WCW / nWo Revenge WCW / nWo Revenge is a professional wrestling video game released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64 game console . It is the sequel to 1997 ' s " " . Like its predecessor , " Revenge " features AKI ' s revolutionary grappling system as well as heavily improved graphics , a championship mode , and a large roster of wrestlers ( real and fictional ) . " Revenge " gained critical praise and tremendous commercial success . According to a 1999 article by IGN , " Revenge " was the best - selling wrestling game for the N64 console , and at the time , was the top selling third - party Nintendo game ever . " Revenge " was the last AKI - developed WCW game for the Nintendo 64 . The next WCW game released for the Nintendo 64 was a version of THQ ' s earlier " WCW Nitro " . The next AKI wrestling game released for the console , " WWF WrestleMania 2000 " sported THQ ' s newly acquired World Wrestling Federation license . Background . At the time of the game ' s release , the Monday Night Wars were starting to go in favor of the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF ) . Despite this " WCW / nWo Revenge " was generally recognized as the best wrestling game of 1998 . The " Revenge " grappling system is part of what ensured the game ' s success and popularity . The system was simple to learn and allowed for a variety of moves to be performed depending on the character . The graphics were improved from " World Tour " , and many new features were introduced to expand the popular series . New features and additions since " World Tour " . As the direct sequel to " World Tour " , " Revenge " possesses various tweaks and additions . This includes wrestler ring entrances , a larger roster , ringside valets and managers , brighter and more colorful graphics , a cartoon referee modeled after WCW referee Mark Curtis , and real TV and pay - per - view arenas . It also boasts EEPROM , which eliminates the need for a Controller Pak . In addition , there are new gameplay mechanics such as more frequent reversals , the introduction of multiple reversals , tall wrestlers stepping over the top rope , and being able to run and slide in and out of the ring . Also , " Instant Replay " was included . New post - match features include replays of the last moments of the match , as well as a scoring system for wrestlers ' performance . During gameplay , players can for the first time " steal " their opponents taunts , as well as perform their " down " taunt more easily . Also , certain wrestlers cannot ascend the top rope unless they are in " special " mode ( the time when a player ' s spirit is maxed out and can perform their finisher s ) . For the first time , THQ introduced actual arenas into a game , such as " Monday Nitro " , " Starrcade " , " Bash at the Beach " , " Souled Out " , " SuperBrawl " , and " Halloween Havoc " . The new Championship Mode also enables the player ( s ) to select a belt held by a silhouetted wrestler and then defeat various opponents until eventually facing the mystery champion . Successfully completing a title mode unlocks the toppled champion . Titles include the Cruiserweight , World Television , World Tag Team , United States Heavyweight , and World Heavyweight Championship . In addition , " Revenge " introduced a combo system where some wrestlers could execute a combination of strikes followed by a grappling move . The system was criticized as doing more harm than good as it is awkward to use and eliminated about half of a wrestler ' s strong front grapple moves . For example , popular WCW wrestler Goldberg is only able to perform strong grapple moves using the A and directional buttons . The combo system would be excluded from future THQ / AKI wrestling games . " Revenge " also saw many new moves added since " World Tour " , as well as existing moves improved or made more accurate . For instance , in " World Tour " , Kevin Nash ' s finishing move is a generic powerbomb ; in contrast , Chris Benoit has a kneel - down double under - hook powerbomb for a weak move . In " Revenge " , however , it is unmistakably Nash ' s Jackknife Powerbomb , complete with trademark Nash flourishes during execution . Other moves which were improved included the Stinger splash , the Outsider ' s Edge , and the Diamond Cutter . Also , certain characters like the aforementioned Chris Benoit were given their real finishing moves for the first time . Each wrestler also possesses more than 700 frames of animation . " Revenge " has an expansive collection of wrestlers , as almost every WCW / nWo wrestler of the time was included in the game . Added since " World Tour " were such superstars as Bret Hart , Bill Goldberg , Harlem Heat , British Bulldog , Jim Neidhart , Konnan , Curt Hennig , Brian Adams , Chris Jericho , and many more . One notable omission , however , who actually was in " World Tour " , is Ric Flair who was fired from WCW for no - showing an episode of " WCW Thunder " in early 1998 ; although , he would be rehired later in the year . By then , though , " Revenge " was in the final stages of production , and it was too late to add Flair to the game . Wrath was originally going to be in the game but was removed for unknown reasons . He can only be playable with the use of a cheat device . Also included is the ability to interchange wrestlers ' costumes and apply different colors to them . Masks and other headwear are also interchangeable for wrestlers that possess them . This limited feature