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"Buy SD4. Now."

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Sat 16/11/02 at 19:30
Regular
Posts: 787
That is the message, pure and simple. For a short while I was actually sceptical about Shut Your Mouth, mainly because I was disappointed with Just Bring It. Things weren't included that I though should have been sure fire inclusions, and the fact that they weren't smacked of laziness on the part of the developers. Because of this, I was reluctant to get Smackdown 4 - but due to the persistent insurance of Herc that it would be a classic (what a visionary :D) I decided to get it, and thankfully, it delivers what should have been delivered a year ago.

Presentation-wise, the game remains as slick as ever. Entrances have been enhanced, and the wrestler likenesses are even more so than JBI - although some do look a little wierd (D-Von, The Rock) guys like Booker T and Hulk Hogan are just about an accurate a representation as you're are going to get. Their mannerisms are spot on too, from Booker T's glaring stare (usually at his hand) to Jericho's nonchalant stamps. The menus are great as usual, so that's ok.

But Smackdown has always been about style over substance, and I was apprehensive that it would still fall short where it really mattered - in the squared circle (ring for the uninitiated). However, Yukes have come up trumps. For the first team, the action has a really meaty feel to it, so when you connect with a big move, the impact is felt, unlike the wishy washy reactions of Just Bring It. Also much improved is the reaction to weaponry, similarly, chair shot actually make a proper sound rather than the previous hollow chime, you can now do moves onto the ladder, and tables can be propped up to cause carnage - not that much of a change, but its amazing how much this tiny difference improves the gameplay.

The wealth of options has been faithfully retained - as well as the modes from JBI, the pitiful season mode has been comlpetely overhauled, incorporating the brand extension as you can create your won drafts. Now played over two seasons, you can control your wrestler as he tries to climb the ladder (no pun intended) to WWE glory. PPVs now take place in addition to weekly Raw or Smackdown shows (depending on what draft you're in), and all the arenas have been faithfully recreated in all their digital glory. And a lot of wrestlers there are too, Yukes expanding the roster to 60 playable characters, with new additions such as Rob Van Dam, Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels correct and present.

As well as the improvement to the season mode, other game modes have been improved - CAW mode is as exhaustive as ever, HiaC is majorly improved - the cage actaully surrounds the ring, allowing your to mesh your opponents face in the side - you can kick down the door and climb the cell as well. Contrary to the ultra unrealistic JBI HiaC, where you could never run off the top of the cell, and when you did you landed perfectly, now moves have to be timed perfectly, and falling off the cage results in much damage. Good stuff at last, Yukes.

However, for everything that Yukes have finally done properly this time, there are still a few gripes - graphically, it doesn't even come close to the games on Xbox or Gamecube, as the jagged edges are still prevalent. The commentary takes the 'less is more' approach - now with J.R. and the King, its mre appropriate but much scarcer, and JR. screaming after a massive move is still sadly missing. Still, it beats Michael Cole bleating "He's a great Texan" in a Regal/ Jericho match. Lastly, there is no blood, dammit! The introduction of the red stuff would take the game, and the matches, to a new level, a feature sadly missing.

I wanted to put most of this in my review, but a) the new 3000 character thing wouldn't have allowed it, and b) if there is anyone in my position unsure whether to get this after the disappointment of JBI, then I urge you to - for the first time it feels like step forward rather than a step sidewards with a graphics update. It's not perfect, but this is the most definitive WWE game you are going to get.

So buy it. Now.

:D
Sat 16/11/02 at 22:13
Regular
"I like cheese"
Posts: 16,918
I can't wait to get this game, even if it is missing a certain mode...sounds like Story Mode will make up for it.

Anyone been Scotty yet?
Sat 16/11/02 at 21:16
Regular
"sdomehtongng"
Posts: 23,695
God, I wrote a bloody review there. :-D

Posted it in 2 forums too.

:-D
Sat 16/11/02 at 21:15
Regular
"sdomehtongng"
Posts: 23,695
Ah, it's brilliance in a small, blue and grey box with words on it.

I've spent about 8 hours today just playing it constantly - only taking a one hour break, with in which I played Vice City. :-D

Nah, really, sheer brilliance.

