Discover 101 uses for a folding chair.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Think you have what it takes to get into World Wrestling Entertainment? Think again. Welcome to the minor leagues of piledriving, where every rookie jabroni learns at the School of Hard Knocks.

In this Nintendo GameCube exclusive, you build your own Superstar from the ground up, graduate to the world of WWE programming, and hit the ropes against 40 of the WWE's top Superstars, including Triple H, Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit.

Features

• School of Hard Knocks: Battle up the ranks in a completely original story mode that propels you from the minor leagues, through WWE Velocity & Heat and all the way to the big time
• WWE Legends include Andre the Giant
• Redesigned graphics and environments: New detailed models and crowd environments with dynamic lighting and pyrotechnic effects
• TV-style presentation captures that rambunctious WWE attitude
• Enhanced grappling: all-new submission system, realistic reversals and Superstar finishers
• Location damage: Players can target specific body parts
• Superstar momentum shift: Turn the tables on your opponent when they least expect it

In the squared circle, the best of the best survive to fight another day. Work your way through the WWE ranks and hear your name called as the world champion on the Day of Reckoning.

It's amazing how a game that basically takes place in the same setting every time can be so deep. For those who just want to pick up the Controller and spar, WWE Day of Reckoning offers six types of matches with up to nine different sets of rules (or lack thereof). Then players choose what venue in which to battle it out, from Smackdown to Summerslam to WrestleMania.

From there, it's grappling nirvana. The wrestler models look incredible. The tutorial is slick and helpful. Use the Control Pad to taunt your opponent and pump up the crowd. When you have enough adrenaline coursing through your system, perform your special finishing moves on your dazzled opponent. Although you need to know a number of button combinations to perform your signature moves, the main button you need to know is A. You're going to push it a lot and at a rapid pace.

Day of Reckoning lets you take total control of the game. Create a superstar and pay your dues. Start out with 16 different body types (eight males and females). Unfortunately, you can't play Story Mode with a female wrestler. Once you select the frame, make a profile (indicating, for example, if you're a clean or dirty fighter) and distribute 250 points for the player attributes. As you win matches, you'll receive more points for your wrester. If you wrestle hard and well, you just might find yourself trying on a belt.

The most complicated aspect of superstar creation is developing a Move Set. You can customize 11 categories of movement, such as running, standing and fighting style. Each category contains subcategories of specific movements. Choose the move you want your wrestler to perform on the opponent. Not interested in customizing all those options? Go to the Template menu and select the wrestling style you appreciate most. The skill set of moves is then applied to all categories. Finally, adjust your player's appearance in a large number of ways and select how you're introduced before a match and subsequent ring entrances.

Like we said, it's a deep game.

Your success in gameplay unlocks the WWE Legends, including Andre The Giant. You also need to unlock the event series such as WrestleMania and Summerslam before they've available in Exhibition Mode.

If you want a quick reference chart for your wrestler's moves, go to the Tutorial. Although you can't access it during a match, it's a quick refresher.

Bottom Line

Can you smell what The Rock is cooking? We smell a deliciously awesome wrestling feast.