If there’s one downside to reviewing a large number volume of games it’s that you come across very similar titles and this makes it difficult to find fresh ways of describing the same features. This problem is magnified when dealing with any title in a long-running series. What really matters are the new and updated features and this review will focus on those.

The loading times have plagued this series and last year’s outing was no exception. Fans will be happy to know the number of loading screens and the length of each has been greatly reduced. Graphically I see no difference from last year’s title but this was to be expected and 2009 had decent visuals anyway so it’s not a problem. The sound largely remains the same although there seems to be better use of your wrestler’s nickname such as the commentator mentioning “hand to hand” skills when you use the nickname “the soldier”. The music has also changed although you may not notice at first as very similar songs are chosen for the soundtrack each year.

The Road to Wrestlemania mode has had an overhaul with the inclusion of a female story with Mickie James and the choice of using a created wrestler but rather bizarrely you can’t choose a created female wrestler. The single biggest addition is the inclusion of an interesting WWE Story Designer. You are of course limited in the type of events which can occur in any created storyline but this feature is much more extensive than I expected it to be. It appeared the created story can be as long or short as you wish and I chose to focus my attention on just a single episode of RAW. This is the type of feature I get carried away with and it was great fun creating a one episode story with quite a few twists and turns. My story involved an ECW invasion of RAW, with Edge turning coat and joining former partner Christian, and after a series of attacks on John Cena Vince called in DX to save the day. The story ended with a 6-man RAW vs ECW match. ECW were sent packing after losing the match and in the aftermath, as Vince boasted to the fans, William Regal burst in and warned him they’ve not seen the last of his guys. All in all I felt it was a pretty good storyline and the feature is a great addition to the series. I can only hope that the editor is even more detailed in future titles.

I really wish I could tell you that my experience with the game was perfect but it seems I have a frustrating knack for finding glitches in games I have for review. In three attempts at the Road to Wrestlemania mode, using three different created characters, I had a problem at the exact same point in the game. Vince McMahon informs you that if you win the Royal Rumble match you can keep the Intercontinental belt. In each of the three attempts everything went to plan, I won the Royal Rumble match, I kept the Intercontinental belt, but on the very next match entrance the appearance and attire of my created wrestler had changed dramatically. At first I thought it was part of the story, that some other wrestler had walked out pretending to be my character but nothing is mentioned and it continues to happen. I have searched high and low on the net and have not found a single mention of this glitch and I have no clue what triggered it each time. It wouldn’t be such a problem but their appearance changes to a bizarre looking guy in bright spandex and after I spent some time creating The Conchords plus their manager Murray I find it really frustrating. I mention this bizarre issue, plus some have mentioned glitches I’ve not come across personally such as the game freezing after the Royal Rumble, more as an unusual bit of information than any kind of warning as I may very well be the only person on the planet this has happened to.

This is my favourite game in the “homo-erotic large men in tight pants” genre. I’d love to make it sound more masculine by pointing out the ability to create sexy female characters with large breasts and long legs. However, spending over an hour deciding which clothes and make-up they should wear probably detracts from that. Having said that, when I’m finished with them they do look positively delightful. Joking aside this is a great game but “sports entertainment” is a niche market so as with every other wrestling title you’re either going to love or hate it.  I like lamp…and Melina.

8.5/10

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