WCW/nWo Thunder
{{Short description|1999 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = WCW/nWo Thunder
| image = WCW nWo Thunder Coverart.png
| caption = Cover art featuring (clockwise from upper left) Goldberg, Diamond Dallas Page, Hollywood Hogan and The Giant
| developer = Inland Productions
| publisher = THQ
| director =
| producer = D. Scott Williamson
| designer = D. Scott Williamson
Mike Cihak
Arnie Boedecker
| programmer = D. Scott Williamson
Darin Peterson
John Sanderson
| artist =
| writer =
| composer = Mike Cihak
Matt Scott
| engine =
| platforms = PlayStation
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|January 12, 1999{{Cite web |date=2001-02-10 |title=PR - 1/12/98 - THQ MAKES THIRD PLAYSTATION WRESTLING ENTRANCE WITH 'WCW/NWO THUNDER ' |url=http://www.thq.com/About/PressReleases/press-88.asp |access-date=2023-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210235849/http://www.thq.com/About/PressReleases/press-88.asp |archive-date=2001-02-10 }}|EU|February 12, 1999}}
| genre = Sports
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
WCW/nWo Thunder is a professional wrestling video game based on the professional wrestling television show of the same name and released on the PlayStation console by THQ in January 1999. Thunder is the sequel to WCW Nitro and updates the previous game with new characters and features, including cage matches, battle royals, weapon use, and the ability to select what stable each wrestler competed for (this included WCW, nWo Hollywood, nWo Wolfpac, Raven's Flock, and The Four Horsemen). However, Thunder received poor reviews. Many of these were due to its graphics, style, and overall atmosphere, which bore too many similarities to WCW Nitro, along with concerns that the game was too easy.
New versions of the game's predecessor Nitro were released for Microsoft Windows (in December 1998 shortly before Thunder{{'}}s release) and Nintendo 64 (in February 1999 shortly after Thunder{{'}}s release). Both versions featured the updated roster from Thunder.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 58%{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/199289-wcwnwo-thunder/index.html |title=WCW/nWo Thunder for PlayStation |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=May 15, 2015 |archive-date=June 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621010644/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/199289-wcwnwo-thunder/index.html |url-status=live }}
| Allgame = {{Rating|1.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15356&tab=review |title=WCW/NWO Thunder - Review |publisher=AllGame |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115160256/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15356&tab=review |archive-date=November 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 16, 2015}}
| EGM = 6/10{{cite magazine |title=WCW/nWo Thunder |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |year=1999}}
| GI = 4.75/10{{cite magazine |last1=McNamara |first1=Andy |last2=Anderson |first2=Paul |last3=Reiner |first3=Andrew |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=3063 |title=WCW/NWO Thunder - PlayStation |magazine=Game Informer |issue=70 |date=February 1999 |page=38 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001206143100/http://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=3063 |archive-date=December 6, 2000 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 16, 2015}}
| GameRev = C−{{cite web |last=Hsu |first=Tim |date=February 1999 |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34085-youve-played-this-game-before-review |title=WCW/nWo Thunder Review |publisher=Game Revolution |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518082214/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/wcwnwo-thunder |archive-date=May 18, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=October 25, 2017}}
| GSpot = 5.4/10{{cite web |last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff |date=December 23, 1998 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/wcw-nwo-thunder-review/1900-2548479/ |title=WCW/nWo Thunder Review |website=GameSpot |access-date=May 16, 2015 |archive-date=July 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723220900/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/wcw-nwo-thunder-review/1900-2548479/ |url-status=live }}
| IGN = 6.6/10{{cite web |last=Perry |first=Douglass C. |date=January 13, 1999 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/14/wcwnwo-thunder-2 |title=WCW/NWO Thunder |website=IGN |access-date=May 16, 2015 |archive-date=May 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518121239/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/14/wcwnwo-thunder-2 |url-status=live }}
| OPM = {{Rating|1|5}}{{cite magazine |title=WCW/nWo Thunder |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |year=1999}}
| OPMUK = 3/10{{cite magazine |title=WCW/nWo Thunder |magazine=Official UK PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=44 |date=February 1999}}
| PSM = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Review: WCW/nWo Thunder |magazine=PSM |year=1999}}
}}
Next Generation gave the game three stars out of five. They commented that while the improvements made in Thunder are incremental and not "spectacular", they felt the game to be a worthy upgrade from the previous title Nitro.{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=Next Generation|issue=52|publisher=Imagine Media|date=April 1999|page=92}}
WCW/nWo Thunder received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. Most very mixed points were given to the poor graphics, and difficulty of the controls. Despite the mediocre reviews given, the game went on to sell 1 million copies.{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=May 15, 1999 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/15/breaking-news-wwf-meets-toukon-retsuden |title=Breaking News! WWF Meets Toukon Retsuden |website=IGN |access-date=May 15, 2015 |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026053848/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/15/breaking-news-wwf-meets-toukon-retsuden |url-status=live }}
{{clear}}
See also
{{Portal|Video games}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/playstation/wcwnwo-thunder}}
{{WCW video games}}
{{New World Order}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:WCW nWo Thunder}}
Category:Inland Productions games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:PlayStation (console) games
Category:PlayStation (console)-only games
Category:Professional wrestling games