• Publisher: THQ
  • Release Date: Aug 29, 2005
Metascore
76 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 36
  2. Negative: 1 out of 36
  1. The gameplay is a dream. It's logical, well thought out, rarely requires any button mashing, and has a great tutorial that for the most part, walks you through the entire thing.
  2. Sure we would like to see a different approach to the game's story mode but what's here is not only better but still way too much fun.
  3. A moderate improvement over the original Day of Reckoning.
  4. Day of Reckoning 2 is a lot better than the first one, and the control scheme is the best I've played in a while for a wrestling title.
  5. 85
    The control mechanics, already solidly grapple-heavy and speedy, are made more intuitive still by a strategic synergy between stamina and submission systems, and complemented again by a fun momentum shift. The result is a wrestling game with less button mashing and more strategy.
  6. Easily the best WWE game made for the Gamecube and arguably for any system, Day of Reckoning 2 addresses a number of bugs from the previous title and adds a larger sense of strategy and timing to the game itself.
  7. The incremental improvements continue, with an overhauled graphics engine and new gameplay features, but the title still falls ever so short from living up to the pedigree established by AKI and games like "No Mercy" on the Nintendo 64.
  8. 85
    This is by far the best wrestling title on the GameCube. As far as simulating the feel of WWE wrestling, it's the best game on any console.
  9. Definitely the best wrestling game on GameCube, and it's certainly debatable as to whether it may well be the best wrestling game available on any of the current major platforms.
  10. Undeniably, Day of Reckoning 2 is a better game than its predecessor, but some may find it to be a touch too familiar for comfort.
  11. The graphics and gameplay form a vicious duo, and the story mode is like the craft manager to ensure victory.
  12. Absolutely essential as a multiplayer title, but if single player action is what you're looking for, the appalling AI that some characters display is a bit of a let-down - although there is fun to be had.
  13. I must say that I went with my gut instinct and although Day of Reckoning 2 is a solid game I just felt like there was something that was needed in this game, maybe a better story mode that would take this game to the top.
  14. The character models rank among the best ever seen on the GCN (in any game), and the polygonal crowds look much better than the 2-D cutouts from previous wrestling titles. [Nov 2005, p.106]
  15. Solid fun. [Oct 2005, p.68]
  16. DoR2 is the best wrestling title available on the Cube and I'm going to even go so far as to suggest that it indeed has stolen the Heavyweight Championship Belt from Sony's console, thus making DoR2 the best wrestling title available...on any system.
  17. Flaws are still present, but appear less often, and the options have been upped in almost every area for a more complete package. The play feels smooth, and the game looks great.
  18. 80
    An excellent game for the wrestling purists, and while it would actually have been nice to get a little more good ol' WWE brand tackiness, it's hard to decline what the game offers: beautiful bodies on beautiful display, doing beautiful violence.
  19. Due to the fact that this title is on the Gamecube, inherently lacking any sort of online multiplayer mode, after completing the story mode there isn't much more to keep you interested in playing unless you have a group of friends also into wrestling games.
  20. Nagging complaints aside, this is clearly the best WWE GameCube game that Yukes has ever developed, and to say that I was shocked when I first saw it would be quite an understatement. The entrances, the music, the finishing maneuvers, and the gameplay are just really tight.
  21. There's little wrong with DOR2, but it's missing that star quality that puts you in the big leagues. [GamesMaster]
  22. 79
    While it's certainly worth owning, there are some massive problems that are easily deal-breakers for many.
  23. Although it's technically a fine game, if you own the original, there's not much reason to purchase WWE Day of Reckoning 2.
  24. Let's have me stop now before I go over the line, but I urge you grappling fans to pick this one up, as it's truly one of the last great wrestling games for this generation of consoles.
  25. It isn't quite as good as the "Smackdown" series on PS2, but in this generation of wrestling games not much is.
  26. The combat system is solid, allowing you some pretty awesome moves without hours of memorizing button taps.
  27. All in all, what Day of Reckoning 2 presents to us is a few tweaks to the original Day of Reckoning - some good, most bad.
  28. If you're only a casual wrasslin' fan, is it worth checking out? Eh. Sorta. [Oct 2005, p.138]
  29. Unfortunately, this game, like most wrestling games, suffers from clipping issues, where chunks of people pass right through objects or even other people.
  30. In more ways than ever, Reckoning 2 feels like an afterthought for the Yukes team to get one last Gamecube wrestler out there before they go out with what appears to be a real winner with "SmackDown vs. RAW 2006."
  31. 70
    The submission meter is the best new addition to gameplay, but the new stamina addition feels restrictive on fighting.
  32. Yuke's has done a decent job of improving the GameCube franchise, but it is still playing catch-up with the "SmackDown" series.
  33. 60
    The gorgeous graphics, broad character roster, large number of matches, and multiplayer action offer a ton of fun for players that can forgive technical flaws.
  34. Slightly better than last year's game, but it's still nothing special. [Oct 2005, p.119]
  35. With minor gameplay upgrades and some significant graphical tweaks, Day of Reckoning 2 feels more like a patch than a true sequel. Then again, patches usually make games better. This one damages the gameplay and commits a huge oversight by failing to let players import their custom characters from the last game.
  36. Wrestling games past and present have suffered from the same basic flaw: lack of depth. We gamers are a sophisticated bunch when it comes to our melee. We can handle it. Imagine us not as stupid cavemen wielding funny looking colorful misshapen clubs (read: controllers).
User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 256 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 2 out of 6
  1. You would think the sequel to the excellent WWE: Day of Reckoning would be equally as good, but sadly this is not the case. While it has a bigger roster and a slightly better create-a-wrestler tool, it unfortunately has a wrecked submission system, annoying stamina meter, and horrible difficulty imbalances. If playing the highest difficulty in the first game was like driving a Ferrari, playing it in this game is like driving a Yugo; don't expect matches to have any give and take - your opponent will counter just about everything you attempt. Also, how hard would it be to have title belts in exhibition mode? Or AI opponents who fight each other in triple threat matches? Stick to Day of Reckoning 1 if you want a satisfying wrestling sim. Full Review »
  2. This game could be incredible, but has several flaws of varying degrees of seriousness that cripple it. Despite having possibly the most robust create-a-wrestler systems in any wrestling game as well as the most extensive move list, this game is still hamstrung by flaws. The most obvious one is the new stamina system which, while not a deal breaker, is just unnecessary and annoying. The most rage-inducing flaw only appears in triple threat and fatal fourway matches against bots. They aren't triple threat or fatal fourway matches at all; they're two-on-one and three-on-one handicap matches. The bots almost never attack each other, will surround and gang-bang you, break up any grapple that you attempt, and will never stay down. The amount of frustration that will come from playing these matches on any difficulty above easy is astronomical, and is enough warrant a 0 rating. Avoid at all costs. Full Review »
  3. DylanD.
    10
    This is the best wrestling game i've played since the original DOR. Amazing storyline and the best lineup of legends in any of the games.