Developer: AKI Corp., Asmik Ace Entertainment Publisher: Asmik Ace Entertainment Released: December 19, 1997 7/10
Though it’s nearly the same as the western release, WCW vs. nWo World Tour, the Japanese version of AKI’s first wrestling game on the N64 boasts a few differences that ultimately contribute to a more complete and cohesive overall package. Offering a bigger roster with far more legends of the industry as well as current wrestlers from different federations, the content level is even more impressive than in World Tour. Add in the point scoring system and even the wrestler editor that wouldn’t debut in the west until the release of Revenge, and it feels like an even closer to complete experience than the still excellent World Tour.
Lastly, given that neither version of the game contains that much window dressing for WCW, it turns out that much aesthetics and feel of the game that are the same in both releases, such as the setting, the music, and the overall atmosphere during matches actually suit the Japanese product much better. You can’t go wrong either way, but side by side, I think if you can get past the language barrier, VPW64 is actually the superior version of an already great wrestling game.
Additional Information
Saves: Controller Pak
Players: 4
Compatible With: Rumble Pak
