The game introduced the Strong/Weak grappling system. By holding a direction on the analog stick while pressing the grapple button, players could execute different moves. This allowed for a massive movelist for every superstar, rather than the limited sets seen in previous years. It gave the player agency; you weren’t just mashing buttons—you were calling spots like a real wrestler.
The game uses a two-button reversal system that is critical for high-level play. Control (PS2) Strike Attack + Direction Reverse Striking Attacks Reverse Grapple Attacks Reverse Finishing Moves (simultaneously) Finishing Move (L1) (when meter is full and in position) Steal Opponent's Finisher (must be in the correct position) Pick Up Weapon / Action Grapple System Breakdown Grapples are initiated by pressing thmyl lbt WWE SmackDown- Here Comes the Pain m...
For the first time in a wrestling game, blood dripped dynamically. Busting someone open with a steel chair or a sledgehammer (Triple H’s weapon of choice) resulted in a crimson mask that stained the mat. The game didn’t shy away. This realism earned it an M rating from the ESRB – something no WWE game has dared to repeat since. The game introduced the Strong/Weak grappling system
In the pantheon of sports entertainment video games, there are titles that were popular for a season, and then there are titles that achieved immortality. For a specific generation of gamers and wrestling fans, one title sits atop the mountain, clutching the championship belt with an iron grip: . It gave the player agency; you weren’t just