The WWE SmackDown series wins back its rightful place in the world at the top of the wrestling game heap with Shut Your Mouth, the fourth in the line.
It's well known that the lines have always been divided between those who view wrestling as a modern day performance art, and those who view it as grown men in tights performing homoerotica feats of fury. Likewise, the lines have been clearly been drawn between which "style" of gameplay the gamer likes in his/her grappling. While the Aki WWF titles of old, as well as the Fire Pro series cater to the sim minded, with thousands of move possibilities at any given time, the Smackdown series instead opts to portray the "sport" as it truly is: a fast paced, rhythmic spectacle. This translates smoothly into gameplay terms, thanks to the streamlined control set. It hasn't changed a great deal since the series' inception, but Shut Your Mouth has more moves than any other installment, while remaining just as easy to control.
Though the controls remain largely unchanged, the graphics have received the shot in the arm they so desperately needed. While hair textures still look plastered on, everything else looks absolutely fabulous. Stages, character models, arenas, lighting; these all look so realistic that you'd think you're watching the show on TV! Well, not really, but it is the prettiest wrestling game on the market. Likewise, the painstaking attention to detail in each wrestler's mannerisms that can break or make a game like this was not skimped on: every ring entrance is 100% authentic, down to the boas on Hulk Hogan's neck.
Many other fixes that the series so desperately needed were applied in Shut Your Mouth: The horrid commentary is kept to a minimum, and what's there doesn't sound like a robot clone piecing words together. Season mode actually feels like an honest-to-goodness season for the first time since the idea was proposed. The game no longer takes half your memory card, nor loads after every screen. And while you can't sanction title matches, you can play the role of booker in a limited role by deciding who goes to what show in the pre-season draft.
It's in no way perfect, and the gameplay still needs to be slowed down a little, rather than sped up, as it seems to have been in version 4.0. But despite its few flaws, this year's WWE video game offering for PS2 fans fares much better than its TV - and X-Box - counterpart.
-George
Company Line
In one corner stands the immortal Hulk Hogan®. In the other stands the Undisputed World Wrestling Champion Triple H™. Tensions mount, but suddenly Y2J's music blares as he enters the arena and grabs the mic. Fans boo and chant "has-been"! Backstage, The Great One gets ready to layeth the smacketh down while Mr. McMahon sits with his personal assistant Stacy Keibler™. It's SmackDown! as you've never seen it before for the PlayStation 2. All-new Superstars, enhanced season mode and more matches then ever.
FEATURES:
Updated roster featuring even more World Wrestling Superstars including, Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Stacy Keibler, DDP™, Ric Flair™, the nWo® and many more!
In-depth story mode with multiple character paths and for the first time, players will have the option to enter Superstars into a World Wrestling draft pool
New match types including Elimination Tag, Captain Fall Tornado Six-Man Tag and Slobber Knocker Anywhere
Variety of backstage areas modeled after Madison Square Garden and more than 14 Pay Per View Arenas including Backlash, Vengeance and Unforgiven
Thousands of animations including Superstar signature moves with double and triple team moves
Improved Create-a-Wrestler mode enables players to create the ultimate wrestler with dynamic layer system and new thumbnail system allowing even more CAW options!
Expanded partner system allowing players to take control of their tag team counterparts
Enhanced multiplayer capabilities including six-player tag team, handicap and triple threat match variations
TV style presentation with in-game cut away scenes and play-by-play commentary with Jim Ross™, Jerry the King Lawler™, Tazz™ and Michael Cole™
Dynamic lighting effects and fully scaled arenas with authentic Superstar entrances complete with full TitanTron™ videos
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