GameCube hits the jackpot (in terms of wrestling, anywho).
Even before entering story mode you should notice how well the create-a-wrestler feature has been crafted. Your created personality seamlessly gels itself in with the rest of the included original roster in terms of how detailed the final model winds up; so there's nothing too awkward that will turn you off about appearance. You can also mess with a few other options when creating your character's entrance; such as the light schemes and where the camera is panned at, which are pretty cool to have. Afterwards, upon entering story mode you must boost your skills, accomplish some odd challenges, and ultimately complete the "WWE Developmental" stage before attaining promotion to Heat and eventually the prime-time on either Raw or Smackdown! (although Smackdown! really isn't the prime-time, eh?). However, whichever path you do so choose, the excursion is pretty much the same - no special storyline for each individual brand or anything of the like.
Aside from the story mode, which as I previously stated is primed like scrumptious rib steak, Day of Reckoning comprises of the usual array of matches; with one rather pungent omission - the Elimination Chamber. Likewise notable is the Hell In A Cell match, where you'll still find yourself having to open a side of the cage by repeatedly ramming your opponent's body into it (not as fun as it sounds, a door would have been much less of an annoyance) before realizing the ability to climb atop it's also bustable top-surface. One final semi-irritating process are such matches as the TLC, where you'll sometimes experience a battering at the hands of the computer by means of mad weaponry - too often you're hit by chairs and the like when you're not even being aimed for, GRR. But otherwise, things are good to go.
Sound-wise, the licensed music in the game is pretty well suited to the theme. Included are bands such as: Anthrax, Tantric, and Breaking Benjamin, among a few others. A larger quantity of songs would have been nice for the sake of variety, but at any rate, it beats the bloody piss out generic in-house techno music - that's for sure.
On the offside, one thing worth mentioning (a tad bit disappointing) is the roster. The then-current WWE Champion, Bradshaw, is missing; along with the likes of The Hurricane, The Dudley Boys, La Resistance and a number of others. However, most do look pretty authentic if you decide to concoct the time required in create-a-wrestler mode to construct them.
Overall, it's a great piece of wrestling and a sigh of relief from another sub-par GameCube working. Check this one out and have a friend to boot for some uh . . . "convivial entertainment".