What? Game publisher THQ has been doing WWE (formerly WWF) video games for over 10 years now. THQ’s WWF No Mercy (2000) for the N64 is considered by gaming fans to be the “ultimate” wrestling video game, and THQ has had a consistent hit with their annual best-selling Smackdown vs. Raw series of games. While Acclaim’s Legends of Wrestling series was a critical failure, the “throwback” aspect of the game managed to garner it sales not warranted by the quality or critical reception of the games. This was THQ’s chance to cash in on that market, and they succeeded in providing a game for throwback wrestling fans.

Why? This game lacks depth. And by depth, I mean that hardcore gamers will be able to finish this game in a few days (vs. THQ’s yearly Smackdown vs. Raw, which has months of replay value). But while most games that lack depth are not worth purchasing, this game makes up for it in both 80s/90s wrestling nostalgia and throwback arcade controls. This makes it a good choice for a library collection because it is a game with large pop-culture significance (Hulk Hogan!), it is a game that gamers might have been reluctant to buy but eager to play (which is the whole reason people rent books from libraries), and it has a small & fun learning curve that makes for a good times in multiplayer and library programming situations. This is also a responsible pick for a collection because it is “historical” in nature and isn’t part of a series of never-ending sequels, so its value to a collection won’t disappear.

Who? Gamers are wrestling fans, or, at least, gamers like wrestling games. It probably skews towards an older gaming demographic than the best-selling  Smackdown series because its main “draw” is nostalgia. Don’t write off a younger crowd either, because Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is currently starring in a big-budget movie with Julie Andrews and he also happens to grace the cover of the game. The game is for PS3 and XBox 360.