WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role

"Walks tall.. and falls on it's face..."

Lord, one can only wonder how many hours were lost to the N64's barrage of wrestling titles. Hailed in this circle as ''one of the best party games out there'' they were the spotlight of any get together we sponsored. Just don't ask me to invite J_____y. He hated wrestling with a passion, and despite a slight interest in the ''Dead man'' as he called him in WWF Wrestlemania the Arcade Game, converting him into a hopeful was a waste of time, and I didn't even try. I had fun, and that's all that matters.

But here we run into a problem... they were great, but at the time, I only have a PSX. I didn't own an N64 (and still don't) so playing those games was a little more difficult. Well, thankfully something else came along and made the pain more tolerable. That thing was... WWF Smackdown 2: Know Your Role. An excellent game by any means, but with flaws that no one can overlook... unless they just don't care... or are too stupid to care. Well I do, so shut the F___ up. Anyway, on to the review.

Graphics: 9/10

By far, the best LOOKING wrestling game I have ever seen. They say that the upcoming PS2 version is just a prettier version of this one. Now in the graphics department, that's not completely a bad thing. I just wish there were more extensive submission move animations.

Control: 10/10

Ultra Responsive... I like saying that... ultra responsive. Press a button, and the move comes out. Time a reversal right, and it ALWAYS works... And the collision detection... target a man, and punch him. No punching through him, you hit him. And more from the realm of common sense... Target+ obstruction (another wrestler in the way)= BOTH men get a knuckle sandwich. Poetry.

Replayability: 7/10

There's a lot to do in this thing. A never ending season mode (which is also the location of some of the problems.)Several match modes, and plenty of multiplayer goodness.

Fun Factor: 6/10

Without knowing just what categories they fall in, I have to place them here. What kills this game in the end is the little flaws. For starters, he Royal Rumble mode. Over the top rope elimination matches, where you have to toss people out in order to advance. Some people don't see the point of doing actual fighting, they just hang out by the ropes and toss people out. Now this just can't fly. You can be eliminated at any moment basically, usually by the opponent that sneaks up behind you while you're fighting someone else. Now where's the fun in that? Maybe if they implemented a stamina meter that had to be depleted to throw people out.

Attack moves. They really look cool. But there's something wrong with The Worm getting the same match ending result as a Stone Cold Stunner (god I love that move). A little diversity between attack move effectiveness would add more strategy to the game. Do you know that since I created a Goldberg with the custom wrestler feature and let him run loose on his own, he has NEVER won a match against the Kat? On another note, WHY THE HELL IS HE ALWAYS FIGHTING THE KAT?!?! Plus some attacks lack the ''oomph'' they had on the N64 games. (Austin's Mudhole Stomping)

Tag Matches. First let me tell you about the N64's tag matches. Bored waiting for your partner to tag? Jump off the apron and go smack the other guy's partner around! Or run in and double team your happless opponent! Sure you're on a timer, and have to go back to your corner when it runs out, but the thing is, you can do it. Not so in Smackdown 2. Unless you're in the ring, you're stuck on the apron taunting. And whether you interfere or not is depending entirely on the computer. They attempt a double team, you can come in and help... (AND NOT A MOMENT BEFORE!!!!). And this mode also happens to be the only mode where double team moves like the 3D can be executed. Why not any mode that the Dudley Boys are co-op in? That really ruins that for me.

Season mode. Oh.. I hate this. The mode in Smackdown 1 had you involved in about every card! What the hell hapened here? Pick a wrestler... or make one... and watch a few cards before you even get your first match. Once your ranking gets high enough, you finally starty seeing some action. That is, if you consider most matches against the SAME guy action. Personally, the WWF is filled with superstars... why stick the same one in my face repeatedly? And if you happen to win the title, hang it up. Unless you get jumped in the back, who knows when you'll ever have to defend it. But leave the belt in the hands of the computer... and watch the Undertaker take it and run.

For wrestling games, period, there are more fun ones out there. But that's not saying it's not good. That's saying it's not the best. And that's the bottom liiiiine.... cause Stone Cold said so!

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 10/02/01, Updated 10/02/01