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WRESTLING VIDEO GAMES
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WWE Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain
by THQ (for PlayStation2)
Description:
I will be reviewing a wrestling game that got a lot of hype but isn't on your list. In the great words of the Hurricane, "what's up wit dat". I'm talking about Smackdown: Here come the pain for the PS2. This game revolutionized wrestling games to an all time high, with its all new grappling system, new match modes and excellent season mode. This game might even replace watching our beloved Raw or Smackdown shows to pushing PS2 controls to watch your favourite wrestler win the big one. Let's take a look, shall we.
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Audio: This game packs an impressive audio. The music settles in nicely with the match, and sort of goes along with what's going on in the ring. The audio is loud enough to hear, but doesn't interfere with the bone-crunching chair shots or the thundering ladder hits. Another excellent thing THQ did was the have excellent sound effects. In the game, getting hit by a chair or getting put through a table actually puts the player in the wrestler's perspective, as you hear the thundering chair shot coming towards you. The sound effects are excellent and the vibration on the controller really puts the player into a wrestler's shoes. What I was disappointed in was the fact that there were no voiceover from actual WWE stars (although we know how terrible they were on Smackdown VS Raw-especially Rene Dupree). Also, there was no colour commentary from Jerry "puppies" Lawler and Jim "sloberknockin" Ross. I would of like to see how King would react in a polygonal Bra and Panties Match. Overall, the sound effects and the music make the audio department very good in Smackdown Vs Raw
Overall Audio Score: 8.5/10
Controls: When I was reading the reviews before it came out, I was scared that they changed the grappling system. However, when I popped it in, I was blown away. The new grappling system creates a variety of new moves for your superstar, and also adds to his/her arsenal. It isn't overly complicated, and any basic gamer can pick up and play. The controls in the game itself aren't that hard, and are probably meant for the average game. Also, when your superstar is badly hurt or smashed with a weapon, the controller vibrates creating a sense of authenticity to what it feels like in the squared circle. Although the controls are pretty solid, there were minor problems to the controls. I sometimes had difficulty climbing fences or cages and occasionally frustrated with picking up the right weapon. However, minor setback aside, the controls are very easy to get into and draws you in to the wrestling experience.
Overall Control Score: 9.5/10
Graphics: The graphics in Here Comes the Pain are excellent. Everything from the wrestlers, to their entrances seems WWE genuine. The wrestlers look like themselves (although I saw Triple H with extra abs, must be backstage politics again......just kidding). Their entrances are very similar to their real life entrances. Also, the reappearance of blood in wrestling games gives you a feel of how brutal a match can be. What I liked most about this game was that when a chair or pipe was used, it would bend and stay in the ring instead of just disappearing, and the player can use the weapon over and over again, which I thought was really cool. I admired how THQ had backstage rooms which were very detailed, and the fans in the game looked excellent. All of them are 3-D and have their own way of cheering, giving you a sense of how wild a match can get. Also, the arenas looked great, each of them unique from one another (my favourite was the backlash arena with the flying hooks). All together, Smackdown: Here comes the pain is a beautiful wrestling game which delivers the WWE experience.
Overall Graphics Score: 10/10
Gameplay: Here's where it counts. So far, Smackdown has been layin the Smackdown on the audio, stunnering the controls and pedigreeing the graphics. All it has to do is pin the Gameplay for the World Heavy Weight Championship. And boy does it ever. Smackdown: Here comes the Pain features addictive gameplay although the game. The season mode is in-depth and detailed, and finishing every single story will take you a couple of hours. Also, the create a wrestler mode is very in-depth and rich, and you can choose all your moves, specials, fighting styles etc. Also, there are a variety of match selections, including the addition Elimination Chamber and the atrocious Bra and Panties Match. Every match is excellent in it's own way, except for one. The Bra and Panties Match. I have had the game for a year and a half, and I have never played more than one Bra and Panty Match, which features Divas who are extremely weak, limited move arsenal and pulling off the clothes is pretty hard. With the exception of that match, every other match is pretty good. Although the season is excellent, the CAW mode is detailed, and the matches excellent, where this game really blew me away was the multiplayer. This is an excellent party game, and can hold up to six players. It appeals to non-wrestling fans and fans alike (all my friends hate wrestling but digged this game). We sat in front of the screen for hours, me and my friends creating our own little rivalries and teams, and almost creating a mini federation. There are varieties of matches, which never get tiring and can go on playing for hours. All in all, Smackdown: here comes the pain is extremely addictive and can give you hours upon hours of gameplay, both by yourself or with the buddies.
Overall Gameplay Score: 10/10
In conclusion, Smackdown: Here Comes The Pain sucks the player in to the World of the WWE. It gives the player endless hours of thrilling gameplay, delivers superb graphics, provides controls at the tip of your fingers and has a compelling audio, racking up to be a all packaged wrestling game. Any wrestling fan should turn off the Wrestlemania 3 tapes, grapple a ride to the nearest game store and suplex this game into their house immediately. Overall, I recommend it to any wrestling fan, or any video game freak as a whole.
