In recent years, many video game genres have quickly become exhausted: the ones where driving fast and getting beaten up are involved spring immediately to mind. There are so many wrestling games out there nowadays that it’s difficult to know which to grapple with. There are, however, a few games within the genre that stand out above the rest. The Smackdown series from THQ is renowned for being the best of its type. After the success of the original Smackdown, it was only a matter of time ... more >>

In recent years, many video game genres have quickly become exhausted: the ones where driving fast and getting beaten up are involved spring immediately to mind. There are so many wrestling games out there nowadays that it’s difficult to know which to grapple with. There are, however, a few games within the genre that stand out above the rest. The Smackdown series from THQ is renowned for being the best of its type. After the success of the original Smackdown, it was only a matter of time before Smackdown 2 hit the shelves. Despite its now cheaper price, and the admittedly inferior visuals compared to the later PS2 incarnation ‘Just Bring It’, Smackdown 2 truly belongs on the AAA-list. Remember, this game broke all sorts of sales records when it first appeared in December 2000.

Smackdown 2 includes a complete set of fifty WWF superstars, both male and female. You can take control of characters like The Rock, The Undertaker, and the very sexy Lita. Character models have been noticeably improved on from the first Smackdown game, with the PSone being pushed to its limits. There are plenty of game modes to get to grips with, including tournament, survival and ladder matches. Since many of the game’s playable matches can take a considerably long time to complete, there are hundreds of hours of gameplay for any wrestling fan.

A guaranteed hit, this one, and well worth the asking price.
<< less