WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain

"Play this game and forget all the pains"

After a miserable WWE:SYM, WWE returns with it’s new sequel, WWE HERE COMES THE PAIN. The most anticipate game of the year is set to be the most improved game in 2003 with the game play of the game is the most significant improvement in this game as well as the graphics, sounds, and of course the season mode. THQ should been given a big credit for making a great job by making a lot of improvement in this game. Wrestling fans can expect the game to be more enjoyable and realistic than the previous game where the new changes of the game really brings new excitement to gamers.

GAMEPLAY (10/10)
The most improved part of the game is the game play. The moves of the wrestlers are easier to perform as well as easy to learn even for a 4 year old kid. This game can be played up to 6 players at one time and thus it is a very good game for family and friends to enjoy the game together. WWE HCTP introduced new grapple system which wrestlers have to performed pre-grapple move before attempting the desired moves. This enabled the moves of each wrestler easier to attempt as each pre-grapple move organized by their types which is fast moves, submission moves, power moves, and signature moves. Like for example if users want to do a sleeper hold, users need to do the pre-grapple for submission moves then only users can execute the sleeper hold. There also hundreds of other moves such as the ground moves, the whip moves, and aerial move which is easy to perform and also look realistically. Each wrestler also got their own special and finishing moves such as Stone Cold Stunner, F-5, Rock Bottom, Pedigree, Angle Lock and many other which can be performed after wrestler has obtain a SMACKDOWN icon. There also include multiple weapons to choose from such as steel chair, ladder, table, Singapore cane, and sledgehammer which can be used as hardcore moves like Powerbomb through table, DDT to the chair, or Van Terminator. Wrestler also can performed a reversal moves and counter a moves to the opponent. Reversals can be done to submission moves, aerial moves and even the special moves. Wrestler also can steal opponent special moves and thus make it interesting to watch wrestler like Kane performed a 619 to Rey Mysterio or Rey mysterio performed a Chokeslam to Kane.

One of the new improvements in this game is the new Body Damage System where the blue is the healthiest and red is the most damaging. This system allows users to view the damage of the head, body, arms, and leg of the wrestler which were done by the moves by the opponent. Each moves create an impact on certain body parts example Back breaker concentrate the impact on the back of the body while Leg Lock create the damage on the leg. By doing this system, the submission mode of the game also increase tremendously where wrestlers will submit easily when the moves performed on the damage part. Users also can BLEED the wrestler when the damage of the head is red. This game also included weight detection system where each wrestler are classified to a certain weight and thus create logic looks in a match where smaller wrestler like Rey Mysterio now cannot do a Powerbomb to a big wrestler like The Big Show. Like the previous edition, WWE HCTP also included multiple type of match aside from a normal match such as hardcore match, table match, cage match, ladder match, and Hell In The Cell as well as the newly included ‘Bra and Panties’ match and also Elimination Chamber. Each match are have its unique ways of winning and the match look realistically just like the real match in the WWE.

Another big improvement from the previous game is the season mode. WWE HCTP has the best season mode among all the WWE SMACKDOWN series. This time the season mode is much simpler and more interactive thus users won’t have any problem going through the season. In season mode, users can play as any wrestler where users can choose to join between RAW or SMACKDOWN brand and users have to gain points so the wrestler can have their desired title shot. The title that can be grab is World Heavyweight champion, Intercontinental Champion, Hardcore Champion, World Tag Team champion, and Women champion in RAW Brand, while in SMACKDOWN users can grab WWE champion, US heavyweight champion, Cruiserweight champion, and WWE Tag Team champion. In season mode also users can gain SMACKDOWN Dollars after winning the matches and can use it to buy Unlockables items such as legend wrestler, move set for create-a-wrestler mode, extra attires for wrestler and even DIVAS loading screen. Users also can increase the attributes for current wrestler when playing the season mode and to increase created wrestler attributes too. Unlike the previous game, WWE HCTP season last only for one year and the storyline is random depends on the superstar ranking. The storyline uses in this game is mostly written by the real writers and have been adopt from the previous storyline uses in the WWE previously so expect a lot of excitement and shocking twist along playing the season mode.

