The WWE franchise just keeps on going and going, and with each SmackDown game THQ comes closer and closer to wrestling perfection.  We’ve seen the series offer more than just new grapplers, but also game modes and refinements of all the classic game modes we’ve just come to really enjoy when we want to lay the hurt on big guys like Kurt Angle or Triple H.  With WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain - the fifth installment in the series - here, are we looking at more of the same or something entirely new and surprising?  Well, let’s just say that what we will see here will knock us off our feet faster than The Rock can.

Last year’s offering - WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth - was quite an improvement over the past WWE titles, but still lacked a little polish in many of the game’s improved modes.  This year, however, the game continues to improve everything from the controls to the littlest details that needed tightening.  Really, Here Comes the Pain actually feels like an entirely new game altogether.  Don’t worry, though, because all of your favorite game modes are back and joining them are new modes that will leave hardcore WWE fans completely satisfied.

One again Exhibition mode is filled to the brim with dozens of game modes that range from tag team bouts (there are seven variations to choose from) to the more intense cage matches (Triple-Threat, anyone?).  New to the series is First Blood - where the player who draws first wins the match - and the greatest mode of all, the Bra and Panties Match (where the WWE Divas rip each another’s clothes off until the loser is standing in her underwear).  Royal Rumble and Hardcore are back and once again they bring plenty of challenge to the nice mix of Ladder matches and Table matches.

There are also plenty of superstars to chose from and added to the mix are classic grapplers from the good old days of Roddy Piper, George “The Animal” Steele, The Iron Sheik, Sergeant Slaughter and Ted DiBiase.  Add them all up and you have quite a number of wrestlers but gamers will also find that a few favorites don’t make appearance in this game (no Hulk Hogan or Molly Holly this year).  However the Create-A-Superstar feature is so good that it’s possible that you can recreate any missing grappler and add them to the lineup.

Control-wise, the game feels like quite an improvement.  Gamers will be far less likely this time around to accidentally grab a referee instead of an opponent.  There’s a new slider bar that represents how well you or your opponent is resisting things like choke holds or painful bear hugs.  With the controls tightened to perfection, you can easily counter your opponent’s attacks and can unleash several of the particular superstar’s own moves.  This is great since the new Season Mode is a lot longer, more in-depth and more interesting in terms of dramatic plot twists.  The only problem, though, is sometimes things are not as well structured as they should be.  For instance, there’s a moment in the game where you anger WWE owner Vince McMahon, and when you wander off and visit him he will talk to you as if nothing had happened.

Visually, Here Comes the Pain surpasses the graphics of Shut Your Mouth but not by very much.  The character models look a lot crisper and are so detailed that now each grappler looks exactly like their actual counterpart.  Gamers will notice how skin can become shiny and reflect the lights overhead and sweat flies off whenever you slam your fist into your opponent.  The arenas and other locations look amazing as well now that the fans look more lifelike.  What steals the show, though, is the superstar entrances that look great . . . especially those with plenty of pyrotechnics. The only visible problem is that the game has a problem with clipping.  Often times you’ll find Torrie Wilson’s blonde hair coming out of the middle of her neck. 

Once again the series manages to astonish us with great entrance fanfare and listening to the fireworks go off while a superstar’s main theme is playing on the arena speakers just enhances the experience.  Really this year’s game feels as if you are there with the crowds of fans that chant and cheer.  You’ll be able to hear the slapping of flesh as you smack an opponent across the chest with your bare hand now that the awful commentary has been removed completely from the game.

WWE SmackDown! Here Come the Pain reminds us gamers and fans of the series why we continue to love the SmackDown franchise.  It is, by far, one of the best wrestling titles featuring the WWE Superstars out there and missing out on this one would be a terrible mistake for those gamers that love a good fighting game.  This is a Must-Have game of the season because of all the things this one has to offer and the addictive grappling action that just doesn’t get any better than this on the PS2.

Gameplay: 9.0
Tight controls make for some pretty fluid movements and gamers will love the fact that targeting your opponent or countering his attacks are a lot easier now.  Don’t know how to tag your tag-team partner?  This year’s game offers all you need to know in their load screen before each match.  And this year’s game also makes it easier to pull off more complex moves as well as specialty moves each superstar is famous for.

Graphics: 8.9
Still one of the most pleasing-to-the-eye wrestling titles out there, Here Comes the Pain looks just as amazing as last year’s game.  The faces have been tightened and look more like the actual wrestler now.  They also move a lot more naturally, which ups the realism factor.  The arenas and other locations are great to look at as well and in some areas things can be smashed.  All is not perfect, though.  There is an enormous amount of clipping problems and often times the game stutters during gameplay and cut scenes.

Sound: 9.0
Last year’s commentary was by far the weakest feature and thankfully this one leaves out the commentary altogether.  With the commentary MOA, gamers will find more emphasis was placed on the sound effects of the crowds going wild and the sharp smacking of flesh against canvas.  The entrance music for each superstar is still great and listening to the pyrotechnics is just as good as looking at them.  My only complaint is that they took away the ring announcer.

Difficulty: Medium
Royal Rumble is still the toughest wresting event to get through depending on who you take on during the game modes depends a lot on your survival.  El Rey Mysterio, for example, can take on Christian but he will get the beating of his life if he chooses to go up against the likes of heavyweights such as Brock Lesnar.  The computer-controlled opponent is also pretty smart this year and can counter attacks more effectively.

Concept: 9.2
You have to love the classics and Here Comes the Pain brings us some classic grapplers of yesteryear such as Hillbilly Jim and Sergeant Slaughter.  It’s good to see these classic wrestlers and they certainly do look good out there among the fresh WWE talent.  The Create Superstar mode just keeps getting better and better every year.  There are also plenty of new game modes to try out in Exhibition mode like the best game mode ever conceived - the Bra and Panties match!  We’ll gladly look forward to the WWE Divas Pillow Fight mode next year, right THQ?

Multiplayer: 9.5
Once again the WWE SmackDown games offer the ultimate multiplayer experience as far as wrestling titles are concerned.  Up to six players can grapple against each another in the multitude of game modes or team up in the various tag team matches thanks to the PS2 Multitap.  The series never fails to provide all the things needed for a multiplayer option and with so many superstars to chose from there is no doubt gamers will be playing this one for a long time to come.

Overall: 9.2
WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain is, bar none, the best WWE wrestling game of the series and one that will leave fans more than satisfied.  There is just way too many goodies offered here and Season mode just keeps getting better and better every year.  If you love WWE wrestling or just like to lay the smack down in a ring, you don’t have to look any further.