WWF Smackdown: Just Bring It (PS2)

One of the best games ever made. Hours and hours of fun. A classic A+++

Let me start by saying that I am not here to simply post unconstructive criticism of this title, rather to voice the opinions of a deeply dissappointed WWF and Smackdown fan.I played and owned the previous Smackdown title on the PS1 and it was the best thing since sliced bread. All this served to do was raise my expectations for SD3 through the roof. However, 48 hours after buying the game from my local HMV I can say that my expectations have been all but dashed.I suppose the main reason for this is a blatant disregard of true fans' requirements. In the previous title the strengths lay mainly in the fantastic story mode, and many days and weeks were spent with my flatmate working our way through season after season.Is it too much to ask for the PS2 to enhance rather than detract from its predecessor's efforts?Not only is there no two player option for the story mode, but the mode itself is lacking in both creativity and realism. All the so-called "choices" you could make to decide your path are absent, replaced by random fixed situations. The story is so linear, there is hardly a choice you make. And what's worse, once you follow a specific title route you are bound to it until you start the whole thing again. That is to say, once you take on the tag-team titles and win them you simply defend them over and over again with no backstage activity or nothing. Lose the titles and you start again also.This lack of vision is reinforced by the absence of any form of WWF calendar. You will find yourself fighting on RAW, then Backlash, then Summerslam, then Armegeddon, missing out several major PPVs and the entirity of weekly programming in the process.THQ tried to simplify the mode by eliminating the necessity to simulate matches you had no involvement in, but this merely serves to detract from any idea of continuity. Now, in SD3, you have no knowledge of any matches other than your own, so if you are currently entered in the tag division you have no way of finding out other title changes or results. In fact, regardless of how many matches you play the other titles will never actually change hands unless you are directly involved.In essence THQ has successfully ripped the heart out of its franchise title.Other notable exclusions include the lack of a create-a-PPV mode and all in all you have a severely crippled game...So far as the gameplay is concerned this is nothing but perfection. The system is just right and all the exhibition modes show a game of unquestionable depth and class, but what was to be a 5 star work-of-art has turned into an exhibition-only 3 star title. After all, in Goldeneye (N64) the multiplayer mode is fantastic, but what makes it the wondrous game that it is lies in the reinforcement created via the flowing captivating story mode.One or the other cannot be ignored, and ultimately it is a great shame, for this had greatness written all over it.One final note of caution for those who are new to the Smackdown phenomena. There is no in-game help what-so-ever and the manual works on assuming you already know exactly what you are doing. Let's put it this way, I spent a good year and a half playing SD2 and there are sections in SD3 even I don't understand.I know others will feel the same as me and I look to warn them in advance so as not to get their hopes up. You have been warned.

I think the way to describe WWF SD:JBI is to say that it's gone very much away from it's PS1 predecessors' style, and gone for an overhaul. The so-called great new story mode has been totally changed from SD 1 and 2, and as a player of Smackdown 1 for PS1, I was totally blown by this change. The new story mode, not 'season mode', has changed from guiding your jobber through tough pre-seasons and then guiding him to the top of the ladder, to a new mode which lets you compete as a chosen wrestler in a single story line. I must say the storylines do not differ, as every time, whoever you are, you get the same storyline to begin with. If you already have a title, you must defend it, and if you don't then Vince tells you that you have the opportunity to win the tag team titles, so you play in a TLC match for the chance to play the holders.The new story mode doesn't exactly give you the same pleasure as the older games did, when you saw your jobber complete his pre-season with newly earned talent and moves, and guided him to world wrestling federation stardom. Instead it gives you the chance to explore arenas, nick the hardcore title, and uncover new players such as Tajiri and Spike (no X-Pac for me yet!!).The commentary doesn't please me much as it seems to be continually the same, and the documented pop-ups during a match ave not yet happened to me, even though it is displayed on the cover. However Kurt Angle has once tried to interrupt in my match just when I won, but no Cole and Tazz commentary pop ups.The entrances are simply grand, and every wreslter's entrance is unique, and detail is phenomenal as expected. One amusing thing is in the create-a-wrestler mode, where you can create a wrestler entrance which involves him entering on a moped, mocking the Undertaker's motorcycle entrance.Once you are in the match , the system again is overhauled from previous versions, as a grapple feature is now included, as well as intersting Angle-like counters. This grapple feature annoys me especially though, as the finishers are much harder to produce as one doesn't know when to press the fatal button, and so matches last alot longer. This becomes especially annoying in exhibition matches when falls and submissions-a-plenty are important. While I am on that subject, it actually surprised me a lot to see Angle's ankle lock NOT making the other wrestler give up!!And yet something weak such as a twist of fate can KO you!A great wrestling game, but not such a good sports-entertainment game! Great graphics, great arenas and detail, but not such a great wrestler.

Great to laugh at the graphics and entrances in 2018...the non pc men vs women matches are great too. Loved this back in the day and again now

Unfortunately did not work, the case makes a nice coaster though so there is that

Ok condition

The product arrived on time and it was really good for the price

I think this isn't really a game for someone who doesn't like wrestling, I got this the day it was released having played Smackdown 2 I had my own expectations. I felt the graphics are obviously better even though SD3 still has those square pictures for superstars which are fairly unrealistic. Though the new in depth story mode is pretty good but I found it to be sometimes a little too short. Overall I would say this is a good buy but other fighting games are better like the future release named CAPCOM V SNK 2, but if you want a real wrestling game I'd advise SD3.