PlayStation 2 Critic Reviews

As well as upgrading the visuals and modes though, the controls have also been tweaked; while the original game was considered a bit too fast to play properly, Smackdown: JBI has been slowed down ever so slightly to allow for more strategic and authentic action… which is always a good thing.

From the ring entrances to the expanded storyline mode, it is the most authentic WWF video game ever.

An excellent wrestling game offering enhanced creation tools, excellent graphics, fast paced action and a ton of new (and old) gameplay modes.

While the control scheme is easy to grasp and intuitive, simple commands on the controller translate into some incredibly complex and violent moves onscreen. The use of one button for general defense adds great realism.

My favorite mode is back, the Story Mode, and in this game it rocks, offering up a first person romp around the many locales in the game and a wide variety of career paths for you to choose from.

It can be amazingly fun at times, and the production value, laden with WWF panache, is top-notch.

Sets a standard all subsequent wrestling game will have to meet.

It delivers on all pistons with plenty to keep gamers playing for months.

Moving to PS2 has also done SmackDown's gameplay a world of good, allowing for many new techniques and features. [Dec 2001, p.90]

Luckily, the Cinemax-quality female brawls make up for the vaguely homoerotic aspects, since nobody should be exposed to that much man-on-man action.