WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain (PS2)

Gameplay 9/10
Its the most important factor when playing any game, and HCTP delivers the goods. Theres loads of new additions including wrestlers and game modes, and THQ have also added blood in this one, which im sure many smackdown fans are pleased about.
Theres an enhanced grappling system that can leave you in a tapping frenzy, so remember and kick out of that damn angle lock! (haha brock..).

Graphics 8/10
Big improvement to shut your mouth. The characters faces however arent that much more realistic than in the previous one.
The crowd is more realistic now than it ever was, as are the arenas.

Sound 6/10
NO COMMENTARY!! Ahhh well who cares, but it would have been nice to have some insight from king and good ol' jr. Theres more or less the same loud music as was in shut your mouth.

Overall 9/10
Great game! You'll never get tired of it!

The Biggest Season Mode Ever!
The Game Will Feature all The Storylines From the Last Year of TV, as Well as Some Older, Classis Storylines as Well as Brand New Storylines Written By The WWE Writing Staff Themselves! You Will Be Able to Choose Your Brand and Customise It Just Like In SD4, But Now You Have More Options! You can Also Choose From The Start Whether You are a Face (Fan Favourite) or A Heel (Booed From The Building). The Old First Person walking about System has Been Dropped and You Now Have a Menu Driven System, But there is still a lot of first person storyline stuff!

Enhanced Graphics!
SD5 Boasts Much Improved Graphics Compared To SD4 and Detail has Been enhanced Everywhere! The Crowds are Still Mostly 2D, But Now Have a Much More 3D Look To Them and All The Entrances Look Amazing!

Blood!
THQ Have Finally Answered The Most Wanted Feature In Their WWE Games On all Platforms and Have Included Blood This Year!

New Match Types!
The Six Man Elimination Chamber and Bra & Panties Have Been added, Also This Game Marks The Return of The First Blood Match, Which was Dropped Because Fans Didnt See The Point unless a Game Had Blood in The Past, Now It Does!

Classic Superstars!
In Season Mode You Can Now Unlock Old Favourites Such as Sgt Slaughter and Ultimate Warrior as Playable Characters!

Updated Roster!
The Game will Feature The Majority of The Current WWE Active Roster (along with The Old Hidden Wrestlers who I wont spoil!):BR>THQ Want To Feature All or Most of The Real Superstar's Voices In Game So That When You Beat Up a Wrestler, It Sounds Like It!

New Create a Wrestler Stuff!
The Create A Wrestler Once Again Gets More Stuff and More Music and Videos and Entrances To Choose From!

This Proves Why The Smackdown Series is The Dominant Wrestling Videogame and Why Smackdown 5 Is Undoubtedly The Best Yet!

This isn't just a run of the mill sequel. Yes, over 60 of the latest superstars, themes and storylines are included. THQ have impressively gone step further and completely redesigned key areas of the game, to increase realism. For example, wrestlers can now inflict area specific damage. Get put in too many ankle locks, and your wrestler is going to be limping for the rest of the match. The damage doesn't stop there however. Too many bumps to the head and you will be busted open, with blood flooding down your face. The graphics have been given an overhaul, and feature impressive lighting, pyro and effects. The crowd has finally made the jump from 2d to 3d.

The grappling system has been redesigned, offering 4 different styles of grapple. This means that each wrestler can perform 16 different grapples, compared to Smackdown: Shut Your Mouth's 4.

In addition to having the latest roster, including Goldberg, Scott Steiner, Rey Mysterio, John Cena and many others, THQ has also included 'WWE Legends' to the game. Old favorates such as the Ultimate Warrior, Ted Dibiase, Legion of Doom, Rowdy Roddy Piper, and Nikolai Volkoff will be welcome additions to old school wrestling fans.

There have also been some exciting match additions added. 3 of my favorates are The Elimination Chamber (a steel dome designed for 5 people), First Blood (Make your opponent bleed to win!) and also Bra and Panties ( strip off your opponant to her underwear to win!). All match types from previous games are still present, including Hell in a Cell, Steel Cage, and TLC.

The redesigned season mode will contain stories from the past year in the WWE, as well as classic storylines, and ones written especially for the game. The free-roaming feature from Smackdown 4 is gone, and has been replaced by a more accessable menu based system.

There are a number of new backstage areas, including a gym. Here you can use various items such as dumbbells, and even a running machine to inflict damage on your opponents!

In conclusion, this is a must-own game for wrestling and beat-em-up fans. The game of the year, buy it now!

- Mark O'Connell