October 4, 1999 Web posted at: 2:55 p.m. EDT (1855 GMT) by The Freshman

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(IDG) -- Electronic Arts enters the N64 ring with WCW Mayhem, a newcomer with a very promising future. With its emphasis on presentation and ease of play, this rookie has the moves to tackle the big guys.

No Holds Barred
EA seems to understand that wrestling is all about the show. You choose from a pool of over 50 WCW wrestlers and take them into any of the 15 WCW Pay Per View and television arenas, trying to please the crowd and gather momentum as you pound your opponent into goo. With its immersive sound and exciting visual presentation, Mayhem is all about momentum.

If you're a WCW fan, you'll be pleased by the way matches are presented. Mean Gene Okerlund announces each match over the PA system, then your wrestler walks out to his own theme music and the comments of WCW announcer Tony Schiavone. You'll really feel like you're on television, battling the giants of the WCW. And with Mayhem's Create A Wrestler feature, you can create a brawler and beat up on those wrestlers you know and hate from TV. You can even take the fight outside, in 13 backstage areas ranging from the ticket hall to the men's bathroom.

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N64 Mayhem
The superstars of the WCW have never looked better, with good character models and a crisp resolution. The hundreds of moves are animated smoothly and with personality, something WWF Attitude sorely lacked. What's more, the arenas look like they look in real life. The biggest problem with the graphics is the occasional problem with collision, where a move will appear to hit the opponent but doesn't really connect. Generally, though, Mayhem is the best looking N64 wrestler so far.

Mayhem's sound really makes you feel like you're in the arena bashing someone's head on the mat. The crowd is always cheering you or booing you, and Tony Schiavone's commentary never gets annoying, even though it does repeat from time to time. The sounds of bodies hitting the mat are really well-done. The N64 version is missing the voice of WCW announcer Bobby Heenan, though it's a toss-up whether that's a pro or a con. The N64 version of Mayhem also has fewer theme songs to choose from when making a bruiser from scratch, and the music it does have is fine but not great.

Mayhem opts for simplicity in its controls, making it easy for both the reigning champion and the weekend warrior to go head-to-head in minutes. The wrestlers' moves are all done with the same set of commands, so if you're good with Hollywood Hogan, you're probably good with Goldberg, Kevin Nash and most of the other WCW superstars. Mayhem sacrifices depth for simplicity and presentation, and some may find that a difficult sacrifice.

Clash of the Champions
With Attitude and the upcoming Wrestlemania 2000, there will be a lot of competition on the N64 by the end of the year. If you're a fan of the action and the "showbiz" of wrestling, then it looks like you're up for some Mayhem.