Having been handed the WWF franchise, the good people at THQ have set out to create a wrestling title that takes advantage of the PS2’s capabilities and a game that sets itself apart from previous attempts seen on the PS1 console.  It just turns out that the result--“SmackDown! Just Bring it!”--manages to accomplish both.

Over thirty-six WWF wrestling superstars (including female stars) are available to gamers and seventy match types which include anything from Cage Matches (as seen on pay-per-view events) and Royal Rumble (where wrestler after wrestler keep pouring into the ring until one wrestler is left standing).  There’s also an interactive, story driven mode that takes gamers out of the ring in into various areas of the arena.

The wrestlers themselves look impressively like their real-life counterparts during gameplay and wrestling fans will love the fact that not only do they resemble the superstars, they also mimic their signature moves during a match and any individual trademark gesture (e.g. the Rock’s come-and-get-it hand gesture). 

However, the graphics fail in two aspects.  One is the audience, which are made up of sprites and polygons.  This makes them look like flat moving background people that actually do move out of the way when a wrestler tosses another wrestler into the audience.  Secondly, during Story Mode, the action takes you out of the ring and into a First-Person Viewpoint that is handled with little detail and no real texture.

As far as the controls are concerned, the most notable problems are that because the game uses various moves and combinations, gamers wanting to just jump into the action will find out how frustrating executing special moves can be.  My suggestion is that before playing this game, study the instruction manual that goes into some detail about the basic moves.  The next problem is that often times--and this happens after a wrestler knocks you down or tosses you to the canvas, your superstar gets up facing another direction.  You would have to target your opponent again before attacking or you risk grabbing a hold of the referee on accident.

The dialogue, mostly done through text, is stiff and awkward.  It’s almost a blessing in disguise that superstar voices were used to record the badly scripted dialogue.  And the actual play-by-play commentary, using the voices of Tazz and Michael Cole who call the action for the actual televised events, becomes so repetitive that you’ll be glad there’s an option to silence them. And the music consists of instrumental rock anthems that play for different wrestlers; although “Rollin’” by Limp Bizkit is the only artist track played in the game.

These things pale, though, in comparison to the variety of match types such as different tag team styles (between two wrestlers or six of them), cage matches (where the entire ring is surrounded by a steel cage, and King of the Ring (a tournament) just to name a few.  These matches have options players can alter, changing the way matches are played out.  An example might be that in the Single match gamers could select a manager to be in your corner and interfere when things look bad.  And the Create a Superstar in the Create Mode allows you to design your own wrestler (complete with their own bizarre hairstyle or outfit and other small detail) and unleash the creation in any mode against any wrestler.

There are also hidden items that become available by winning different matches in different modes.  Things like new intro music, trailers for THQ releases, costumes, and cut scenes are just many of the things players unlock.

Best of all, you can challenge up to four friends (using a single Multitap) and battle against them in different types of matches.  It’s highly satisfying fighting against three friends in the Royal Rumble where wrestler after wrestler comes into the ring to toss out opponents.  Or going against a single friend in a cage match or ladder match (where wrestlers try to beat an opponent to a dangling belt high atop a ladder) is what makes this game a great multiplayer experience.

Whether it’s a no-holds barred tag team match or a King of the Ring match, fight fan will not be disappointed. There are plenty of action and match modes to forgive the small imperfection in the graphics and controls.  “SmackDown! Just Bring It!” has all the key elements of a really good wrestling title and even though it is not entirely perfect, this game is worth the purchase price.

Gameplay: 7.5
Before diving into the details, I recommend that gamers read the instruction manual before jumping right into the game.  All wrestlers have their own style of fighting and signature moves that are not easy to execute and learning by trail-and-error can be rather frustrating since the controls can be seriously troublesome especially concerning timing and execution of moves.

 The controls can become particularly erratic mostly when gamers have to targeting the opponent all over again. And there’s no real word on how some moves, liking tagging a tag team partner are implemented--such moves aren’t even in the instructions.

There‘s also interaction between the wrestlers outside the ring, which is mostly done with awkward dialogue in text format.  In Story Mode, gamers can choose different dialogue options that change the outcome of the story.

Graphics: 8.5
It is interesting how close all of the game wrestlers resemble their counterparts during battle and in the cut scenes.  Recognizable superstars such as Triple H and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin are rendered impressively, although hair texture can look somewhat odd, but fans will marvel over the incredible likeness.

The only small glitches visible are the wrestling fans that are made up of flat polygons or sprites (the equivalent of cardboard cutout people).  They wave signs and pump their fists in the air, and when a wrestler is tossed into the crowds, they instinctively move out of the way. This effect would have been much more impressive if the audience was 3D.  The other only glitch is the backgrounds during a First-Person View outside the ring, it lacks a certain texture and detail.

 The jumbo screen flashes video of the real wrestlers when introduced while the animated wrestler makes his or her way into the ring, there’s even a flashy name title like the televised events.

Sound: 7.0
The sound is quite possible the most annoying part of this title, especially the running commentary during a match.  Using the voices of Tazz and Michael Cole (who do the play-by-play for the real thing) is a good idea, but they constantly repeat the same phrases to the point of being unbearable.  Thankfully, you have to option of choosing not having commentary at all.

Most of the music is basically heavy rock riffs that correspond to each individual wrestler and the Smack Down anthem.  You might hear the same intro songs over and over but sometimes it’s mixed in with Limp Bizkit’s “Rollin’.”

On the other hand, the announcer’s introductions are authentic enough to feel like you’re watching an actual WWF event.  The sound effects of bodies slamming on the canvas or having a trash can slam against an opponent’s head while the crowd cheers you on are so good that it’s satisfying to hear.

Difficulty: 8.0
Depending on the particular game mode gamers’ choose, the matches are unquestionably challenging and occasionally aggravatingly difficult--all of these are signs that somebody finally did something right about capturing the true feeling of challenge.  Sometimes this game makes you work for your victory . . . but the victory is always sweeter when you really work for it.

Concept: 9.1
With a multitude of unique features--such as the Create A Superstar Mode or Royal Rumble--”Just Bring It” takes a much different and better approach to previous WWF titles.  There’s also seventy match types that can be changed for a whole new experience, for example, Tag matches can have tag teams with or without a manager (who watches over the match).  If gamers want an even more “hardcore” experience, players can also select the option that has the manager jump into the ring when you’re in trouble. 

Hidden within the game are also secrets that can be unlocked by winning different kinds of matches in Story Mode and the Exhibition Modes. Mostly the secrets are new music intros or trailers for THQ releases.

Multiplayer: 9.5
Up to four players can face each another in the ring using a Multitap.  The fun comes in going up a group of friends in Exhibition matches such as Royal Rumble or up against a single friend in the Special Matches like Hell In A Cage.  Gamers can also create their own then wrestlers and use them against their friends too.

Overall: 8.0
Although this is not the ultimate wrestling title, it offers enough features, hidden surprises, wrestlers and challenges to keep gamers and fans of WWF more than satisfied.  The good stuff definitely overshadows the small imperfections in the gameplay and the graphics.   Any gamer searching for a decent wrestling game should consider investing their money on this title.