ECW Hardcore Revolution
First ECW wrestling game with a Mature rating.
ECW Hardcore Revolution is a professional wrestling video game based on Extreme Championship Wrestling, released by Acclaim Entertainment in 2000 for multiple platforms. It was the first wrestling game to feature ECW and the first professional wrestling video game to receive a Mature rating from the ESRB, though the Game Boy Color version was rated Everyone. Acclaim later released a sequel, ECW Anarchy Rulz, in August 2000.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Acclaim Studios Salt Lake City, Crawfish Interactive (GBC)
- Publisher
- Acclaim Entertainment
- Platforms
- Game Boy Color
- Nintendo 64
- PlayStation
- Dreamcast
- Genre
- Sports
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Director
- Rick Dearr
- Designer
- Scott Shicoff
- Tim Huntsman
- Jeff Robinson
- Programmer
- Daren Smith
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Gameplay in ECW Hardcore Revolution is identical to that of WWF Attitude, with ECW images replacing all WWE-owned material and the same match rules retained. Two or more participants try to meet win conditions by reducing an opponent's health through successful attacks and reversals. A pin occurs when a player holds a downed opponent's shoulders to the mat for a three-count, valid only inside the ring and voided if interrupted or if either player touches the ropes. Submission holds force a weakened opponent to give up under the same conditions as pin attempts. A count out happens when a player leaves the ring and the referee silently counts to ten; the count resets each time a player exits, and all players outside at ten lose, though this rarely occurred in ECW. A TKO eliminates a player whose health meter is fully depleted, but this option must be turned on in utilities. If time expires, a Decree of ECW uses a three-point system: first comparing remaining health, then successful attacks, taunts and reversals, and finally the lowest player number. A DQ occurs only if a human-controlled player wins after calling for an ally. Most main characters were ECW performers and staff from the time of production, with some who had left included as unlockable content; jobber characters are loosely based on other ECW or Acclaim staff or are fictional.
Reception
The Nintendo 64 and PlayStation versions received mixed reviews, while the Dreamcast and Game Boy Color versions received unfavorable reviews according to GameRankings. Critics praised Joey Styles' commentary and the use of weapons, but many criticized Revolution for being a near copy of its predecessors WWF Attitude and War Zone, merely covering over everything with ECW wrestlers and themes rather than reflecting ECW's unique style. Daniel Erickson of NextGen gave negative reviews to both the Dreamcast and Nintendo 64 versions, calling the latter one of the few games to inspire active anger and hate, and the former a blatant insult to wrestling fans and Dreamcast owners. Lamchop of GamePro said of the PlayStation version that if a player liked Attitude and was a big ECW fan, they would like Hardcore Revolution, but there was little evolution. Lou Gubrious stated that the same console version was designed for those who liked WWF Attitude and wanted an ECW game, while non-wrestling fans might prefer a less-complex grappler. Jake The Snake remarked that the Nintendo 64 version was so much like Attitude that players should stick with the latter unless they were huge ECW fans. The D-Pad Destroyer noted that Attitude fans who dig ECW might want to look at it, but Acclaim's difficult and bland engine was showing its age. Lamchop later said the Dreamcast version was not an improvement over Attitude, heading in the other direction with less-popular wrestlers and done-this-before gameplay.
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