The latest WWE games don't have any peers to compare themselves to, but that does not mean they suffer from the pitfalls of competition. WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010's main competition comes from over ten years ago, and it is no secret why it does.

WWF No Mercy is the pinnacle of the wrestling games frenzy of the 1990s and still finds itself in a relevant position today thanks to various mods from a small but rabid fanbase.

Ten years since it's release, how does No Mercy get so much love? The answer is that No Mercy encompassed all of what the (then) WWF had to offer. Matches were exciting, the creation modes were stellar, and it featured a full fledged WWF season and featured any wrestler on the game's roster.

Time has healed some wounds though. Puffing your chest out to block strikes or waving your hands to block grapples are just two examples of things which would make any new game out today be torn to shreds.

It's now been ten years since No Mercy's first hit store shelves. Some will complain, but the time is now to move on from No Mercy and imagine a new vision for the future of wrestling games.

Innovation

The WWE Story Designer is a great idea that will only improve with future releases. Like I said in my review of SvR 2010, there are some gameplay changes that need to be made. One thing that made No Mercy matches exciting was the possibility of a reversal every time. Reversals were not contrived and out of place and they contained drama and added a level of unpredictability to every bout. We need that next year.

Online play is pretty much an afterthought at this point. The only thing I really want in the next game is an online Royal Rumble. You draw a number, wait your turn and try your best. The whole experience wouldn’t even take that long for gamers as the average entry lasts about five minutes. The Royal Rumble has always had the most potential fun of any game mode. Imagine jumping online with your friends, drawing 30th and stealing a victory. It could be a can’t miss online experience. Get on it Yukes!

New Title

Enough is enough and its time for a change. Can the current title get any longer? Say it ten times fast. I bet you get to five and get bored. It’s not inventive, it’s not appealing and its release doesn’t excite anybody. I call for a new title and I’m inspired by a recent WWE Pay Per View. In 2010, THQ should release WWE Bragging Rights. It retains the essence of Monday vs. Friday and includes ECW without saying it on the cover.

It seems as if THQ changes the number on the title, the picture on the cover and set it to print. I remember when a WWE game was a huge release, this year’s version came out lightly. There is a reason you can find SvR 2010 for $40 only a few weeks after it was released. A new title won’t make up for subpar gameplay in the long run but it could use some help in the hype department.

Competition

On Monday the 30th, a new TNA game was announced for release this winter. Too bad it’s for the Nintendo DS and PSP only. Last year’s TNA Impact was a serviceable game. It was not as polished as any of the recent SmackDown vs. Raw games but that’s to be expected for a first release. There were plenty of things to build from its first release and it’s a shame that Midway is in such dire straits.

Now would be a great time for a TNA release with the signing of Hulk Hogan. In fact, TNA has the strongest mainstream roster they’ve ever had when you include Mick Foley, Bobby Lashley and their homegrown talent like AJ Styles and Samoa Joe. When I spoke with the developers last year before the release of the first title, they were very excited about the future, so Midway’s futility hurts them and every wrestling fan.

Final Thoughts

Its time to put No Mercy to rest, but can we rely on Yukes and THQ to keep us happy as wrestling fans for the foreseeable future? If they read this and follow through we should be fine for a few years. The genre  definitely seems to be in something of a rut with only one show in town.  However, with the inclusion of the WWE Story Designer and a potential TNA release, the future could be bright.