WWE SMACKDOWN! SHUT YOUR MOUTH (PS2)
What started as a licensed-wrestling game way back in 2000 has grown into a yearly staple of gaming, as after 13 years of games the WWE series is still going strong. While nowadays gamers can access the games on any console, THQ divided a lot of their products exclusively for consoles back in the sixth generation. Xbox and GameCube owners got their own brand of games, and though Day of Reckoning proved a successful game on Nintendo’s console, Microsoft got the short straw with three mediocre atrocities. The PS2, however, proved itself the dominant format for WWE, with repeated strong showings for the SmackDown! series. Shut Your Mouth was the second PS2 instalment, and it one of the best to date thanks to a myriad of reasons.
In the ring, SYM brings enough improvements for you to take notice. The SmackDown! series had always prided itself on speed, but this edition sets a more methodical pace. The grappling system has been overhauled to make moves more useful. More often than not, moves can be linked together following certain animations, which adds a lot more depth to the proceedings. Submissions are also improved, with more of an emphasis on wearing down specific limbs. Finally, a new counter system has been implemented. Instead of merely pressing Square, players will have to guess whether the opponent is going to punch or grapple, and then guess the direction of said grapple in order to counter. It’s far more interesting and challenging compared to the previous game, and on the whole the wrestling engine seems tighter compared to Just Bring It.
In the ring, SYM brings enough improvements for you to take notice. The SmackDown! series had always prided itself on speed, but this edition sets a more methodical pace. The grappling system has been overhauled to make moves more useful. More often than not, moves can be linked together following certain animations, which adds a lot more depth to the proceedings. Submissions are also improved, with more of an emphasis on wearing down specific limbs. Finally, a new counter system has been implemented. Instead of merely pressing Square, players will have to guess whether the opponent is going to punch or grapple, and then guess the direction of said grapple in order to counter. It’s far more interesting and challenging compared to the previous game, and on the whole the wrestling engine seems tighter compared to Just Bring It.
The biggest improvements come from the Season Mode, which has been refined significantly. The game opens with the Brand Extension storyline, allowing you to customise both rosters of wrestlers. Key storylines such as the nWo returning are unmissable, but otherwise, gamers are given a fair bit of freedom in terms of perusing titles and rivalries. Even your chosen superstar can alter the game, with low-end wrestlers being put in Heat for the first few weeks. It’s not flawless, mostly due to repetition of opponents, but there’s just a great sense of freedom. You can pick underdogs like Tajiri, or a wrestler of your own making, and haul them up to the top ranks, which is immensely satisfying, if a bit unrealistic. There’s definitely incentive to play through a couple of times, though you sadly cannot pick female wrestlers this time around.
SYM also features excellent customisation features. The Create-a-Wrestler feature has been hugely expanded, allowing you to adjust the proportions of the face and apply hundreds of pieces of attire. It’s fun to mess around with; whether it’s making outlandish characters, or trying to replicate real-life wrestlers: the options are deep enough for both. Create-an-Animation allows you then to add taunts and winning antics to your custom wrestlers, with a range of animations and an accessible menu system. Move lists can also be adjusted, allowing you to change moves in different categories such as Power. The expansive nature of customisation can be intimidating, but those with patience will feel extremely satisfied at devising their own masterpiece wrestlers. Outside of Season and the Create modes, Exhibition lets you set up legendary encounters, and 6-player multiplayer through multitaps paves the way for riotous fun.
SYM also features excellent customisation features. The Create-a-Wrestler feature has been hugely expanded, allowing you to adjust the proportions of the face and apply hundreds of pieces of attire. It’s fun to mess around with; whether it’s making outlandish characters, or trying to replicate real-life wrestlers: the options are deep enough for both. Create-an-Animation allows you then to add taunts and winning antics to your custom wrestlers, with a range of animations and an accessible menu system. Move lists can also be adjusted, allowing you to change moves in different categories such as Power. The expansive nature of customisation can be intimidating, but those with patience will feel extremely satisfied at devising their own masterpiece wrestlers. Outside of Season and the Create modes, Exhibition lets you set up legendary encounters, and 6-player multiplayer through multitaps paves the way for riotous fun.
SYM manages to create a faithful WWE experience through its presentation despite some inconsistencies at times. The visuals in particular are great, with improved wrestler models and excellent facial features. The animations are good, but grapples use canned animations which can feel repetitive. On the other hand, this means special moves are spot-on. Arenas look well-rendered, even if the crowds look pretty rough, and entrance animations are good too. The audio isn’t quite as strong. There is an air of authenticity to the proceedings, with Jerry Lawler and JR providing occasional commentary as well as announcement from Howard Finkel and the original licensed entrance music for all but two of the wrestlers. On the other hand, there is zero dialogue during Season Mode cut-scenes, and though the dialogue is well done (barring some typos), it feels a bit dated, while sound effects feel cheap at times.
In the end, SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth is simply a great wrestling game, and easily outdoes its predecessors. Some minor gameplay tweaks and additions make the core wrestling better, but it’s the improved Season Mode and Create features which will keep you addicted in the long run. It’s a shame there’s no recorded audio from the wrestlers, but the game still manages to capture the excitement and drama of key WWE storylines none the less, and the Create-a-Wrestler feature is seriously deep. It’s the kind of game which you can pop back to once in a while and play some random Exhibition matches or begin a new Season path, and it’ll be just as fun. Anyone with even a faint interest in WWE shouldn’t hesitate.
In the end, SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth is simply a great wrestling game, and easily outdoes its predecessors. Some minor gameplay tweaks and additions make the core wrestling better, but it’s the improved Season Mode and Create features which will keep you addicted in the long run. It’s a shame there’s no recorded audio from the wrestlers, but the game still manages to capture the excitement and drama of key WWE storylines none the less, and the Create-a-Wrestler feature is seriously deep. It’s the kind of game which you can pop back to once in a while and play some random Exhibition matches or begin a new Season path, and it’ll be just as fun. Anyone with even a faint interest in WWE shouldn’t hesitate.
VERDICT
Visual: 8/10
Audio: 6/10 Gameplay: 9/10 Longevity: 9/10 OVERALL: 9/10 |