WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain

"An honest HCTP review"

Introduction This is my first ever review on a message board and I will try to review the game honestly. I have played the Smackdown Games since SD2 KYR and I have played others such as Giant Gram 2000. I must say that this is the most impressive effort to date. THQ/Yukes have put out the best Smackdown of the series and the best overall wrestling game of the year... onto the review...

Gameplay

This is where Smackdown HCTP really shines. There is definitely a learning curve to the new grappling system, especially if you are used to the former Smackdown games. I do recommend reading the manual as some of the familiar button presses that you may have learned from playing previous Smackdown games as changed.

Unlike the previous Smackdown Games which consisted of three grapple movesets.. this game features what I feel is an more fluid grapple system which mimics real wrestling. With the D-pad and the circle button You must choose a grapple moveset Power, Submission, Signature or Quick, This moveset initiates a particular grapple animation and then you have to choose which move from that moveset you will attempt. This means that you now have Sixteen front grapples as opposed to the Twelve on previous Smackdown games. Back Grapples and Ground Grapples remain the same.

Also key is the new reversal system. Instead of mindlessly mashing the square button in the previous games which led to the unavoidable reversal fest, this game has two separate buttons. One for grapple reversals and one for strike reversals. This requires some timing and I have found it is a help if you have some knowledge of the opponent you are grappling with. The reversal animations are very well done and they make sense. You can also reverse a Smackdown without giving up one of your Smackdowns but the timing must be very very good.

Unlike Previous games where it was a race to the finisher and the first one to unleash a Smackdown wins. This game requires some thought. Strikes will almost always beat grapples so it is important to mix moves together to gain an advantage. The AI is definitely much smarter than previous Smackdown and gives you a much better challenge.

Also key is the new damage system and submissions. Near your name there is a small blue icon which shows which parts of your body is damaged When you target an attack at a specific body part over time that area will change colors from blue to yellow to orange to red. This has two effects.. on your opponent lets say you have been working the legs.. and the legs are damaged.. the opponent will hobble like in Smackdown Shut Your Mouth but now they will also be more susceptible to tap out if a submission move is applied onto that area. Many submissions will now bring up a submission bar which although is very arcade like ( because you have to tap the buttons really fast ) it does have a desired effect. A damaged opponent will start out closer to tapping out and will have a hard time getting out the hold. This is a dream come true for submission fans ( of which I am one ).

Another effect occurs especially when the torso has been damaged. This can limit the wrestler from making certain moves and even making a pin at the right time. if your torso is too damaged you might find yourself having a hard time doing certain suplexes and powerbombs. You will also find that after doing some moves you will take two-three seconds '' selling '' the injured area which can be enough time for your opponent to recover.

Gameplay Final Score:10

This is the shining achievement in this game in my opinion so I give the area a 10.

Story

HCTP has an excellent story mode. Unlike previous games where sometimes you wound up in mindless feuds which took forever to get out of now you have shorter '' angles '' which are resolved very quickly. I dont want to reveal too much about the story mode as it may spoil things for people that dont have the game yet. Suffice it to say that it is the best story mode I have seen in the series. This mode also allows you to unlock moves, hidden wrestlers, alternate costumes and arenas. Unlike other games where sometimes the unlocking was totally random, this game basically pays you money to win a match ( and you get more for winning that loosing thus another incentive to win ) and then you can choose what to unlock.. want to unlock all the moves first.. go head.. want to save up for that really cool Legend wrestler... go head.. the choice is yours..

This game actually makes you want to play story mode.. Want to unlock those cool new moves.. go to story mode.. Want to see your stats.. go to story mode.. and CRITICAL.. Do you want your new cool Created Wrestler to ever be able to beat the Undertaker or Brock Lesner ?? You gotta play the season mode to build up his stats... This is a great way to get more life out of the game in my opinion...

Story Mode Score: 9

Story Mode gets a less than perfect score only because I havent played it all the way through yet.

Graphics/Sound Best Graphics to date on a Smackdown Game, however there are some problems. The plus is that the models move in the ring very naturally and have a great flow. More specifically, Goldberg moves and acts like Goldberg while the Rock moves and acts like the Rock. I enjoy those subtle nuances. The models are some of the best and many of the moves were reanimated. I can remember countless times in SYM creating CAW's going.. oh man I would use that if the moves wasnt animated so poorly. They fixed many moves and the collision detection is better with some moves off the top rope. I also particularly hated in SYM when you hit a guy with a dropkick and he didnt fall.. or hit him dead on with a clothesline and they didnt fall just stumbled.. that seems to have been fixed. The Matrix effect which was from last year now happens automatically with certain moves and finishers. This is great the first few times you see it but I wish there was an option to turn it off.

One huge negative for me is that while the Goldberg, HHH,Brock, and Steve Austin models are extremely realistic.. The Rock, Kurt Angle and especially John Cena make me ask.. who is that ???? I think they can do a much better job especially with the main event guys.. Randy Orton being in Evolution and not having his new shorts ??? Come on..

Sound This is the games flaw here in my opinion. If WWE can produce anthology albums every year with their themes why in the world cant they place them in the games. Why did RVD have to correct theme last year and not this year.. Ric Flair not coming out to a wooooooooooooo and 2001 Space Odyssey.. !!!! No new Dudleys theme song.. No New Kane song.. that has to be addressed. I realize that there is no way to custom rip soundtracks cause PS2 currently doesnt have a hard drive.. but this is something they need to address for the next SD game...

And why dont they leave the old theme songs in the game.. I happen to like the Latino Heat theme.. why not just make Eddy Guerrero 1 and 2 ??? Why not leave both HHH themes in like last time.. and why take out the n W o music.. which is some of the coolest music of all time.. and for crying out loud.. put DX's music back in the game... Make the sounds unlockable in season.. where you could purchase them to use with wrestlers.. If they cant have lyrics.. heck at least get the MUSIC !!!!

The crowd is better than last year and makes some very good chants and adds more to the game although sometimes they dont seem to chant in line with what you are doing.

Graphics Score:8, Sound Score:5

I am going to review the CAW mode in another faq but the CAW mode is what kills the game from getting a higher score for me.. in some ways it is better than last year.. like being able to choose the style of clothing and THEN add color.. CAW at least have something that resembles teeth this year.. but in many ways it is worse.. far to few Singlets to choose from.. and far far far far far far too many womens clothing items.. It is much harder to find some things.. Less layers this year than last year... although I have rarely had to use more than 35 layers. the Body morphing to me is not a breakthrough in any way shape or form. You still cant make a guy with huge traps like Brock Lesnar.. when are they going to give you more builds from the basic set up.. instead of just skinny, fat and normal.. how about adding stuff like Muscular ( Brock and Goldberg ).., Tall Muscular ( Batista, Nathan Jones ), Short Muscular ( Eddy Guererro and Chris Benoit ), Athletic ( Kurt Angle ), Tall Althetic ( Sean O Haire )....

As I said there will be a separate CAW faq.. but it really isnt an improvement on last years CAW and in some ways it is worse.

Also RAW2 and Wreslemania XIX had custom entrances. With RAW2 you could even pick your own pyro. Sadly this feature was not in HCTP. This would have been a HUGE improvement and if they had the actual themes.. BOOO YAH...

FINAL SCORE 8/10

I am giving an 8 out of 10 because I really believe that the sound could have been top notch, and CAW mode could have been vastly improved instead of resting on their laurels. Gameplay is top and I repeat TOP NOTCH...

If you are a wrestling fan and want the best wrestler on the PS2 this is a must...

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/31/03