WWE: Road to Wrestlemania X8 - GBA

THQ has done a fantastic job of bringing the infamous WWE franchise (formerly known as WWF) into the console market. The company broke records with its Smackdown series, and is continuing to popularise the genre with the Game Boy Advance release of Wrestlemania X8.

Employing a Mortal Kombat visual style, complete with 2D fighting rings, and pixelated characters, Wrestlemania X8, like most other Game Boy Advance games, has a distinctly retro feel. But it works well because it still looks rather nice and doesn't hinder gameplay in any way.

Given the choice of 16 legendary lycra-wearing WWE superstars including OAP Hulk Hogan, Rob Van Dam and Booker T, players must enter the infamous ring of doom with either a single or multiple opponents. The trick is to be the last fighter standing by unleashing a series of Piledrivers, Suplexes, Bear Hugs and Backbreakers. For the most part, these moves are easily executed with a selection of d-pad and button combinations. Some moves are more effective than others, but are generally more difficult to pull off - it's entirely your decision which strategy you use.

Victories are not only rewarded with increased player statistics and giant belts, players can also acquire items from the 'Shopzone' such as hats and shirts, all of which can be traded from one GBA to another via a link lead.

The link lead also facilitates a fantastic multi-player mode for up to four players. Here, you can exploit the game's broad range of game modes including King of the Ring, Royal Rumble and Team Battle in both co-operative and competitive games.

Wrestlemania X8 does a good job of matching the action seen in its 128-bit counterparts. You can't really ask more than that. more