Wrestling games should be simple. You get some wrestlers in a ring and have them fight it out. WCW Backstage Assault breaks that formula. It is a game in which wrestlers fight in backstage areas. No ring is present.
The graphics look awful. I’m not the kind of guy that puts huge emphasis on graphics as I know they do not directly make or break a game. But in this game it’s unforgivable, as the previous game, WCW Mayhem, looked a great deal better. This game is a big step back graphically. The character models look smudgy and some, like Jimmy Hart, appear anorexic.
The backgrounds are not much better. All the areas feel so square. In essence each place is a big box with some wall decorations and few weapons laying on the ground. Visually, nothing pops in this game.
Why I Love It
I get a big kick out the physics. The collision detection is hyper sensitive. If a wrestler has an item knocked out his hand it will often come down and smack him in head. This will cause the model to spaz out.
Glitching the models is great unintentional fun and probably the only reason I played this game as long as I did.