WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth

"After JBI I almost lost hope."

I have played the smackdown series from the beggining and after JBI I wondered if I would keep playing them. Well this game takes whats good about the series and adds so uch more. Smackdown is no longer just a button masher you will actually have to work on your reversals.

Gameplay: 9/10 The smackdown series has always been lightning fast and if you hit your square button somewhere in the action noone could hit you. Now this game makes you press the reversa at the right time and makes grappling alot better then the previous games. There are now only 6 people in the ring against the 8 in JBI but its much better that way.

You have so man things to do now. You can climb the titontron now and make it memorable. You can take takers bike for a ride. The backstages are better then ever and re interactive. HIAC is full sized but sadl only one panel to break still. If someone makes you mad you can attack them after the match or just taunt them. There are so many thngs added that it seems like a new game.

The season is the best in a game. It takes you through the last year or so of the shows starting with the draft. You can now walk around backstage and it has some use. Talk to people pick a fight be a nice guy you choose what to do. You cannot take female through season mode thoug and I dont know why.

Graphics 10/10 SYM has great graphics. Your people lok like the real life wrestlers with hair flowing and people limping after there hurt. The hair moves with the action and the effects work great. When you do a special it looks very nice now. The actio slows an moves around your wrestle lik a matrix effect. You can alo get replays of your secial. When you have 2 specials you can steal your opponents finisher to rub it in.

Sound 7/10 The sound in most wrestling games suck with commentary. While this game doesnt exactly have commentary it still has some. JR and the King will put in random comments at times and sometimesthey just dont fit. The music is the same as its always been. In ring you will recgnize it no doubt.

Overall 9/10 If you like the smackdown series this s for you. This game takes what you like and adds more. Ifyou dont like the Smackdown series in general this may not be for you. It is a great upgrade though so if the game sounds interesting its worth a rental.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/17/02, Updated 11/17/02