WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Painis considered to be one of the best wrestling games of all time next toWWF No MercyandFire Pro Wrestling World. However, unlike the other wrestling titles,Here Comes the Painisn’t trying to be a wrestling simulation but a game that falls somewhere in between realism and arcade-style fun. It implements high-impact American wrestling style mechanics with the more strategicNew Japan Pro Wrestling, series AKAPower Move Pro Wrestling.
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WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Painfocused on fun and local co-op chaos, delivering an experience that hasn’t quite been replicated by the more recentWWE 2Kwrestling franchise. WhereWWF No Mercywas a fantastic single-player wrestling game with great AI on high difficulty levels,Here Comes the Painwas more entertaining when played with friends and family. However, that doesn’t mean that game lacked features that solo players could enjoy too. Let’s take a look at whyWWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Painstill holds up as one of the best wrestling games of all time.
8Fast-Paced Matches
An area whereWWE 2K22has shown large improvement is the match speed and pacing. Fans have been hoping for a return to the speedy action-packed matches that they loved inWWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain.
The matches are a long way from the slow methodical pace that’s inWWF No Mercybut theSmackDownseries has always been a different kind of wrestling game. The focus inHere Comes The Painwas less on realism and more on chaotic matches that the WWE represented at the time.
7It Was Innovative For Its Era
WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Painintroduced a ton of new features that still make it feel like a modern wrestling game. It features a meter that displays body damage to the legs, arms, midsection, and head.
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Moreover, it has adjustable stats and characteristics for each wrestler and giving wrestling fans a more sim-like experience. Finally,Here Comes the Painwas the first wrestling game to feature the now-iconic Elimination Chamber match.
6High Impact Moves
WWESmackDown! Here Comes The Painisn’t quite an arcade wrestling game but it is not a simulation either. That said, players can still have back and forth wrestling matches that require tactics and timing. However,hitting the big movesis the most satisfying part of the game.
WhereHere Comes The Painshines is that even normal wrestling moves like a bodyslam sound and feels devastating. The screen shakes and the ring mat makes a sound that hit with a resounding slamming noise. Hitting Brock Lesnar’s F5 is devastating enough to make evenStreet Fighter’sZangief blush with envy.
5Responsive Controls
The action inWWE Here Comes The Painis faster than most wrestling fans are used to, but this would mean very little without great and responsive controls. There is no input delay and the counter and reversal moves feel great to pull off.
In addition to reversals, hitting opponents with weapons and chairs is very quick and satisfying. Picking up weapons inWWE 2K22during backstage brawls and hardcore matches feels cumbersome and unresponsive by comparison.
4Multi-Person Matches
An area where most entries in theWWE 2Kseries have struggled is including lots of wrestlers in the ring at once. Whether this is aRoyal Rumble or a multi-person tag team match, manyWWE 2Kgames tend to suffer from slow down.
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This isn’t the case withHere Comes The Pain–the matches are chaotic, wild, and always fun. They are even better when played with friends and family in local co-op matches. When played with friends, matches of this type will almost always end in hysterical laughter in ways most other games can’t match.
3The Backstage Fights
WWE 2K22was a return to form in many ways for the series. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the Backstage Brawls. These matches and fights took a huge step back when it came to variety and different environments.
Players are now limited to one area backstage area that is quite frankly boring when compared to its predecessors, especiallyHere Comes The Pain. The PS2 gamenot only has multiple environments to fight in but, unlikeWWE 2K22,they can also include multiple wrestlers at once.
2A Great Roster
WWE Here Comes the Painhas one ofthe best rosters in wrestling game history. It includes wrestlers like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, John Cena, Batista, and more.
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The roster also includes legends like The Legion of Doom, The Iron Sheik, and more. This is a roster that was included on the game’s disc, so there were no paywalls locking content behind season passes or DLC. It was available to the player from day one.
1The Visuals Hold Up
WWE 2k22is without a doubt the best-looking wrestling game to date. However, considering thatWWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Painis an 18-year-old PS2 title, the game holds up very well. Certain power wrestlers like Batista and Brock Lesnar indeed have the same animations, but they still looked fantastic.
Entrances for wrestlers like The Undertaker and The Rock are still amazing, and the arenas look authentic to the TV product at the time. Even now, they are capable of taking the player back in time to the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras of the WWE.
WWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Painis available for the PlayStation 2.