The Career Mode has just improved so much - I started one off with The Rock today, and drafted myself into SmackDown - I won the Undisputed Championship 5 shows after, at Backlash, and have kept it since. Although I've kept it, I'm not unbeaten - been beaten quite a few times in fact, but I've always come out on top when it mattered. At Insurrexion I won the European Championship, which was slightly baffling - I didn't even know that my match with William Regal was for the Championship, which is why it baffled me so much. I haven't defended that title yet, and I'm about 4 or 5 main events on from it - queer, eh? Anyway, I'm really enjoying the Career Mode, possibly even more than I normally would due to SmackDown 3: Just Bring It's really poor Career Mode, and expectation for something similar made my mind up that it wasn't going to be too good in this one either - how wrong I was. Top stuff!

The Exhibition has been brilliant fun so far too - all the matches are available from the start, which means I don't have to play in Career Mode for ages before being able to play in the Hell In A Cell, which was the first thing I did. I've tried to go through as many match types as possible with as many superstars as possible, and so far, the matches that have impressed me most are the Armageddon Hell In A Cell 6-Way Match and the TLC, which are both brilliant fun, especially with mates. I use Booker T, Rob Van Dam, The Rock and Rhyno quite a lot, because they all rule! Wahey! :-D

There are plenty of other great things to do in the game as well - there's the Create A Wrestler mode, which should only be used if you have a long period of free time on your hands - it's gigantic, no joke. There are just thousands of moves, so many items of clothing and a multitide of taunts, special accessories and ways of fighting to use. To sum it up in one word: veryhugeandmassive. :-D

Top game, love it!
Sat 16/11/02 at 20:54
Regular
Posts: 11,597
I know. I shouldn't have copied it word for word LOL, should have edited it. Ah well.
Sat 16/11/02 at 20:46
Regular
Posts: 5,630
Heh - people that visit WWE forum will buy the game, its the others we have to convince.

;D
Sat 16/11/02 at 20:14
Regular
Posts: 11,597
Since you posted your message in two forums, I will too. :c)

I totally agree with Russ. Buy it, whether you like WWE or not. Hell in a Cell was truely amazing, and has totally developed since Just Bring It. Tables, Ladders and Chairs (oh my ;cD) was an experiance. The tables are breakable from the corner post now, adding realism and enjoyment to this aspect of the game. Ladders are twice as good now. You're able to drill your opponants head into it, plus push the ladder down with your opponant, or in some cases OPPONANTS on it. Being able to grab weapons from under the ring rocked. Also, 6 Man Elimination Table match was cool. Overall...favourite match was HiaC, closely followed by TLC. Bit disapointed about the crappy commentary. But, needless to say, this game is a must buy. Ah well, your loss if you choose not to buy it. Oh, for any WWE SD!series fans...Season Mode is the most interactive yet, as I found out today. Went up to the Phat Man 'Kishi for him to ask me had I been doing my "Pre-match rituals". The choices in reply were easy to create feuds or allies. Walked in to an angry Eddie Guerrero (who has an amazing move set I might add. El Paso is truely phenominal (sp?)) and nearly got into a fight with him. Going on the train to WWE The World was good. Watching the Draft, and Austin's "Which way will he go" segment was cool. Also interfered in Trish -Vs- Molly Holly as Brock Lesnar, and F-Fived both women AND the annoying but VERY realistic Earl Hebnor. Helped Trish to a victory, and even though she was p!ssed off with the F5 she got, I think she began to trust me. RVD's Van Daminator (Van Terminator isn't in the game :c( heh) is awesome; see my tips below of how to execute it. If I had to rate this game, I'd give it a 9. Lacks a few small things (and Create-a-PPV, which annoyed Ant), but certainly good on the whole.

To perform a Van Daminator...

SELECT RVD in a NO DQ match. Get one SmackDown Special up, and go outside of the ring. Grab a steel chair, and take it back in the ring. Walk facing your opponant, and press x + >. Instantly press L1 and L2 to see RVD fly up and kick that steel chair into his opponants face!

To perform your opponants finisher...

