WWE Day Of Reckoning 2

WWE Day of Reckoning 2
NTSC cover art, featuring John Cena, Stacy Keibler, and Triple H.
Developer(s)	YUKE's Future Media Creators
Publisher(s)	THQ
Platform(s)	GameCube
Release date	USA August 29, 2005 EUR September 23, 2005 AUS October 7, 2005
Genre(s)	Fighting, Sports
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Teen (T) PEGI: 16+
Media	1 × GameCube Optical Disc

WWE Day of Reckoning 2 is a video game released on the Nintendo Gamecube console by THQ. The sequel to WWE Day of Reckoning, it became a "Player's Choice" game on July 5, 2006. The soundtrack features music by industrial metal group A Dark Halo, who performed two songs in the game including its theme song "Burn It All."

Day of Reckoning 2 features improved graphics over its predecessor, a new strategy-based submission system, and a storyline that allows the player to choose paths. This game was the last wrestling game to ever be released for the Gamecube.

Story

The story continues from where the original left off. The player's character has finally reached the top of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) food chain. It occurs after WrestleMania XX and follows the events of the RAW brand's storyline, regardless of whether the player chose RAW or SmackDown! in the previous game. Evolution has disbanded and the player's character has gained a love interest in WWE Diva Stacy Keibler. However, Triple H somehow found a way to regain the World Heavyweight Championship from the player's character, yet lost it in a controversial match with Chris Jericho and the title is now up for grabs. In an attempt to increase the show's ratings, General Manager Eric Bischoff decides to host a mini-tournament for the World Heavyweight Championship and the finals will be held at WrestleMania 21. The player's character and Triple H prepare for the finals match before Bischoff reports that the belt was stolen. The player advances in the story by gathering information on the whereabouts of the World Title. Eventually, the player's character gets framed for stealing the belt, dumped by Stacy, fired and banned from RAW. However, SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long signs the player's wrestler to a SmackDown! contract. The player's character eventually wins the WWE Championship and later finds out who really stole the title. During the final chapters of the story, Triple H asks the player's wrestler for a title match at WrestleMania in a Last Brand Standing Match for the WWE Championship. Once the player's character wins, the character retains title, Stacy becomes the wrestler's girlfriend again and the wrestler reforges a friendship with Triple H, who by this act of friendship takes possession of the newly-found World Heavyweight Championship.

Overview

Day of Reckoning 2 involves more strategy elements than previous WWE games. The Stamina feature has been made central to gameplay, meaning that during the match wrestlers will lose stamina, reducing the effectiveness of moves and counter accuracy. If all of a wrestler's stamina is drained, the wrestler will be temporarily unresponsive to controller commands and open to attack until the wrestler regains stamina. The higher a wrestler's durability rating, the faster they can regain their stamina.

The submission system was greatly changed from the game's predecessors. Players can perform one of four different submission moves that all come with different consequences. These are Taunt Submission, which lowers your opponent's spirit, Physical Submission, which forces your opponent to submit, Rest Hold Submission, which keeps the opponent pinned to the mat while you regain some stamina, and Drain Submission which drains the opponent of stamina.

Blood has also seen an improvement. There are three stages of blood ranging from a small cut on the forehead, to a "crimson mask" (a faceful of blood), which includes blood on the chest. Each time a wrestler reaches a stage of blood, a considerable amount of stamina is lost, and the wrestler is not able to regain stamina. Blood also drips onto, and temporarily stains, the mat.

Momentum shift and momentum lift return from WWE Day of Reckoning. Only after having low spirit meter for some time will the wrestler enter "Danger" state and be allowed to use a momentum shift. A momentum shift is a last-ditch effort to turn the tables on the opponent and win the match. A momentum shift can only be used once per match.

Momentum lift is used to create a realistic weight difference between light and heavy wrestlers. If a light wrestler tries to lift a heavy wrestler, a meter will appear which the player must fill by button tapping. The overall success of momentum lifts depend on the attacker's strength rating, size of the opponent, size of the attacker, and the attacker's current state of his/her spirit meter.

The developers greatly advanced the game engine, improving the graphics, models and cinematic sequences, while making the engine more efficient. The negative to this, however, was that the loading times increased for matches and the create a wrestler mode. Day of Reckoning 2 is also a pioneer in featuring 3D, albeit highly primitive, audience members.

The Last Man Standing match was also introduced in Day of Reckoning 2. This is employed similar to a TKO yet having a standing, dazed wrestler stumble about while being counted out.

The Create-A-Wrestler (C.A.W) returns in this installment. However, the player cannot transfer their created wrestlers from Day Of Reckoning into this game. In storyline mode, the player must use a CAW. CAWs can also be used for exhibition play. Female CAWs cannot be used for storymode. Female CAWs can only be used for exhibition play except for a Bra and Panties Match.

Roster

In-game arenas

Weekly shows

• RAW
• SmackDown
• Sunday Night HEAT
• Velocity

Pay-per-view events

See also

• WWE video games
• List of fighting games

External links

• WWE Day of Reckoning 2 at THQ.com