inevitabledeth
Superstar
Joined on: Mar 7, 2015 14:14:30 GMT -5
Posts: 724 
|
Post by inevitabledeth on Mar 9, 2021 20:38:27 GMT -5
I've been playing this game again recently and I have got to say, despite feeling very much like a beta for SmackDown 2, it definitely still has some charm to it. The differences not present in the sequel such as the old Raw is War stage, older models for certain characters (still think Jericho looks more like himself on here vs SmackDown 2) and just the little things like animations and the music.
What is everyone else's opinion of this classic and what do you think could/ would have made it better? For me, probably some additional stars shown in FMVs(Bulldog, who is shown in the end credits of the game) and not having to make hidden characters as CAWs.
|
|
PuroMasta
Superstar
Joined on: Jul 8, 2005 22:38:36 GMT -5
Posts: 693
|
Post by PuroMasta on Mar 9, 2021 22:43:58 GMT -5
Absolute classic game that makes me want to find a console to go back and get that rush of nostalgia along with 2 and def jam games.
As far as improvements, yeah more characters and maybe some more slots for CAW’s if it were possible back then. Maybe some more variety in movesets too but that would come in later games. Awesome starting point for the franchise regardless of a few small things. I spent so many years playing the first 5 games.
I’m going to see if anyone I know still has a console to find some old games lol.
|
|
inevitabledeth
Superstar
Joined on: Mar 7, 2015 14:14:30 GMT -5
Posts: 724
|
Post by inevitabledeth on Mar 10, 2021 3:24:15 GMT -5
It's also interesting how they had the casket as a standard weapon, almost as if to foreshadow the casket match added in SmackDown 2. Similarly, there was a table in the beta version, but it could only be swung/ thrown like any other weapon.
While I do believe SmackDown 2 is the superior game by a mile, I think I prefer certain aesthetics from this game.
|
|
|
|
Post by mcfclee on Mar 20, 2021 3:28:07 GMT -5
Loved it all those years ago, though I played smackdown 2 for a lot longer. The loading times on 2 killed me mind.
One thing that always annoyed me was the weird move names, everything was not what it was called on tv. I think a back drop was a back toss as example.
As for the CAW’s I vaguely remember some actual superstar parts in the create mode, who could you make?
|
|
inevitabledeth
Superstar
Joined on: Mar 7, 2015 14:14:30 GMT -5
Posts: 724
|
Post by inevitabledeth on Mar 24, 2021 15:13:20 GMT -5
Loved it all those years ago, though I played smackdown 2 for a lot longer. The loading times on 2 killed me mind. One thing that always annoyed me was the weird move names, everything was not what it was called on tv. I think a back drop was a back toss as example. As for the CAW’s I vaguely remember some actual superstar parts in the create mode, who could you make? Primarily they were the unlockable stars (had to be made as CAWs but could also appear as NPCs in pre-season), such as Viscera, Ivory, Jaqueline, Albert, Stephanie, The Stooges, Blue Meanie, Mideon, Stevie Richards, and some others. The beta had Meat (Shawn Stasiak) and Jeff Jarrett as well as a unique Psichosis look alike head that didn't make it to the final game. Edit: Here's a video for reference detailing some of the differences: |
|
|
|
Post by theoutlaw1999 on Mar 24, 2021 20:53:25 GMT -5
This was a hidden gem that started a WWE video game series that has expanded for over 20 years. I always thought that it was overshadowed by WM2000 which I believe came out around the same time. It may not have had as big a roster, but it was a real fun game with cool controls and the addition of backstage brawls really added to it aswell.
The main downside IMO was having to create the unlockable Superstars. I never understood why they though this would be a good idea. Thankfully SD2 fixed that issue.