Make sure you have TWO SmackDown Specials up this time round. Get in the position that is required to do your opponants finisher, make them groggy and then press L1 and L2. You will perform their finishing move. Note, this will take both your SmackDown Specials. To know if you've done it (of course, you'll do you'll do their finisher and HOPEFULLY recognise it), you should have a RED SmackDown logo flash across the screen instead of the standard blue.

To reverse a finisher...

Press L1 and Square when your opponant presses L1 to do their finisher. You will lose a SmackDown Special, so you do need one up, and timing is vital.

Bullet time mode...

Press L1 to do a finisher, and press L1 again to go into bullet time mode.

Now, I hope you all run off and buy this game. I'm now off to do a Spinerooni.

DW
Sat 16/11/02 at 19:30
Regular
Posts: 5,630
That is the message, pure and simple. For a short while I was actually sceptical about Shut Your Mouth, mainly because I was disappointed with Just Bring It. Things weren't included that I though should have been sure fire inclusions, and the fact that they weren't smacked of laziness on the part of the developers. Because of this, I was reluctant to get Smackdown 4 - but due to the persistent insurance of Herc that it would be a classic (what a visionary :D) I decided to get it, and thankfully, it delivers what should have been delivered a year ago.

Presentation-wise, the game remains as slick as ever. Entrances have been enhanced, and the wrestler likenesses are even more so than JBI - although some do look a little wierd (D-Von, The Rock) guys like Booker T and Hulk Hogan are just about an accurate a representation as you're are going to get. Their mannerisms are spot on too, from Booker T's glaring stare (usually at his hand) to Jericho's nonchalant stamps. The menus are great as usual, so that's ok.

But Smackdown has always been about style over substance, and I was apprehensive that it would still fall short where it really mattered - in the squared circle (ring for the uninitiated). However, Yukes have come up trumps. For the first team, the action has a really meaty feel to it, so when you connect with a big move, the impact is felt, unlike the wishy washy reactions of Just Bring It. Also much improved is the reaction to weaponry, similarly, chair shot actually make a proper sound rather than the previous hollow chime, you can now do moves onto the ladder, and tables can be propped up to cause carnage - not that much of a change, but its amazing how much this tiny difference improves the gameplay.

The wealth of options has been faithfully retained - as well as the modes from JBI, the pitiful season mode has been comlpetely overhauled, incorporating the brand extension as you can create your won drafts. Now played over two seasons, you can control your wrestler as he tries to climb the ladder (no pun intended) to WWE glory. PPVs now take place in addition to weekly Raw or Smackdown shows (depending on what draft you're in), and all the arenas have been faithfully recreated in all their digital glory. And a lot of wrestlers there are too, Yukes expanding the roster to 60 playable characters, with new additions such as Rob Van Dam, Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels correct and present.

As well as the improvement to the season mode, other game modes have been improved - CAW mode is as exhaustive as ever, HiaC is majorly improved - the cage actaully surrounds the ring, allowing your to mesh your opponents face in the side - you can kick down the door and climb the cell as well. Contrary to the ultra unrealistic JBI HiaC, where you could never run off the top of the cell, and when you did you landed perfectly, now moves have to be timed perfectly, and falling off the cage results in much damage. Good stuff at last, Yukes.

However, for everything that Yukes have finally done properly this time, there are still a few gripes - graphically, it doesn't even come close to the games on Xbox or Gamecube, as the jagged edges are still prevalent. The commentary takes the 'less is more' approach - now with J.R. and the King, its mre appropriate but much scarcer, and JR. screaming after a massive move is still sadly missing. Still, it beats Michael Cole bleating "He's a great Texan" in a Regal/ Jericho match. Lastly, there is no blood, dammit! The introduction of the red stuff would take the game, and the matches, to a new level, a feature sadly missing.

I wanted to put most of this in my review, but a) the new 3000 character thing wouldn't have allowed it, and b) if there is anyone in my position unsure whether to get this after the disappointment of JBI, then I urge you to - for the first time it feels like step forward rather than a step sidewards with a graphics update. It's not perfect, but this is the most definitive WWE game you are going to get.

So buy it. Now.

:D

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