First Details: WWF Smackdown
Currently in Las Vegas for a THQ product unveiling, videogames.com reviews editor Jeff
Gerstmann has phoned in the first details of THQ's WWF Smackdown for the Sony PlayStation.
Based on an advanced version of the Toukon Retsuden 4 (a Japanese wrestling game from
Yukes) engine, the game looks surprisingly good. And other editors on location in Las
Vegas claim it may be the best-looking and best-animated wrestling title ever.
WWF Smackdown will offer gamers more than 30 selectable wrestlers. So far, we've seen:
Road Dogg, Mankind, Kain, Bradshaw, The Rock, Al Snow, Farooq, Big Show, Mr. Ass, D'lo
Brown, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Big Boss Man, Paul Bearer, Tori, X-pac, Vince McMahon,
Shane McMahon, The Undertaker, China, Hard Core Holly, Christian, The Hardy Boys, and Jeff
Jarrett.
WWF Smackdown also features a story mode that seems more advanced than similar modes in
any other wrestling game we've seen. The story mode makes you feel as though you're
watching the real WWF. For example: Say you're standing backstage between matches when all
of a sudden two rival wrestlers come out of nowhere and start brawling with you. To ensure
its wild authenticity, the real WWF crew has captured video and sound bytes for these
segments. It's really neat to have the expansive story mode in the game - you never know
who could become your next friend or enemy.
Another neat feature we've found with Smackdown is that during a match you can go
backstage by walking down the ramps and actually walk through the doors. So far we've seen
a parking lot, a boiler room, and a locker room.
WWF Smackdown also includes a "create a wrestler" mode, which is popular in
wrestling games these days. This lets you scale a wrestler's width and height with sliding
control bars. Also, there is a bunch of standard preset sample graphics you can use to
customize your wrestler. Want Mankind's head on your guy's body? Just click and drag his
head over to the body. Other modes we've come across are a cage mode and a royal rumble
mode.
WWF Smackdown looks like it could be the biggest and baddest wrestling game yet. Be
assured that we'll bring you more on this game in the near future