Layeth The Rubber Down!
- NA release: 18th March 2003
- EU release: 15th May 2003
- JP release: N/A
- Developer: Pacific Data Power & Light
- Publisher: THQ
- NGC Magazine Score: 43%
- Mods Used: Widescreen Hack
Vince McMahon has purchased every TV network and wrestlers are now the star of every reality show. The newest reality show is a vehicular combat game. And that’s all that’s done to justify the existence of a Twisted Metal clone with wrestlers driving the cars. Now, if this was the developer’s way of using a license to gather enough of a budget to create a passion project, it would have potential, but unfortunately it’s the opposite: a budget title to cash in on the WWE name.
Vehicle combat games have the potential to work in either wide areas or small, enclosed areas, but the handling has to be right. Ones based on large areas are fine with large turning circles (although the ability to spin around is still useful) while ones in small arenas in Crush Hour have incredibly tight turns. Unfortunately, vehicles in Crush Hour have massive turning circles and a pitiful reverse, and take place in mostly small areas.
There also aren’t many weapons available, and each arena (of which there are 10, but each only supports one objective type) only has a couple from the small arsenal of weapons on the map. As you fight, a special metre fills up that allows you to wipe out multiple enemies at once (no matter their health) and it is something that feels unsatisfying to use and annoying to be on the wrong end of.
The issues with the game means that this only applies to wrestling nuts that don’t want another wrestling game, but really want to control a car very loosely based on them instead.
Poor
The cars feel laden and the sound’s flat. It’s hard to even get the feeling that you’re driving something with an internal combustion engine, so clinical and noiseless are they. And as for the commentary… It has. More than. A. Touch. Of the William. Shatners. To it.
NGC Magazine #83
Remake or remaster?
It could be a bonus if anyone could ever sort out licensing for a wrestling collection.
Official Ways to get the game
There is no official way to get WWE Crush Hour.
Europe
Japan
North America
GameCube Games by Date
2002: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2003: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2004: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2005: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2006: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