would be heavily advanced in future THQ wrestling titles which would boast the acclaimed Create - a - Wrestler mode . Arenas . WCW Monday Nitro WCW Starrcade WCW Halloween Havoc WCW Bash at the Beach WCW Souled Out WCW Super Brawl VIII Titles . WCW World Heavyweight Championship WCW United States Heavyweight Championship WCW Television Title WCW Cruiserweight Championship WCW Tag Team Titles Roster . " Revenge " features about 63 WCW and nWo wrestlers divided into either factions ( nWo White , nWo Red , Raven ' s Flock ) or divisions within WCW ( WCW 1 - 4 ) , like the cruiserweight division . Generally speaking , wrestlers were placed in the WCW divisions based on their position in the company at the time , with top - tier main eventers making up WCW 1 , the mid - card wrestlers in WCW 2 , and low - card wrestlers forming WCW 3 . WCW 4 is reserved for cruiserweights . Note that WCW 1 - 4 are not actual factions . Additionally , " Revenge " features several non - WCW / nWo wrestlers , mostly from Japan , in the form of two " fictitious " wrestling federations : EWF ( Empire Wrestling Federation ) and DAW ( Dead or Alive Wrestling , originally featured in " World Tour " as DOA ) . In light of copyright concerns , the names and appearances of these wrestlers were changed , but their movesets remained intact . Issues with the game . Complaints about the Asmik Ace / AKI engine included some major collision detection problems , ie : characters ' heads and arms passing through anothers ' , as well as animation lock - out issues where a player would be invincible from attack , such as when they are getting up . The graphics were also infamous for the " floating arms " , where a character ' s arms would often be clearly disconnected from their torso . While the magic of the gameplay was the offensive attack / grapple vs . the defensive reverse - attack / break - grapple mechanic , it was occasionally exposed for its lack of realism . Since defensivly there was only " block " and no " evade " for an incoming attack , a player would successfully block a running kick to the head or say , Goldberg ' s spear , by standing firm and offering their chest . Solutions to the problem would have been new evasion animations , and / or strong attacks which would simply be unblockable . The other option other than blocking is attempting to press the block button at the exact moment of impact from the attack , which may result in a reversal . While the game had wrestler entrances , the music consisted of the WCW Monday Nitro theme , and a generic , ominous sounding tune . - - Not the wrestlers ' actual themes ( Memory issues were a major concern during the old days of the cartridge ) . Ultimately though , graphical , audio , and gameplay quirks aside , " Revenge " was heralded as an incredbily fun , detailed , and well - balanced title . Because Asmik Ace / THQ signed with the WWF when Acclaim ' s contract expired in 1999 , " Revenge " is universally accepted as the apex of WCW gaming . Featured wrestlers . " Revenge " featured numerous WCW and nWo wrestlers divided into either factions ( nWo White , nWo Red , Raven ' s Flock ) or divisions within WCW ( WCW 1 - 4 ) . Generally speaking , wrestlers were placed in the WCW divisions based on their position in the company , with top - tier main eventers making up WCW 1 and low - card wrestlers forming WCW 3 . WCW 4 is reserved for cruiserweights . Note that WCW 1 - 4 are not actual factions . Additionally , " Revenge " featured several non - WCW / nWo wrestlers , mostly from Japan , in the form of two " ficticous " wrestling federations : EWF ( Empire Wrestling Federation ) and DAW ( Dead or Alive Wrestling , originally featured in " World Tour " as DOA ) . In light of copyright concerns , the names and appearances of these wrestlers were changed , but their movesets remained intact . Managers / Valets . " Note : Managers and valets are not playable characters ( with the exception of Eric Bischoff ) , and are not an actual faction within the game . " Reception . " WCW / nWo Revenge " surpassed the success of its predecessor , " World Tour " . Within a month , it became the highest selling console game in North America . Like its predecessor , " Revenge " also won 1998 ' s " Fighting Game of the Year " by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences , marking the second consecutive year an AKI / THQ title achieved the honor . It would quickly reach Player ' s Choice status and become heavily responsible for THQ ' s profits in late 1998 and ' 99 , eventually selling 1 . 88 million copies in the US and ranking substantially among the best - selling N64 games . " Revenge " ' s main competition that year was " WWF War Zone " by Acclaim , based on WCW ' s rival promotion , the World Wrestling Federation . The game achieved critical favor for its numerous improvements on " World Tour " . Matt Casamassina of IGN : " More than any other wresting game on the market , " Revenge " feels , moves and plays like the real thing . . . My suggestion : if you own " World Tour " then sell it . Take the money you get for it and put it towards " Revenge " . It ' s a much more complete game with tons of style and ambiance . Once again , the four - player mode is addictive and reason enough to buy the game , especially if you ' re a big wrestling fan . " In IGN ' s 2008 " History of Wrestling Games " article , Rus McLaughlin also commended " Revenge " for its expanded roster , authentic venues , and " style to burn . "