I will be reviewing a wrestling game that got a lot of hype but isn't on your list. In the great words of the Hurricane, "what's up wit dat". I'm talking about Smackdown: Here come the pain for the PS2. This game revolutionized wrestling games to an all time high, with its all new grappling system, new match modes and excellent season mode. This game might even replace watching our beloved Raw or Smackdown shows to pushing PS2 controls to watch your favourite wrestler win the big one. Let's take a look, shall we.
Audio: This game packs an impressive audio. The music settles in nicely with the match, and sort of goes along with what's going on in the ring. The audio is loud enough to hear, but doesn't interfere with the bone-crunching chair shots or the thundering ladder hits. Another excellent thing THQ did was the have excellent sound effects. In the game, getting hit by a chair or getting put through a table actually puts the player in the wrestler's perspective, as you hear the thundering chair shot coming towards you. The sound effects are excellent and the vibration on the controller really puts the player into a wrestler's shoes. What I was disappointed in was the fact that there were no voiceover from actual WWE stars (although we know how terrible they were on Smackdown VS Raw-especially Rene Dupree). Also, there was no colour commentary from Jerry "puppies" Lawler and Jim "sloberknockin" Ross. I would of like to see how King would react in a polygonal Bra and Panties Match. Overall, the sound effects and the music make the audio department very good in Smackdown Vs Raw
Overall Audio Score: 8.5/10
Controls: When I was reading the reviews before it came out, I was scared that they changed the grappling system. However, when I popped it in, I was blown away. The new grappling system creates a variety of new moves for your superstar, and also adds to his/her arsenal. It isn't overly complicated, and any basic gamer can pick up and play. The controls in the game itself aren't that hard, and are probably meant for the average game. Also, when your superstar is badly hurt or smashed with a weapon, the controller vibrates creating a sense of authenticity to what it feels like in the squared circle. Although the controls are pretty solid, there were minor problems to the controls. I sometimes had difficulty climbing fences or cages and occasionally frustrated with picking up the right weapon. However, minor setback aside, the controls are very easy to get into and draws you in to the wrestling experience.
Overall Control Score: 9.5/10
Graphics: The graphics in Here Comes the Pain are excellent. Everything from the wrestlers, to their entrances seems WWE genuine. The wrestlers look like themselves (although I saw Triple H with extra abs, must be backstage politics again......just kidding). Their entrances are very similar to their real life entrances. Also, the reappearance of blood in wrestling games gives you a feel of how brutal a match can be. What I liked most about this game was that when a chair or pipe was used, it would bend and stay in the ring instead of just disappearing, and the player can use the weapon over and over again, which I thought was really cool. I admired how THQ had backstage rooms which were very detailed, and the fans in the game looked excellent. All of them are 3-D and have their own way of cheering, giving you a sense of how wild a match can get. Also, the arenas looked great, each of them unique from one another (my favourite was the backlash arena with the flying hooks). All together, Smackdown: Here comes the pain is a beautiful wrestling game which delivers the WWE experience.
Overall Graphics Score: 10/10
Gameplay: Here's where it counts. So far, Smackdown has been layin the Smackdown on the audio, stunnering the controls and pedigreeing the graphics. All it has to do is pin the Gameplay for the World Heavy Weight Championship. And boy does it ever. Smackdown: Here comes the Pain features addictive gameplay although the game. The season mode is in-depth and detailed, and finishing every single story will take you a couple of hours. Also, the create a wrestler mode is very in-depth and rich, and you can choose all your moves, specials, fighting styles etc. Also, there are a variety of match selections, including the addition Elimination Chamber and the atrocious Bra and Panties Match. Every match is excellent in it's own way, except for one. The Bra and Panties Match. I have had the game for a year and a half, and I have never played more than one Bra and Panty Match, which features Divas who are extremely weak, limited move arsenal and pulling off the clothes is pretty hard. With the exception of that match, every other match is pretty good. Although the season is excellent, the CAW mode is detailed, and the matches excellent, where this game really blew me away was the multiplayer. This is an excellent party game, and can hold up to six players. It appeals to non-wrestling fans and fans alike (all my friends hate wrestling but digged this game). We sat in front of the screen for hours, me and my friends creating our own little rivalries and teams, and almost creating a mini federation. There are varieties of matches, which never get tiring and can go on playing for hours. All in all, Smackdown: here comes the pain is extremely addictive and can give you hours upon hours of gameplay, both by yourself or with the buddies.
Overall Gameplay Score: 10/10
In conclusion, Smackdown: Here Comes The Pain sucks the player in to the World of the WWE. It gives the player endless hours of thrilling gameplay, delivers superb graphics, provides controls at the tip of your fingers and has a compelling audio, racking up to be a all packaged wrestling game. Any wrestling fan should turn off the Wrestlemania 3 tapes, grapple a ride to the nearest game store and suplex this game into their house immediately. Overall, I recommend it to any wrestling fan, or any video game freak as a whole.
Reviewed by Rush H on March 5, 2005.
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