The amount of new content they were able to add to this game is just staggering.

This was also the first WWE game to make proper use of adding classic/legendary wrestlers to the game such as Sgt Slaughter and Rowdy Roddy Piper. Tons of new wrestlers were included with iconic stars such as John Cena and Batista making their debuts. New match types The Elimination Chamber and the Bra & Panties match were included for the first time. A Game Of Many FirstsĪs well as the new grapple system WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain introduced a whole load of firsts for a WWE game. The grapple system adds a great deal of depth to the game, but it still moves at that quick and arcady pace that the series is known for. Add to this a new submission system and a body damage system and it is just mind-blowing how much they were able to change the core gameplay while keeping the feeling of the game the same. You now had a new grapple system that greatly expanded the number of moves a wrestler could now do. This game changed up the gameplay considerably.

I get why they did this and it does streamline things, but I do wish they let us walk around like in SmackDown: Shut Your Mouth. It loses the first-person point of view from the previous game and instead has you using menus to move around the locker room/backstage area. Season Mode in WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain gives you a lot of leeway in what you do.