WWF No Mercy
Where it didn’t mean anything unless you did it with attitude
The late 90’s will be remembered as a time where counter-culture became mainstream. Icons such as Eminem had journalists writing headlines almost
as quickly as the rapper could write a new lyric. Shows like South Park became pop-culture due to everyone adoring the four foul-mouthed school kids. And Stone Cold Steve Austin was a hero for teenagers and adults alike: a rebel who drank beer at work and would kick anyone’s ass if they got in his way.
It’s no surprise that the WWF (Now WWE) was must see TV every week. They tapped into this culture and portrayed their stars as larger-than-life characters who together captured the essence of the era. In 2000 the highly popular WWF No Mercy was released (and most copies had to be returned due to a fault with the saving). Over 15 years on it’s still considered by many to be the greatest of all wrestling games: is this claim deserved or does No Mercy simply still ride the momentum the company had created during the Attitude Era?
Over 52 wrestlers were playable in this game: from The Rock to Scotty Too Hotty. No Mercy may not boast the biggest pool of wrestlers to pick from, but it certainly has some of the most popular and well-remembered. Each wrestler had a deep moveset too which was very similar to the actual performer – perhaps the most dedicated control system in a wrestling or fighting game.
The opportunities for different moves seemed endless. You could choose to make your attacks either weaker or harder (with more of a chance for the stronger ones to be countered) and you could decide whether you wanted it to be striking or grappling based. Then of course you can attack your opponent from behind or in the corner. Plus you can use different moves depending on whether they are lying face up or down, or even half up. Factor in moves off the top rope, running attacks and even weapon attacks too. The amount of choice the player had to win the match was really important. It meant that every match could be different, unique and offer new challenges. This of course relates to the WWF product of the time and encapsulates the uniqueness of the Attitude Era. WWF No Mercy was an easy game to pick up and play, but incredibly difficult to master.
Something that has been really lacking in modern WWE games is the storymode. Seemingly endless matches with little to no consequences that follow the same structure as the last. No Mercy may not be revolutionary in its storytelling, but it offered a lot in the way of exciting gameplay. Each championship belt had its own story, and once this was completed you could then play through a different story where you defend the championship. These storymodes included many of the famous traits that made the Attitude Era what is was, which certainly added to the excitement and unpredictability of each mode. For example the Heavyweight Championship included famous faces such as Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon, whereas the Hardcore mode pitted you against Mick Foley, and then Cactus Jack.
Is it the amazing roster that still makes WWF No Mercy stand out? Partially. But No Mercy is one of the most entertaining fighting games ever made. Its simple to learn/complex to master controls mixed with all the traits of the Attitude Era makes WWF No Mercy repayable even today. It’s one of the greatest ever wrestling games, combined with portraying WWF in its finest hour.
Do you think WWF No Mercy is the greatest fighting game of all time? Who was your favourite wrestler to play as? Do you have any great memories of the game? Comment below and have your say!