WWF Smackdown!

Overall: D
Violence: D
Sexual Content: C
Language: B-
Drugs/Alcohol: A

Platform reviewed: Playstation
Publisher: THQ
ESRB rating: T

Already amazingly popular on sports television networks and pay-per-view offerings, professional wresting is also becoming a major player in the video game market. Its latest entry, WWF Smackdown, squeezes startlingly realistic graphics from the aging PlayStation platform.

But startling may have a different meaning when you see your favorite wrestling "Superstar" (there are over 30 to pick from) rendered in 3D with a full motion video of the real wrestling personality playing behind him or her. These opening moments may have parents counting out young players early in the match. They feature satanic themes, heavy sexual innuendo (even the spelling of Superstar name Val Venis), and violence (like the infamous decapitated female head bearing the words "help me" on its forehead that Superstar Al Snow carries around).

Meanwhile the highly suggestive entrance videos introducing your choice of three female stars (all in high-cut low-cut clothing) represent the stereotypical images being sold to hormone dripping male teens. Should none of the ready-made characters satisfy you, move to the create-a-superstar mode where you can choose from dozens of heads, torsos, and bottoms to create a beast with a dinosaur head, a voluptuous chest, and hairy legs.

Once you and your opponents are in the ring (the game supports up to four players), the object is simple: Beat the daylights out of the other guy (or girl) and you win. Using button combinations on the controller, you may be able to ax chop (a move using your arms), lift and throw, or simply slap (a favorite of the girls) your enemy. Once you've managed to give your opponent a brain hemorrhage, push the special Smackdown button, and -- you guessed it -- your staggering competitor hits the mat like a burger on a barbecue. If the referee gives you trouble, go ahead and toss him on his head too. After all, it's only a game...

And maybe it's time to change the game. Different modes let you play through an entire season or you can hit the mat running in the exhibition mode. Within exhibition you can choose from a myriad of matches including a Cage Match, the Royal Rumble (where all the Superstars get into the action), or the Hardcore Match. This latter one brings weapons into the picture. Grab a fire extinguisher and bash that woman's brains out. If you're lucky, you'll see some fluid spurt from her mouth before she falls

It's no secret where we stand with professional wrestling products (see our BIG Picture article Pro Wrestling -- What Will They Think of Next? and our Nintendo game review of WWF Wrestlemania 2000) Just like the real product it's based upon, this game exists only to promote violence under the guise of athletic skill. While professional wrestlers can usually act out their scenarios without dire consequences, young players attracted to this game may get a different definition of smackdown if they should try these moves in reality.

Rod Gustafson

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