“Listen up ‘cause we’re sick of repeating ourselves. WWF Road to Wrestlemania packs everything it can from the World Wrestling Federation and delivers it into the palm of your hand. When it comes to taking on the WWF Superstars, you better know your role and shut your mouth, ‘cause these bad boys don’t take smack from anybody!”

That may just say it all. WWF Road to Wrestlemania, from THQ for the Game Boy Advance, is about as hard a game to control, and as challenging as any game built for the palm console system.

And when THQ says this game is packed, you had better believe it. The options on this game are absolutely stunning.

Check this out:

You can play several styles of matches – the single match, a tag match, the triple-threat match (three in a free-for-all), the handicap match (one versus two), and a cage match.  You can also compete in a Royal Rumble and choose the order of appearance for the wrestlers. Not your style? Maybe, then, you would like to compete for the heavyweight belt for a full season. There is also the Gauntlet (one against 24, one at a time), exhibition matches (best for learning the ropes – pun intended), King of the Ring, the Ironman Match, and Pay-Per-View (you create the event with up to eight matches).

You can select which WWF arena you would like to compete in. There are 24 wrestlers, including Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, the Undertaker, Raven, Triple H and most of the recognized stars of the WWF. Each star has an intro screen, which epitomizes his wrestling persona.

Graphically this game is a little two-dimensional, but the movements are pretty well done, and the game moves along at a nice pace. The sound isn’t bad: it features a decent musical score, and the effects are adequate.

The toughest part of the challenge presented by this game is the control elements. You can kick, or punch, but once you grapple, then you have to employ most of the keys to perform moves. For example, the A button (when facing or behind an opponent) will have you grapple with the foe. The control pad, and either the A or B buttons will perform moves. The L and R buttons also come into play. Initially this all seems confusing, and is quite hard to control, but once you have taken part in a few exhibition matches, it begins to make sense, and devastating moves come easier. However, this is a reflexive game, and part of making each move work is to beat your opponent to the move.

WWF Road to Wrestlemania is a game packed with playability, tough challenges and solid graphics.

Though there is violence, this game is rated for Everyone.

Install: N/A

Gameplay: 8
Matches can last as long as 15 minutes, and the action is constant.

Graphics: 7.3
Two-dimensional animation that moves well powers the game. The environmental graphics are not really worth noting.

Sound: 7
The music isn’t that bad, but the effects are merely average and typical of GBA games.

Difficulty: 7
This game is tough to get a handle on. You must be quick and understand how to execute moves, not that will always help you against some of the tougher wrestlers.

Concept: 8
Wrestling isn’t new to the console market, but hats off to THQ for jamming just about everything it could think of into this title.

Multiplayer: N/A
Game Link cables are necessary to hook up multiple Game Boys for multiplayer gaming.

Overall: 8
This is a solid, option-ripe game that translates well to this format. Perhaps the control elements are a little tough, but that is part of the joy and challenge. Fans of wrestling will get a big kick out of this title.