Smackdown Series-WWE Smackdown:Here Comes the Pain.
The Season mode, like that of SYM, will feature real WWE storylines but will now also have a number of \'virtual\' plots written specifically for the game, which should blend in seamlessly with the gameplay itself. A new money system gives you greater rewards for wins over higher profile opponents. Garner enough cash and you\'ll be able to head to the Shopzone where you can splash out on new characters, additional moves and more environments.
Of course, all the usual SmackDown! modes and match types are there, as are a handful of new ones. The major additions are the Elimination Chamber (based on the match in the huge cage that took place at last year\'s Survivor Series) and - as revealed by gamesradar.com back in December - Bra & Panties matches, in which WWE \'divas\' have to tear the clothes off one another. Ahem.
Perhaps of more interest though - and it certainly will be if violence is on your agenda - is the inclusion of blood for the first time ever in a game in the SmackDown! series. At long last, it appears as if the people who wield \'creative approval\' over at WWE Towers have relented and allowed SmackDown! developers Yuke\'s to feature claret. As well as making an appearance in your standard matches, you\'ll also be able to get involved with First Blood affairs - not exactly a WWE staple, admittedly, but it\'s always good to see new specialty matches cropping up for the first time.
Presentation-wise, this is easily the best looking SmackDown! game yet and, at last, that awful cardboard-cutout crowd has been replaced by proper 3D audience members. Meanwhile, tighter in-ring camera angles help show off the facial expressions of each character mid-scrap. As well as the arena-based action, there will be the usual selection of five large backstage environments, including a gym (where you\'ll be able to whack one another with barbells) and a loading bay set on multiple levels.
Wlodyka admits that the control system was a weakness of previous games in the series, offering little in the way of depth or strategy. This time, there\'s a vastly improved grapple system based around four different situations, each of which then has four possible moves: power grapple (these are specific to each character), submission moves, signature grapples and quick moves. On the defensive side, the counter-attack system now utilises two buttons - one for blocking strikes and one for reversing grapples.
The differences between the characters themselves now plays a far more prominent role with the strengths and weaknesses of each coming into play. So Rey Mysterio has to rely on his speed and stamina - it\'s easier to take him down to the mat but more difficult to pin him. The opposite would be true of a larger grappler such as Brock Lesnar. A new weight detection system means that someone such as Stacy Keibler, for example, won\'t be able to bodyslam the Big Show. Which, let\'s face it, does kinda make sense.
Also new is a submission system based around how much damage wrestlers have taken to certain body parts (indicated by silhouettes representing each character in the corner of the screen). So it\'s only really worth attempting to execute, say, a figure-four leglock if you\'ve first done enough damage to your opponent\'s legs. Once you do lock on a submission hold, a tug-of-war-like mini-game comes into play, with the end result either being a submission or the wrestlehead on the receiving end of the move managing to reach the ropes, hence forcing the hold to be broken.
Even if you don\'t manage to force a submission, you\'ll still get the satisfaction of having inflicted even more damage on your opponent, plus you\'ll actually get to see them selling the virtual pain by limping or whatever. THQ also promise that the gameplay will be more \'organic\': storylines will consistently evolve, heel characters will cheat more, backstage environments will be far more interactive.
While the roster has still to be finalised, we do know that a number of new characters will be featured, including the aforementioned Rey Mysterio and Goldberg. A range of \'80s legends will also be playable in the game, although it\'s yet to be decided whether they\'ll be included Season mode or not. Names confirmed thus far are the Ultimate Warrior, Ted DiBiase, the Road Warriors and - erm - Nikolai Volkoff, officially the least popular wrestler of all time. Don\'t be surprised to see a number of characters who have featured in Acclaim\'s Legends of Wrestling games to also pop up in Here Comes The Pain.
Overall, the game\'s looking far smoother and, yes, more sophisticated than earlier titles in the series. Indeed, some characters appear to be able to pull of loads more moves in the game than they ever manage in real life. That said, however much of a sheen is put on things, it is still, essentially, more of the same. While it had been rumoured that this would be the first game in the series to go online, this definitely won\'t be the case and it looks as if we\'ll have to hang on for SmackDown! 6 before you\'ll be able to grapple over the global interweb.
WWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain is due to be released for PS2 at the end of October.
Game Info.
Console: PlayStation 2
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yukes
Origin: Japan
Genre: Wrestling
Number of Wrestlers: 60+
Number of Players: 1-6 using the PS2 Multiplayer Adapter
Dual Shock: Yes
Peripherals: PS2 Dual Shock Controller;
PS2 (8MB/16MB) Memory Card;
PS2 Multiplayer Adapter;
GameShark 2
Network Adapter (not yet confirmed)
Rating: Teen (Or Mature)
Release Date: U.S.A/Canada: Late 2003, Early 2004*
U.K.: Late 2003, Early 2004*
*Subject To Change In The Near Future.
Game Improvements (from previous versions):
Realistic & finishing moves & positions (IE People\'s elbow MUST be performed in the center of the ring. You will have to move tire opponent around to pull certain moves off.)
Realistic & improved strength system (IE Spike CAN\'T power bomb Big Show)
Realistic & improved season mode (IE You will earn money depending on your status)
New Diva match types such as Bra & Panties and Mud Matches
New and improved controls including an in-depth countering and interactive submission system.
All-new match types including Bra & Panties, First Blood, and Elimination Chamber
Unique Superstar abilities featuring real-life attributes of strength, submission, technique, speed, and stamina.
New \'Risk and Reward\' System, earn money buy items and health
Analog stick used for taunts.
Raw old and New Arenas in plus Velocity Arena. Two Smackdown arenas
Full 3D Crowd
New ‘tug of war’ battling system interface. See your opponent desperately try to get to the ropes as you apply even more pressure
4 different types of grapple with a corresponding move set tailored to that specific grapple (power move set, submission move set, quick move set and signature move set).
Feel the pain of each move. A new reaction system so your superstars really sell to the moves put on them.
New money earning system with a whole new shop zone filled with compelling unlockables.
Title belts now brought to ringside and can be used as weapons.
New silhouette next to players name shows which part of body is injured most by changing colour, wrestler also holds the body part injured throughout the match.
More "organic" gameplay - meaning that as you perform certain actions, so members of the crowd will react to your actions, or your opponent will become angrier, for instance.
When you first go into a grapple you can counter there, but once you\'re in the grapple your opponent still has a chance to hold onto and punch you, so you can counter those strikes, and once they go into an actual move you can counter there\'s too
Graphic Information:
New graphics engine that will produce one of the best character models ever.
Enhanced production values including dymanitic camera transitions, and improved audio experience, superstars voice overs and more realistic animations.
Redesign of sound, camera angles and special effects will put you right in the action with cinematic experience.
Weapons Information:
Table
Steel Chair
Ladder
Sledge hammer
Brass Knuckles
Match Types Information:
Elimination Chamber
First blood
Bra and panties
Singles
Tag
TLC
Ladder
Cage
Hell in a Cell
Stretcher Match
Creation Information:
Improved Create-a-Superstar mode
Improved Create-a-Taunt mode
Possible Create-a-Pay Per View
Ability to edit origanal superstars attires.
Audio Information:
Commentry from Jim Ross & Jerry \'The King\' Lawler, commentry from Michael Cole and Tazz for the Smackdown! show to be confirmed at a later date.
Superstar voice-overs for season mode
Wrestlers will now grunt and yell in agony in matches.
Controls:
L2 = Reverse strike attacks
L1 = Perform SmackDown
R2 = Reverse grapple move
R1= Change Focus
D-Pad/Left Analog Stick = Move Superstar
Right Analog Stick = Taunt
Triangle = Run
Square = Pick Up weapon
Circle = Grapple (short/long)
X = Strike
Arenas
Raw (New)
Raw (Old- RAW Is War)
Smackdown! (New)
Smackdown! (Old)
Velocity
Heat
Topic: Massive WWE Smackdown!Here Comes The Pain News (Read 1259 times)