WWE Day of Reckoning 2
Encyclopedia
WWE Day of Reckoning 2 is a video game released on the Nintendo GameCube
console
by THQ
. The sequel
to WWE Day of Reckoning
, it became a "Player's Choice" game on July 5, 2006. The soundtrack features music by death metal
group A Dark Halo, who performed two songs in the game including its theme song
"Burn It All."
Day of Reckoning 2 features improved graphics
over its predecessor, a new strategy-based submission system, and a storyline that allows the player to choose paths. This game was the last wrestling game to ever be released for the GameCube and the first WWE game to feature The Rock and Stone Cold
as legends.
meter, which slows wrestlers' movement over time and when completely depleted, temporarily leaves characters winded and open to attack. In addition, different levels of bleeding on the player's character also affect the character's ability to regain stamina.
The game also introduces four types of submission options. While applying a submission hold, players can choose from one of four submission types: a Taunt submission depletes the opponent's momentum meter, a Rest Hold submission allows the player's character to regain stamina, the Drain submission drains the opponent of stamina, while a regular submission move causes damage to a particular body part.
Players can again create wrestlers
and customize each character's set of attacks. Each character can be assigned between one and nine finishing moves, one for each position an opponent is in. The game's Story Mode picks up from the story introduced in the first Day of Reckoning, but created wrestlers cannot be imported from the first game.
roster. Almost a year after WrestleMania XX
, Evolution
has disbanded and the player's character has lost the World Heavyweight Championship
back to Triple H
and has fallen down the ranks of WWE. However, the player's character has gained a love interest in WWE Diva
Stacy Keibler
.
One month before WrestleMania 21, Triple H loses the title in a controversial match with Chris Jericho
and the title is now up for grabs. In an attempt to increase the show's ratings, General Manager Eric Bischoff
decides to host a mini-tournament for the World Heavyweight Championship and the finals will be held at WrestleMania 21
. The player's character eventually defeats Chris Jericho and advances into the finals. Triple H and the player's character prepare for the finals match before Bischoff reports that the belt was stolen.
The player advances in the story by gathering information on the whereabouts of the World Title. Soon the player gets framed for stealing the belt, dumped by Stacy, fired and banned from Raw. However, SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long
signs the player to a lifetime SmackDown! contract. Eventually the player wins the WWE Championship
and later finds out that former allies Chris Jericho and Randy Orton
along with Edge had stolen the World Heavyweight Championship.
With the mystery solved, Triple H asks the player's wrestler for a title match at WrestleMania 21 in a Last Man Standing Match for the WWE Championship. The player's character wins the match, reunites with Stacy and reforges a friendship with Triple H, who turns face
and takes possession of the newly-found World Heavyweight Championship.
gives the game a 8/10. GameSpot gives DoR2 a 8.1/10, and Metacritic gave the game 85 positive reviews out of 100.
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
by THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
. The sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to WWE Day of Reckoning
WWE Day of Reckoning
WWE Day of Reckoning is a professional wrestling video game released for the Nintendo GameCube console in 2004. The game is based on World Wrestling Entertainment and many of the wrestlers who were on the WWE roster at the time of release were included as player characters...
, it became a "Player's Choice" game on July 5, 2006. The soundtrack features music by death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
group A Dark Halo, who performed two songs in the game including its theme song
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
"Burn It All."
Day of Reckoning 2 features improved graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
over its predecessor, a new strategy-based submission system, and a storyline that allows the player to choose paths. This game was the last wrestling game to ever be released for the GameCube and the first WWE game to feature The Rock and Stone Cold
Stone Cold
Stone Cold may refer to:* Stone Cold Steve Austin , an American actor and retired professional wrestler* Stone Cold , an action film starring Brian Bosworth...
as legends.
Gameplay
Day of Reckoning 2 features gameplay to the previous Day of Reckoning game with returning features such as Momentum shift and momentum lift. New to the game is the staminaStamina
Stamina may refer to:* Endurance* Stamen , the male organ of a flower* Stamina , an American racehorse* Stam1na, a Finnish heavy metal band...
meter, which slows wrestlers' movement over time and when completely depleted, temporarily leaves characters winded and open to attack. In addition, different levels of bleeding on the player's character also affect the character's ability to regain stamina.
