WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It

"This is a review done by a TRUE gamer"

I just got the game yesterday and finally stopped playing it to write up a quick little review.

I can't believe IGN gave this game a score below SD2. This game completely blows SD2 out of the water.

Graphic wise, the game is awesome. Entrances are down almost perfectly, with occasional pop-through, but not enough to get one's panties in a bunch. Triple H's entrance rules all, by the way. Each wrestler is smooth and textured nicely and while I agree that long hair could be better, it's not as bad as IGN says. Personally, when I'm delivering the Gore as Rhyno, I'm not concerned that strands of hair behind his hair are popping through his shoulders. Get a life, IGN.

Having 70+ matches in this game is one of the best features. Sure, they are the same modes from the last game, but greatly improved. Take, for example, the Hell in a Cell. THQ finally fixed the horrible, horrible mistakes that they made with this match in SD2. You can no longer hit your opponent and send them flying off the cage with a simple punch. In fact, you can no longer punch your opponent over the side of the cage, which makes it much more realistic. Instead, you have to do a move such as the Super Powerbomb to get them over the top. The ability to go through the center of the cell remains the same from SD2, except it is much more effective.

TLC is still great, with better response to chair and ladder shots. Tables are still a pain in the ass, though. True, you can do almost every move through a table, but it almost HAS to involve playing against another human player. The computer will come onto a table with you, but will eventually fall back down before you can do much. Still, a Triple Threat and Fatal Four TLC match option is great.

Table has to be the worst mode in the game. I never liked this one in SD2 and still don't in SD3. As said above, you can drive your opponent through the table with any grapple move, but it almost has to be against a human opponent. Otherwise, you can pretty much win this match in a matter of seconds, as the computer seems to not block your attempts at a piledriver or powerbomb through a table.

I've heard a lot of people bash the tables in this game because they break and disappear. At first, I was a bit bothered to learn this, but, if you take a second to think about it, what did SD2's do? They were lying in the ring broken, getting in the way. They did nothing whatsoever. I like the fact that tables come back the way they do.

CAW mode is one of the best parts of the game, despite what some people will say. It take a while to make a character, sure, but it's worth it. Being able to add ''layers'' of clothing to a creation is excellent. However, the one downfall of this mode lies with the inability to select ''none'' for nickname. However, if you're like me, you turn off commentary and announcing and never have to hear those stupid nicknames used for your character.

Yes, I'm not going to lie, commentary blows chunks. I think enough people have commented on this. It's good for a few laughs, but once you get your CAW in there and the nickname you chose is announced with such a boring tone, you'll turn it off.

Story mode is not as bad as some people would have you think. Yes, it is quite short if you want it to be, but, in the words of Diamond Dallas Page: ''that's not a bad thing, that's a good thing.'' I hated SD2's story mode. It was far too long and just repeated completely boring story lines all over again. It is true that you will run into the same story lines, but depending on who you pick, you may get treated to a special treat. For example, I chose Kurt Angle and followed the path to the WWF Title. Matt Hardy came out on Smackdown! and called me out. Instead of being able to choose, Kurt Angle, in a milk truck, came to the ring. He stopped short of ringside and flung two cartons of milk at the Hardly boy before getting on the truck and drinking milk. It was just something extra special. Then, as a result, I had to face Matt in an Ultimate Submission Match. After I defeated him 10-0, a small cut-scene played after the match showing Kurt Angle lock on the Ankle Lock and not let go.

True, the graphics are RAW is WAR quality, but then again, RAW doesn't have a story mode and it's backstage areas are generated randomly. Smackdown: Just Bring It has HUGE (and I do mean huge) backstage areas that all link to each other and loads of stuff to do. I got the game yesterday and if I'm not playing it nonstop, I'm thinking about playing it. Loading times are completely gone, except for the long one for saving (about 30 seconds). Overall, this game is a VAST improvement over SD2. If you don't agree, there must be something wrong with you mentally. Graphics are better, the realism is better, there are more modes, and there are better characters.

Overall, I give this game at least an 8.5 to 9. The commentary shouldn't have been added and a trying to face the right person in matches like 6 man tag or HIAC Armageddon can get you a bit ticked. This game definitely didn't deserve the score that most video game sites gave it.

If you even enjoyed SD2 in the slightest bit, but felt it moved too fast to be an enjoyable game, pick up SD3. Wrestlers sell moves much better and the overall gameplay is far beyond what SD2 could do.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/21/01, Updated 11/21/01