This is something that Acclaim appear to have overlooked, having obviously spent so much time getting the characters to look good. Despite the obvious sense of impact, whether it's a TV, a metal bar or a staple-gun you pick up, there's little or no difference in the injury - a few red pixels scattered about the place doesn't make for a realistic wound, as games like Mortal Kombat and Bushido Blade have proven. It may sound sick, but if you're going to be able to staple-gun someone's face, you should at least be able to appreciate it, or better still, watch it via some kind of slow motion replay.

This aside, ECW does present some element of comedy in its bizarre nature, but for those who haven't been fortunate to experience the real thing, it's difficult to make the connection that people do actually fight like this, which is half the fun. All of these factors would be understandable if Acclaim were aiming at a mass audience, but when they've already excluded younger gamers, one would have thought they would make the most of an adult opportunity. Heaven knows, the adverse publicity would have done them and the sport some good.

Ignoring the missed opportunities, Hardcore Revolution isn't a bad wrestling game - it just isn't a particularly great one. The wrestlers look sharp, even if they appear to moonwalk across the ring at times. There are endless game modes, match styles and the fine tuning options are a nice touch, as is the concept of excess violence. The moves lack any real originality though, and leave you feeling like you're constantly watching re-runs of the same match. Hardcore Revolution may well have a small number of ECW fans wetting themselves over its imminent release, but anyone who doesn't know who Big Sal or Sabu are is going to be a little disappointed.