The game also introduces four types of submission options. While applying a submission hold, players can choose from one of four submission types: a Taunt submission depletes the opponent's momentum meter, a Rest Hold submission allows the player's character to regain stamina, the Drain submission drains the opponent of stamina, while a regular submission move causes damage to a particular body part.
Players can again create wrestlers
Character creation
Character creation is the process of defining a game character or other character. Typically, a character's individual strengths and weaknesses are represented by a set of statistics. Games with a largely fictional setting may include traits such as race and class...
and customize each character's set of attacks. Each character can be assigned between one and nine finishing moves, one for each position an opponent is in. The game's Story Mode picks up from the story introduced in the first Day of Reckoning, but created wrestlers cannot be imported from the first game.
Story
The story continues from where the original Day of Reckoning left off, with the player's character at the top of the RawWWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
roster. Almost a year after WrestleMania XX
WrestleMania XX
WrestleMania XX was the twentieth WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on March 14, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York....
, Evolution
Evolution (professional wrestling)
Evolution was a villainous professional wrestling stable on WWE's Raw brand between 2003 and 2005. At the height of its existence, the group consisted of Triple H, Ric Flair, Randy Orton, Batista and briefly Eugene....
has disbanded and the player's character has lost the World Heavyweight Championship
World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)
The World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the SmackDown brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the WWE Championship of the Raw brand...
back to Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
and has fallen down the ranks of WWE. However, the player's character has gained a love interest in WWE Diva
WWE Diva
Diva is a term used by World Wrestling Entertainment , an American professional wrestling promotion, to refer to its female talent. The term is applied to women who appear as wrestlers, managers or valets, backstage interviewers, or ring announcers....
Stacy Keibler
Stacy Keibler
Stacy Keibler is an American actress, model, and former professional wrestler and valet, best known for her work with World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment ....
.
One month before WrestleMania 21, Triple H loses the title in a controversial match with Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho
Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer...
and the title is now up for grabs. In an attempt to increase the show's ratings, General Manager Eric Bischoff
Eric Bischoff
Eric Aaron Bischoff is an American entrepreneur, and professional wrestling booker and on-screen personality currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
decides to host a mini-tournament for the World Heavyweight Championship and the finals will be held at WrestleMania 21
WrestleMania 21
WrestleMania 21 was the twenty-first annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on April 3, 2005 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. It started off with an interpormotional battle royal, for which Booker T...
. The player's character eventually defeats Chris Jericho and advances into the finals. Triple H and the player's character prepare for the finals match before Bischoff reports that the belt was stolen.
The player advances in the story by gathering information on the whereabouts of the World Title. Soon the player gets framed for stealing the belt, dumped by Stacy, fired and banned from Raw. However, SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long
Theodore Long
Theodore R. "Teddy" Long is an American professional wrestling manager and former referee who currently works for WWE on its SmackDown brand as its General Manager.-National Wrestling Alliance / World Championship Wrestling:...
signs the player to a lifetime SmackDown! contract. Eventually the player wins the WWE Championship
WWE Championship
The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
and later finds out that former allies Chris Jericho and Randy Orton
Randy Orton
Randal Keith "Randy" Orton is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE wrestling on its SmackDown brand...
along with Edge had stolen the World Heavyweight Championship.
With the mystery solved, Triple H asks the player's wrestler for a title match at WrestleMania 21 in a Last Man Standing Match for the WWE Championship. The player's character wins the match, reunites with Stacy and reforges a friendship with Triple H, who turns face
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
and takes possession of the newly-found World Heavyweight Championship.
Reception
The game received generally positive reviews. The reviews were higher than the original DoR. Most high points were given to the exceptional storyline mode, and the variety of wrestlers to select. IGNIGN
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 8/10. GameSpot gives DoR2 a 8.1/10, and Metacritic gave the game 85 positive reviews out of 100.