ECW: Hardcore Revolution

Game Review & Description

Step into the ring with ECW: Hardcore Revolution, where professional wrestling meets the kind of extreme violence that would make your grandmother clutch her pearls and reach for the smelling salts. Released in 2000 for the Dreamcast (among other platforms), this wrestling game attempts to capture the raw, unfiltered chaos of Extreme Championship Wrestling during its heyday. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to legally assault someone with a folding chair while thousands of people cheer you on, this is probably the closest you'll get without actual jail time or medical bills.

The gameplay sticks fairly close to the established wrestling game formula, but with a distinctly hardcore twist that sets it apart from your typical WWE fare. Combat feels appropriately brutal, with weapons playing a much more prominent role than in mainstream wrestling titles. You'll find yourself wielding everything from baseball bats to flaming tables, because apparently regular furniture just wasn't cutting it in the extreme sports department. The grappling system works well enough, though it can feel a bit clunky by today's standards. What it lacks in finesse, it makes up for in sheer spectacle, particularly when you manage to pull off one of the more devastating finishing moves that would definitely violate several workplace safety regulations.

Visually, Hardcore Revolution does a decent job of recreating the grimy, underground atmosphere that made ECW famous. The character models are recognizable enough that fans will appreciate seeing their favorite wrestlers rendered in polygonal form, even if they occasionally look like they've been assembled from spare action figure parts. The arenas capture that intimate, sweaty venue feeling that was ECW's trademark, complete with crowds that seem genuinely invested in seeing someone get hurt. The animations are solid, particularly the more extreme moves that make you wince in sympathy even though you're the one pressing the buttons.

The roster includes most of the ECW legends you'd expect, from Tommy Dreamer to Sabu, each bringing their signature moves and personality to the digital ring. The career mode offers a decent progression system that lets you work your way up through the ECW ranks, though the storylines can feel a bit repetitive after a while. Multiplayer is where the game really shines, as nothing quite compares to the satisfaction of defeating your friends using nothing but folding chairs and questionable life choices. It's the kind of game that reminds you why ECW developed such a devoted cult following, even if the execution doesn't always match the ambition.

A variety of helpful hints, tips and cheats for ECW: Hardcore Revolution can be found below.

GameShark / Pro Action Replay Cheat Codes:

The following dongle-dependent codes are designed for use with the North American (NTSC) version of the game, but may work on compatible systems:

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