Here's my second Review. This one is of WWE Smackdown: Here Comes the Pain, also known as Smackdown 5. The game is a wrestling game for the Playstation 2, and is rated T for Teen for mature themes, violence, suggestive dialogue, and blood.

Graphics: ****

The graphics are very nice, and words fail to describe something as great as a Lionsault on a helpless man in the middle of the ring or the stunning display seen in Kurt Angle's anklelock or Chris Benoit's Sharpshooter. However some moves, especially the F5s, Jackhammer, and Stone Cold Stunners, look sloppy, and some of the things done with weapons don't look the best either.

Sound: ****

The sound is excellent, though not quite as great as the sound heard in Smackdown: Just Bring It (Smackdown 3), but of course it had many more Superstar themes and even more optional changes for them. The sounds of the audience are incredibly realistic, but this was accomplished far back in Warzone almost seven years before this game was released, and that game had rather poor sound. The lack of commentary this time around is, surprisingly, a good thing.

Game Options: *****

You have over 80 different match types to choose from, and over 80 Superstars (counting Created ones) to put in those match types. The Elimination Chamber is a nice addition to all of Smackdown 4's many matches, but the classic Ironman match remains the granddaddy of them all. The lack of an I Quit match, the only match in Smackdown 4 not in this one (Falls Count Anywhere doesn't count here), is a bad thing but is easily made up for.

Story Mode: ****

The Story remains the premier part of the game, and the way you unlock every secret in the game. Story is actually worse than that of Smackdown 4, but Smackdown 4's was longer and had good meaningful original stories, instead of routine repeats from TV. Smackdown 5's story is great, but could be better. Being asked month after month if you want to have a manager or go for the tag team titles with someone you want to end the career of is aggrevating.

Difficulty: ****

The game is quite easy for the most part, but once you turn it up to the SMACKDOWN! level of difficulty, things really heat up, especially considering how hard it is to win a handicap pin only match. This type of match would be brutal and anyone who enjoys a challenge would love this.

Controls: *****

The controls remain excellent, as they have throughout the Smackdown series. The controls are convenient now, with the addition of loading screens that aren't quite as useless as a picture of a fat bald guy who hasn't shaved his back in at least ten years. (This loading screen still shows up occasionally, but it's rare.)

Characters: ****

The characters are excellent, though, despite the Legends, Smackdown 4 was better here as well. The Legends were ruined due to boring ways of getting to the ring, and the lack of their signature music. Roddy Piper, Ted DiBiase, and Old School Undertaker are the only ones who should've been in this, the rest should have the FBI, La' Resistance, and Billy Gunn instead. Undertaker, Y2J, Rock, Steve Austin, Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Triple H, and John Cena all offer the kind of presence here as in real life, and the other current day Superstars are just as good (except Stacy Keibler; anyone know why she's on here?).

Extras: ****

The things you buy in Shopzone are for the most part very useful or neat to have except the Bra and Panties color, the Diva loading screens, and most of the Legends. The movesets you unlock are mostly useful and some of those movesets are absolutely neccessary when creating a superstar from the past or one who isn't in the game. The parts for created Superstars are just as useful. The extra outfits aren't useful, but they are a neat thing to have, especially when doing something humorous like having Kane have two fights in row and get his look without hair in a match then right afterwords a match with him with hair. The rap at the end of the credits by John Cena is one of the best scenes in the game, besides maybe the brilliance of the closing video after you either win or lose in the main event at Wrestlemania. The Special Entrance you can only get if you win the main event Wrestlemania is also nice.

Create A ____: *****

The Create mode offers four options: Create a Character, Create a Taunt, Create a Stable, and Create a Move Set. All four modes offer tons of options, though the most ellaorate and popular is the Character, which requires you to go to Create a Moveset afterwards. Everything can be done humorously, except Stable, which is pretty flat but still cool (and saves you a lot of time in Season mode). With the kinds of options possible in CAC, you can create awesome wrestlers to put fear in other's souls, or wild things from Mario characters to fruits and beyond.

Replayability: *****

The game could be played dozens of times without boredom. You could take the route through joining Vince McMahon one time, then fight him the next time, or create a group of misfits who declare they will rule the company and overthrowd Vince, and much, much more! And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Exhibition is trully the greatest mode on the game, and offers almost anything you can think of.

Fun Factor: *****

HCTP is one of the most enjoyable games I've ever played. Not the best mind you, but top 5? Definitely. If you can stand to tap buttons and go through creating a whole moveset, it's well worth it.

Overall: *****

Your wallet won't like this one bit, because you should definitely buy this game and buy it soon. Smackdown: Here Comes the Pain, and who knows how much Smackdown vs Raw, coming out this November, will improve on this.

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