‘WWF Smackdown!’

Sony Playstation

Finally, the WWF has come back to Playstation, and this time it’s bringing more than just an updated roster of characters. THQ’s first WWF game for the Playstation, “WWF SmackDown!,” brings to life the soap opera story lines, backstage brawls and in ring madness that fuels the WWF’s weekly television shows.

“SmackDown!” features 36 WWF superstars including The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Each superstar is superbly detailed with all of the taunts, mannerisms, motions and finishing moves. The Rock’s “People’s Elbow” even features the character removing his elbow pad and throwing it to the crowd before bouncing off the ropes and dropping the crushing elbow.

The game features an arcade style of play that is fast and easy, so anyone can pick up a controller and play. Twelve match styles are available including the innovative “Special Referee” match, which allows the player to assume the role of the referee and either play fair or screw enemies out of the win.

THQ also borrowed a page from EA Sports’ “WCW Mayhem,” allowing players to take the battle backstage in “Anywhere Falls” and “Hardcore” matches. “SmackDown!” improves upon the concept, allowing gamers to continuously move through the backstage areas such as the kitchen and the boiler room, pummeling each other with a variety of weapons including shopping carts and steel chairs.

“SmackDown!” also allows you to “Create-A-Superstar.” You choose all the attributes of your character including appearance, personality, fighting style and moves. You can even play Dr. Frankenstein and combine body parts from different WWF superstars to make the ultimate ringmaster.

The excitement intensifies following the creation of your own superstar. Before your superstar can battle for the WWF Championship in the “Season,” you must prove you are worthy to WWF impresario Vince McMahon in the “Pre-Season.” Throughout the “Pre-Season,” your superstar will be given advice by other wrestlers and have the option to either thank them and become allies or tell them to shut up and become the target of their aggression.

The lack of an announcer in favor of generic music detracts from the overall game, becoming stale and insanely tiresome after about the tenth match.

“SmackDown” overcomes its faults, however, and goes where no other wrestling game has gone before, offering story lines and the opportunity to form alliances and make enemies.

4 Stars

Rating based on a 5 Star scale