People sometimes fail to grasp just how big Pro Wrestling was in the 90’s. The WWF and WCW Monday night War ignited a span of creativity that pushed wrestling right into popular culture. The eighties had Hulk Hogan, but the rise of what would eventually be called the Attitude Era made wrestling the talk of the world. Video games had always been a part of wrestling, and in 1999, Acclaim released what would be their last WWF game. WWF Attitude laid the foundation for future games.
The purpose of the game is simple. Select your favorite wrestler and try to win against your opponent. There were many different match types, including First Blood and I Quit. You could create your own pay-per-view and create what matches that you wanted to see. You could even create a wrestler and try and climb the ranks in an new career mode. The game offered different play styles for different gamers.
Wrestling had moved away from the cartoon figures of the past at this time, and WWF Attitude followed suit. The entrance videos and music were the actual ones from the shows. This gave the game a heightened sense of realism. The commentary was from two members of the WWF roster. This game was as close to the real thing as you could get at the time.
Career modes in sports games are standard, but this game was the first wrestling game to include it. There was something cool about starting in the house shows and trying to get on the big events. Any fan of WWF will tell you that they want to be a part of the action. The fact that you could create a wrestler and then have them rise to the top was fascinating. Fans sometimes like to say that they could create a great show, and WWF Attitude asked them to prove it.
As stated above, WWF Attitude was the last wrestling game for Acclaim. The WWF would move on to THQ and then to the 2K brand. It’s legacy stretches far from the older consoles it was designed for. Fans always want more and this game allowed them to flex their creative muscles. There is a somber note, as this game was the last to feature Owen Hart after his tragic death. WWF Attitude showed that when given more, fans will play games in my different ways.