|
|
inevitabledeth
Superstar
Joined on: Mar 7, 2015 14:14:30 GMT -5
Posts: 724
|
Post by inevitabledeth on Mar 24, 2021 23:22:22 GMT -5
This was a hidden gem that started a WWE video game series that has expanded for over 20 years. I always thought that it was overshadowed by WM2000 which I believe came out around the same time. It may not have had as big a roster, but it was a real fun game with cool controls and the addition of backstage brawls really added to it aswell. The main downside IMO was having to create the unlockable Superstars. I never understood why they though this would be a good idea. Thankfully SD2 fixed that issue. Only excuse I could think of in regards to the CAWs thing is to entice players who otherwise wouldn't use the mode to use it. Unfortunately, the small amount of CAW slots makes this a poor excuse however. If these characters can appear in pre-season cutscenes (I have encountered Jacqueline myself last I played), would they not theoretically have their own character slot/ IDs? It really is baffling. Makes me wish someone could make a Smackdown 1.5 game, replacing Smackdown 2's assets (music, attires, Raw is War stage, etc.) with those from SmackDown 1 and basically make a more complete version of SmackDown 1. I have found one mod that fits this bill, but it has remained incomplete and lacks some of these features. |
|
|
|
Post by theoutlaw1999 on Mar 28, 2021 20:08:56 GMT -5
This was a hidden gem that started a WWE video game series that has expanded for over 20 years. I always thought that it was overshadowed by WM2000 which I believe came out around the same time. It may not have had as big a roster, but it was a real fun game with cool controls and the addition of backstage brawls really added to it aswell. The main downside IMO was having to create the unlockable Superstars. I never understood why they though this would be a good idea. Thankfully SD2 fixed that issue. Only excuse I could think of in regards to the CAWs thing is to entice players who otherwise wouldn't use the mode to use it. Unfortunately, the small amount of CAW slots makes this a poor excuse however. If these characters can appear in pre-season cutscenes (I have encountered Jacqueline myself last I played), would they not theoretically have their own character slot/ IDs? It really is baffling. Makes me wish someone could make a Smackdown 1.5 game, replacing Smackdown 2's assets (music, attires, Raw is War stage, etc.) with those from SmackDown 1 and basically make a more complete version of SmackDown 1. I have found one mod that fits this bill, but it has remained incomplete and lacks some of these features. What else was lame too was that you could create a wrestler but their music wasn't included. It would've been better if the likes of Ivory, Jacqueline etc were given their own entrances that you could use. It would've made them feel less like CAW's. |
|
kurtsteph87
Jobber
Joined on: Apr 5, 2021 16:01:10 GMT -5
Posts: 2
|
Post by kurtsteph87 on Apr 6, 2021 14:07:36 GMT -5
I agree that the original SmackDown laid the foundation for what came in SD KYR. I believe the two were actually released in the same year. I also agree with the CAW slots being taken up by hidden characters. CAW creation was rather limited, even more so than older games such as War Zone and Attitude. You chose a head, torso, and legs, and that was about it in the appearance. Backstage brawling was novel at this time, we didn't see backstage fighting in any of the other WWF games. I think only one WCW game had backstage fighting in and it wasn't that great of a game.
|
|
Ohtimate Wahriah
Main Eventer
WF 10 Year Member
Joined on: Jul 1, 2008 12:35:07 GMT -5
Posts: 2,527
|
Post by Ohtimate Wahriah on Apr 13, 2021 16:05:39 GMT -5
Man I loved this game when it came out. This was back before the internet for me so I remember vividly my Mom taking us to KayBee toys one night and they had the gaming station set up with this on it. It was Billy Gunn vs Stone Cold. We INSTANTLY begged my Mom lol...instantly. Billy Gunn did a Jackhammer and we were sold, it looked so real, the moves looked like the guys were performing them. Even the Aki Games, as great as they were, they had the moves but they didn’t necessarily look like the way each guy would do them. Billy Gunn punched like Billy Gunn, he did the jackhammer like he would, we even did the Fameasser in KayBee and were blown away that he taunted before hitting the move lol.
It’s so understated because the series got even better, but to take yourself back to its inception and think about all the things that were new at THAT time. The motion capture of those games produced wrestling moves that look better than the ones in the games today. At THAT TIME though, it was jaw dropping stuff. We played that game so much
Another thing I’ll never forget either is watching the intro video to the game and seeing the Dudley Boyz. Mind you, I still wasn’t over seeing the War Zone intro with Wildman Marc Mero & he was nowhere in the game lol, but we marked out so hard when we saw them in the game haha
*pretty sure this was the only game that had Jeff Hardy’s leg drop the ropes moonsault too. Not sure why they removed it in Smackdown 2
|
|
