Publisher: THQ
Ages: ten and up.
Parental
Advisory:
Violence
About as boisterous and violent as the real thing, THQ's WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth is the definitive wrestling title for the PlayStation 2. The game offers action that's reminiscent of that in the ring, a good season mode, solid fight mechanics and great graphics, as well as the flamboyant stars such as Brock Lesner, The Next Big Thing, Booker T and Hollywood Hulk Hogan. We're not fond of professional wrestling-there are far better pursuits in this world, but WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth delivers the raucous goods and is a significant upgrade over the prior version.
The game succeeds at offering an in-depth, virtual take on the world of professional wrestling. There's a solid season mode that lets players take on the career of a wrestling star or one that they create, and the game serves multiple character paths that follow the events from the recent year of WWE programming.
An enhanced multi-player option lets up to six fight in the ring at once (with a multi-tap controller). And an intriguing create-a-superstar mode lets gamers create their own wrestlers with customizable facial features that include weight, costumes, tattoos, animations, stances and more.
The exhibition mode offers single and tag team matches, survival mode and lots more. And fights can take place in other locations such as a locker room, VIP room, sidewalks and other locales that are complete with weapons and destructible items.
The fighting mechanics are first rate and offer options for grappling, punching kicking, and countering. As you would expect, well known wrestlers perform much like their real-life counterparts and favor similar stances and techniques.
The graphics are excellent and effectively recreate the sights and sounds of the real events. And there are excellent digital versions of the wrestlers and arenas.
Professional wrestling ranks low on our list of recommended (or good) family activities. But if players enjoy such intellectual fare as SmackDown! and its ilk, despite the subject matter, we recognize WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth to be an excellent title.
3/13/03 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
