to dictate whether a pin, submission, count out, or first blood drawn is the declarative factor required for victory. The last and arguably greatest feature that comes to mind is the extremely in depth create-a-wrestler option. Tattoos, war paint, headgear, clothing, body hair and everything down to the eyes, nose, and mouth can be edited. This allows for virtually an unlimited number of variations in a created wrestler. Once he exists, consider him part of the crew for he is able to partake in any and all events that the other wrestlers are able to. The last and arguably greatest feature that comes to mind is the extremely in depth create-a-wrestler option. Tattoos, war paint, headgear, clothing, body hair and everything down to the eyes, nose, and mouth can be edited. This allows for virtually an unlimited number of variations in a created wrestler. Once he exists, consider him part of the crew for he is able to partake in any and all events that the other wrestlers are able to.

Gameplay :60
All too frequently we have seen great-playing games suffer from a lack of playable options. This is a case of the exact opposite. If there are any complaints to be heard about WWF Attitude, they are surrounding its play mechanics. The game can often play out in a slow, monotonous fashion. Novice players will no doubt find themselves repetitively kicking and punching, every so often perhaps grappling the opponent into an all too common arm bar. All other moves will evade novice wrestlers, for a new system of gameplay is upon us, and it is unclear whether or not we are better off for it.

Gone are the past styles of move selection and/or button pressing. Now one must execute moves in a fashion similar to many fighting games. Moving the joystick left, left, right, left, then pressing the "A" button will result in a body slam. Many variations of directional presses will result in a variety of moves; however, not nearly as many moves as one would expect since the move selection has been changed to a style which lends itself very well to a vast number of moves.

The feel of the game is not at all equal to the fluidity of even the worst playing fighters, and the number of executable moves is way too limited. Given the fact that there are so few executable moves, it leaves one to wonder what the deciding factor was in altering the play mechanics of past wrestlers. Perhaps if moves were incredibly large in number this new style of inputting move commands would be welcomed. As it stands now it is simply overly difficult and tiresome.

Aside from questionable play mechanics, the speed of the game and characters themselves is extremely slow. With all of the available options, there is none to increase the game speed. Play is methodical and uninspired. Even when you have mastered the special moves and are able to execute them on a regular basis, you will still be hard pressed to find lasting enjoyment in the actual gameplay. Gamers who once were enthusiastic about going out of the ring, climbing to the top rope, and flinging their opponent against the ropes are now left standing in one spot the majority of the time simply wiggling the gamepad back and forth.

The actual running of your wrestler is a joke; he barely breaks into a stride. When whipping an opponent into the ropes, one is left to stare in amazement at the apparent stiffness and lack of action. The ring is far too small, or at least the actual playing surface seems cramped even when including the outer ring area. There is no feeling of freedom whatsoever, a feeling that is sorely missed from past wrestlers such as Superstar Wrestling from Nintendo. In fact, going all the way back to the origins of the genre, it was freedom of movement and out of the ring antics which made the genre fun. Now it appears as if the WWF licensing, digitization, and audio samples is where a great deal of the fun lie. Sad to think it's little more than advertisement and familiarity that drive younger gamers to love this game, and not gameplay.

Yes, every wrestler's finishing move is included but this does little to please most hard core gamers who are disappointed with the game's mechanics and limited move selection. This game stripped of its licensing would bomb.

Replay Value : 80
With four players the average teen fan of the WWF might well find great enjoyment out of this game. The casual fan and hardcore gamer will be hard pressed to enjoy this title for any length of time. The career mode is good, and there are plenty of options to keep you going if you are capable of living with the play mechanics. If it's simply challenge you are looking for, WWF Attitude is a worthy adversary. Gamers who make it past the first three days with this game and still like it should find a great deal of replay value in it. They might even play the game often and with many friends who enjoy the WWF antics. Most, however, will take an immediate dislike to its cramped, stiff, unplayable feel. For those gamers, this game will not present more than one full day of replay value.

Overall : 69
The long awaited wrestling game that most hard core gamers are waiting for is not yet upon us. With the WWF and the WCW come licensing (advertising), rushed games, aesthetic appeal and sheer garbage. Perhaps in time a publisher will make a title that plays as well as it looks. At the time it seems that the popular WWF name alone is enough to sell games. This trend may continue but will surely end once a great playing grappler game is introduced to the next generation. The fact remains that for nearly ten years there has been very little offered as far as a great playing wrestler. This remains true even though there certainly have been great playing wrestling titles in the past. It's just a matter of time before the game buying public catches on (I hope).