WWF SmackDown!

"WWF Smackdown lays the smacketh-down on all other PSX wrestling games!"

THQ has created what is quite possibly the best wrestling game ever.

Graphics:
Wrestlers look amazing. Faces all look realistic, and costumes are up to date for the most part. Heck, even their hair moves when they run! You'll even see the wrestlers' facial expressions change. The arenas look huge and the rings look great. All of the moves look realistic,and there is almost no clipping(ala Attitude)whatsoever. 9/10

Sound:
Smackdown has some great sound effects, but wrestler voices are nonexistant. You don't even hear generic groans and grunts. There is no commentary, but that's a good thing.
The wrestlers themes are dead on, and very up to date.(Acolytes have their new APA theme, Jericho has Y2J countdown!) 7/10

Gameplay:
This is where Smackdown really excels. The grapple system is very similar to WM 2000, although it's much more simplified. Pressing O and a directional button performs a move. That it. It's easy to jump in and play. Finishers are just as easy, as soon as the screen says'' Smackdown'' you press L1. Its a great system for wrestling game vets and newcomers to the genre. 10/10

Create-a-wrestler:
This is Smackdown's one major low point. The CAW is simply this: Choose a head,(an existing wrestler's entire head) Chest, and Bottom. It's very difficult to create many other real wrestlers(Radicals, Rikishi, Ect.)like this. However, there is a wide variety of moves to choose from, but that alone can't save this feature. 4/10

Replay:
SD has unlimited replay value. Belive me, you'll be playing this game for hours on end, until your PSX overheats. And then some more. All of the different modes, such as the excellent season mode and guest ref modes make this game so much more fun than it already is. 10/10

Overall:
Go buy Smackdown right now. It's that good. The graphics rock, it features a solid game engine, and it has enormous replay value. What else do you want? Oh yeah, inside the manual is a survey. Fill it out and you get 3 free issues of Incite video game magazine! 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/22/00, Updated 03/22/00