ECW Hardcore Revolution
Encyclopedia
ECW Hardcore Revolution is a professional wrestling
video game released by Acclaim Entertainment
, based on the professional wrestling promotion
Extreme Championship Wrestling
(ECW). The game was released for the Nintendo 64
, Sony PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast
and Game Boy Color
. It was the first wrestling game to be based on ECW, as well as the first professional wrestling game to receive a Mature rating from the ESRB
, although the Game Boy Color version was rated Everyone. Acclaim followed this title with the release of a sequel, ECW Anarchy Rulz
, six months after this game was released.
It has a rating of 47% at Rotten Tomatoes
, suggesting mixed reception. Critics praised Joey Styles
's commentary, and the use of weapons during the game. However, many reviews criticized Revolution for being a near copy of its predecessors, WWF Attitude
and War Zone
, and not reflecting ECW's unique style, just covering over everything with ECW wrestlers and themes.
IGN
gives the game a mere 5/10, saying that "after secretly sobbing for months at the loss of its lucrative WWF license, Acclaim has jumped back into the wrestling ring once more with ECW: Hardcore Revolution, a game based around the up-and-coming ... federation" and that "Revolution is basically the company's WWF game of last year with a few additions".". Gamespot
gives the game 4.2/10, making this a "poor"-rated game on their website, and saying that "ECW and its fans deserve better than this". Digital Press gives a 2.5/10 rating, saying "No matter how much you enjoy ECW, pro wrestling, or video games, this game sucks." Another critic gave the worst review, with an "F" rating, saying "the crowd noise is bizarre - either they're dead silent or going nuts. The fighters tend to repeat the same phrases over and over, usually 'ouch!' or 'ow!'. The controls in the tag team matches are horrendous, and the matches tend to run far too long in general. This game initially impressed me with its extensive option list, but without any muscle behind its gameplay, ECW Hardcore Revolution goes down for the count."
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
video game released by Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment was an American video game developer and publisher. It developed, published, marketed and distributed interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms, including Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Game Gear, Nintendo's NES, SNES, Nintendo...
, based on the professional wrestling promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
(ECW). The game was released for the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
, Sony PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast
Sega Dreamcast
The is a 128-bit video game console which was released by Sega in late 1998 in Japan and from September 1999 in other territories. It was the first entry in the sixth generation of video game consoles, preceding Sony's PlayStation 2, Microsoft's Xbox and the Nintendo GameCube.Dreamcast sales were...
and Game Boy Color
Game Boy Color
The is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
. It was the first wrestling game to be based on ECW, as well as the first professional wrestling game to receive a Mature rating from the ESRB
Entertainment Software Rating Board
The Entertainment Software Rating Board is a self-regulatory organization that assigns age and content ratings, enforces industry-adopted advertising guidelines, and ensures responsible online privacy principles for computer and video games as well as entertainment software in Canada, Mexico and...
, although the Game Boy Color version was rated Everyone. Acclaim followed this title with the release of a sequel, ECW Anarchy Rulz
ECW Anarchy Rulz (video game)
ECW Anarchy Rulz is a professional wrestling video game released by Acclaim Entertainment in 2000 based on Extreme Championship Wrestling . It was released for the PlayStation and Dreamcast...
, six months after this game was released.
It has a rating of 47% at Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, suggesting mixed reception. Critics praised Joey Styles
Joey Styles
Joseph Carmine Bonsignore better known by his ring name Joey Styles, is an American professional wrestling play-by-play commentator and former professional in the field of advertising sales...
's commentary, and the use of weapons during the game. However, many reviews criticized Revolution for being a near copy of its predecessors, WWF Attitude
WWF Attitude
WWF Attitude is a professional wrestling video game based on the World Wrestling Federation released by Acclaim Entertainment in July 1999 for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64. A slightly enhanced port of the game was later released for the Dreamcast, as well as a handheld version for the Game Boy...
and War Zone
WWF War Zone
WWF War Zone is a 1998 professional wrestling video game featuring wrestlers from the World Wrestling Federation, developed by Acclaim Studios Salt Lake and released by Acclaim Entertainment in 1998 for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy...
, and not reflecting ECW's unique style, just covering over everything with ECW wrestlers and themes.
IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gives the game a mere 5/10, saying that "after secretly sobbing for months at the loss of its lucrative WWF license, Acclaim has jumped back into the wrestling ring once more with ECW: Hardcore Revolution, a game based around the up-and-coming ... federation" and that "Revolution is basically the company's WWF game of last year with a few additions".". Gamespot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
gives the game 4.2/10, making this a "poor"-rated game on their website, and saying that "ECW and its fans deserve better than this". Digital Press gives a 2.5/10 rating, saying "No matter how much you enjoy ECW, pro wrestling, or video games, this game sucks." Another critic gave the worst review, with an "F" rating, saying "the crowd noise is bizarre - either they're dead silent or going nuts. The fighters tend to repeat the same phrases over and over, usually 'ouch!' or 'ow!'. The controls in the tag team matches are horrendous, and the matches tend to run far too long in general. This game initially impressed me with its extensive option list, but without any muscle behind its gameplay, ECW Hardcore Revolution goes down for the count."