Wrestlemania XXI Roster Revealed

[Reflecto Is My Favorite Poster]

This roster really makes you miss some factors of the Raw games: Sure, the gameplay was the drizzling shits, but it had that x-factor in which virtually EVERYONE was in the game. The action may have sucked, but it was counteracted by the fact that it led to a game of "Who was the biggest 'name' (i.e. WWE/WCW experience) who HASN'T appeared in a video game [iIRC, the current benchmark is Johnny Stamboli...])?" Having an X-Box game go down to this few after two games of 60-70 wrestlers is a total shame, and the fact that things don't look like they'll be much better than Raw was makes it worse.

[KussenKDogg2]

The roster looks shit like usual. I'll rent this one when it comes out and see if it's any good. Is there anything special that is going to appear in the game? .

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[Media 2.0]

Really kinda makes you wonder how they decide who to include in the roster for these games. Seems like the past several wrestling games for aALL systems have been lacking a little in the roster department. Of course, there's always create-a-wrestler, but it still doesn't quite make up for not having champions and major characters there in the first place.

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[SeanDMan]

Eh. They all look alike.

Didn't somebody get supspended for like 2 weeks or something for that kind of remark!? Suspension!!

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It took you guys like 12 hours to be offended by that. You are all failures as human beings.

(But Booker does look pretty generic and his hair is absolutely terrible, all loaded comments aside)

[KussenKDogg2]

I just don't get why Jazz and Nidia can legally be put in there. Either way, the game looks good putside of roster, so maybe we'll get lucky, as long as the CAW is good, who cares about the roster.

And on the topic of CAW, why did people say Raw 2's CAW was good, it was awful and limited, and the only good thing was CAE. DOR has, by far, the best CAW ever as of now though...

[zero]

I just don't get why Jazz and Nidia can legally be put in there.  Either way, the game looks good putside of roster, so maybe we'll get lucky, as long as the CAW is good, who cares about the roster.

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Because I'm sure when you sign a WWE contract, there's a clause that gives them an extra amount of time after your release to be used in merchandise.

[Mick]

I just don't get why Jazz and Nidia can legally be put in there.  Either way, the game looks good putside of roster, so maybe we'll get lucky, as long as the CAW is good, who cares about the roster.

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Because I'm sure when you sign a WWE contract, there's a clause that gives them an extra amount of time after your release to be used in merchandise.

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That or the WWE can pretty much do whatever they want.

I find it interesting that they're putting Bret in the games so many years after Montreal...

[KussenKDogg2]

I just don't get why Jazz and Nidia can legally be put in there.  Either way, the game looks good putside of roster, so maybe we'll get lucky, as long as the CAW is good, who cares about the roster.

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Because I'm sure when you sign a WWE contract, there's a clause that gives them an extra amount of time after your release to be used in merchandise.

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[apsham]

Or time, or you know, human deceny.

Oh wait, I forgot, i'm still supposed to be crying about Bret.

[KussenKDogg2]

Or time, or you know, human deceny.

Oh wait, I forgot, i'm still supposed to be crying about Bret.

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[apsham]

Boo-hoo, Bret wasn't a saint... you know what, there's no need even trying.

[KussenKDogg2]

Never said he was, and never said he was right, just saying you'd think they'd make a sincere effort to fix things...

[Big Tuna]

Does anyone in Canada actually hate Michaels for the Screwjob? Around here, no one cares. Although, chanting "You Screwed Bret" at Earl Hebner is quite fun.

[LL!]

Gaaaaaaaawd, when will they stop adding HLA into these games.

...

[KussenKDogg2]

When people stop being attracted to women. Remember, lonely guys don't know the difference between the real thing and those in a game, duh!

[Blitz]

Everyone these days have the same movesets. That's probably why rosters aren't as big as they used to be. Heck, does Gene Snitsky even have a trademark move? How about La Resistance? Orlando Jordan? WWE is depressing now-a-days.

[Media 2.0]

Everyone these days have the same movesets.  That's probably why rosters aren't as big as they used to be.  Heck, does Gene Snitsky even have a trademark move?  How about La Resistance?  Orlando Jordan?  WWE is depressing now-a-days.

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[MalaCloudy Black]

*starts Brawler chant*

Seriously though, I think I'd have more fun (and diversity >_>) playing Smackdown! 2.

[KussenKDogg2]

*starts Brawler chant*

Seriously though, I think I'd have more fun (and diversity >_>) playing Smackdown! 2.

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[The Kraig]

On Tuesday March 8th THQ will be relasing the first X-Box WWE Title since 2003. The former X-box series Raw which was developed by Anchor the makers of the UFC series was scrapped and the entore team was fired after Raw 2 was released. THQ just didnt see any progress in the series so they decided to go into there bag of tricks and higher Stuido Giante. Giante is run by former Mortal Kombat Co-Creator John Tobias and where the force behind X-box Title Taoe Fang and Brute Force. Tobias has background in the fighting game industry so this makes his team perfect for this sort of thing.

Wrestlemania 21 is unlike any WWE game every released. Dont expect it to be anything like the Smackdown series and its far from being anything like the former Raw series. WM 21 is a game of its own. The developers have worked hard to make it the most realistc WWE game to date. Many fans feal that the Smackdown series is far to unrealistic and fast in game play so Giante has decided to go a different route and what we get is a nice paced simulator that looks to be the best WWE title in years.

Outside the ring WM21 offers a career mode where you can take a created superstar and raise them for newbie to World Champ. Unlike the chaotic and somewhat senseless Raw 2 career mode WM21 is heavily scripted. Think of it more like Def Jam: Fight for NY which very deliberate cut-scenes, and specific rivalries that blossom through the course of play. It doesnt hurt that the superstars all lend their voices to make the locker room chatter all the more believable.

The ring entrances have all been motion captured and the realism is something that must been seen to be belived. Whats so great about them is the fact that the wrestlers dont just walk to the ring but when you watch them they have a feal of being alive and every little detail about there entrance has been captured.

As we reported before the roster boast some superstars never seen in a WWE title before. former WWE Diva Jazz even though she was released recently still makes the cut and this is her first appearence in a WWE title yet, But the one that everyone is dropping the jaws over is the first inclusion of one of Raws most popular and loved superstars Eugene. Many fans were upset that Eugene was left out of Smackdown vs Raw for the PS2 and now X-Box owners are the first to get him in a title and Giante has done a great job of making sure he is 100% authentic.

The control system is pretty simple, allowing for four types of grapples using just two of the face buttons (by either tapping or holding A or B). Because the controls are so easy it doesn't take long before you can star pulling off just about any move in your superstars repertoire. The majority of signature moves from each star can be found along with two different finishers which can be engaged by hitting A and B when your Heat Meter is full.

There's a lot of good to be found in WM21. All of the standard weapons such as crowbars and chairs can be pulled from under the apron along with numerous other tools of the trade which can be purchased at the Superstore with cash earned from victories. There are several different rope moves and rope physics are pretty solid creating a greater sense of realism than the Raw series. Perhaps the biggest aid is the graphics which rival anything seen in previously wrestlers. The lighting helps characterize each arena the blood drenches clothing, even hair. There are realistic facial expressions, and excellent animations some of which continue to amaze.

WWE Wrestlemania 21 is on track to offer the most realistic WWE experience avilable today. Look for a full review by yours truly soon after the game is realsed on March 8th.

Partial Information Credit goes to IGN.com