WCW/NWO Thunder from THQ has done it with its lack of innovation. THQ has spent all their big talks on a product that is NOT very different from their last one (Nitro).

The game may look nice with its 11 match modes and over 100 wrestlers (including hidden and fantasy) to choose from, but they all mean nothing. Why? First, the 11 modes can be cut down to six or seven because many matches like Battle Royal or Tag Team were broken down to 1P and 2P. Second, the more wrestler there is the less individual move there is available. The wrestlers actually have to share their finishing maneuvers and that to a wrestling fan is stupid! If THQ can not fit all their moves into the game then why bother making so many wrestlers!
Also one of the worst feature of this game is its sound. The commentary at ring side lacks of energy, creativity and I believe a lot of them came straight from Nitro. You will hear “Piledriver!” and “Powerbome!” over and over and over again until you can hear them in your sleep. And don’t even mention the music. Some of the entrance theme sounds are nice, but NOT every wrestler has his own music (they put in the crappy Thunder music for many wrestlers).

Finally, the gameplay. If a person was to play Thunder for the first time, without playing Nitro before, this game would not be bad (although it’s still nothing compare to War Zone). For the people who have unfortunately played
Nitro already, it sure will confuse many by the likeness of the two. The feel, the movement, damn! Even the button combination are the same. No one is asking for an entirely different game, but boy, where did THQ get the guts to “remake” a not so-good game and talking about taking on Acclaim’s WWF War Zone.

Overall, the game is as NO good as the Macho Man ever was. Bad sounds, boring gameplay, many wrestlers with limited number of moves, and the lack of new ideas have killed the game. Well, THQ must have thought since WWF is kicking WCW’s butt in TV ratings, so why not bring another failure of WCW to complete their endless butt-kicking competition.