PRESENTATION (9/10)
WWE HCTP Include 76 top WWE wrestler such as The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, Goldberg, Rey Mysterio, and also some WWE legends and Divas. WWE fans might be disappointed though that few wrestlers fail to make a cut such as Bob Holly, Billy Gunn, La Resistance, FBI and also top legends from the pass such as Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan. Users also choose multiple choice of arena to play in such as RAW, SMACKDOWN, SUMMERSLAM, SURVIVOR SERIES, ROYAL RUMBLE and WRESTLEMANIA. Beside in the ring, wrestler also can wrestle in the backstage area such as in the locker room, parking lot, and stadium outdoor where users can utilize the interactive backstage where there are multiple weapons and objects that can be used such as riding motorcycle, using fire distinguisher, and using forklift crane too.

WWE HCTP Include 76 top WWE wrestler such as The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, Goldberg, Rey Mysterio, and also some WWE legends and Divas. WWE fans might be disappointed though that few wrestlers fail to make a cut such as Bob Holly, Billy Gunn, La Resistance, FBI and also top legends from the pass such as Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan. Users also choose multiple choice of arena to play in such as RAW, SMACKDOWN, SUMMERSLAM, SURVIVOR SERIES, ROYAL RUMBLE and WRESTLEMANIA. Beside in the ring, wrestler also can wrestle in the backstage area such as in the locker room, parking lot, and stadium outdoor where users can utilize the interactive backstage where there are multiple weapons and objects that can be used such as riding motorcycle, using fire distinguisher, and using forklift crane too.

The game option and selection menus are nicely organize. In the wrestler selection menu, users can view the wrestler attributes and also the special moves. The season mode menus also quite easy to navigate through where users can view the current points, adjusting the attributes, buy the unlockables, and talk to the wrestlers at the backstage. The create-a-wrestler modes still quite difficult to browse through as the wrestler created are too in depth and too in details. The selection in the create-a-wrestler mode is difficult to browse as it got thousands of items that can be choose from but each selection can easily be view.

GRAPHICS (10/10)
The graphics of the game is excellent where in this game it used more details and brighter color. Each wrestler was created perfectly where the face and the body look exactly like the real wrestler. Each wrestler also has their own unique movement as well as the moves and taunts which are look exactly like the real wrestlers too. The crowds also look excellent as the crowds look lively with the jumping and waving and also the showing their crowd signs. The wrestler entrance also looks like the real wrestler where each wrestler has their own unique entrance and movie clips. The rings arena also looks excellent as each arena has it own stage design and unique presentation.

SOUND & MUSIC (9/10)
The sound effects of the game are also very excellent as each bump and crash of the moves executed by the wrestlers sound realistically. The music entrance of each wrestler also sound like the real music entrance by the real WWE wrestlers but still, few songs like Victoria music intro by T.A.T.U could not be added to the game due to copyright problem. The commentary also have been removed for WWE:HCTP which for me is very good so users can play the match without hearing the stupid commentary just like the previous game. Still, the song used throughout the game is lousy and they should put up a soundtrack or at least the music intro of the wrestlers so the game can be more exciting to play.

OVERALL (10/10)
Overall the game is near perfect and should be owned by any wrestling fans gamer. Even though the roster is incomplete and the create-a-wrestler mode is still difficult to browse, the excellent game play and graphics of the game overshadow any weaknesses of the game. There are still a lot of improvements that can be done for this game and hoping that the game can be a lot better in the future. This game maybe not suitable for the kids but it stills a game to be enjoyed by family and friends together. Finally the action in the game should never be performed or tried anywhere as it very dangerous and it is strictly for professional athletes only.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/20/04