The biggest leap for the series is probably graphically. Just Bring It delivers the already good (for the PS One, anyway) graphics with better results, most noticeably a much higher frame rate. This adds a great deal to the game, because on the first PlayStation, it moved about as smoothly as trying to force a brick down a toilet. The wrestlers themselves are a mixed bag, though. Some characters look like excellent representations of their real life counterparts (most noticeably the big names, such as the Rock, the Undertaker, Stone Cold) while others (such as Lita ;_;) aren't quite captured as well. The environments on the other hand, something that could've used improvement, aren't really that much greater. They look cleaner, but apart from that, are no more intricate.

The series takes a HARD hit in sound, though. While it's great to have high quality versions of all of the wrestler's opening music (Stone Cold by Disturbed! W00T!) Yukes has made the stupid, really stupid, addition of commentary by Michael Cole and Taz. This commentary is about the worst I've ever heard in a game. It makes me want to smash my PS2 in a fit of rage. They repeat themselves, they make comments that are completely irrelevant to the match (for example, as I drove Stone Cold through a table with a stunning elbow from the top rope, Cole commented how I probably can't win the match). This is made all the more frustrating by the fact that you can't walk to the announcing table and beat the snot out of them.

Shockingly, though, there are some gameplay improvements, albeit ones that kind of screw with the way things work. Smackdown is now very much counter-oriented, and counters are executed with a simple tap of the Square button. Know that this is not the most strategic, depth-laden improvement, but keep in mind that this is a series that tries to deliver more the grandiosity of pro wrestling, not the intricate fighting. Another addition is the new grappling system, which tries to be a bit more like Aki's Wrestlemania series. The big problem with this, however, is that when you try to stand your dazed opponents up to execute a special attack on them, they won't be standing; rather, you'll be in a grapple with them. As a result, nailing a special attack (or at least the ones that are executed from a standing position - i.e., the majority of them) is a lot more hit-and-miss than in the previous games. And of course, the series retains the crappy lock-on system it's had since its inception, forcing you to cycle through all of your enemies instead of locking onto whomever is closest. It would've been nice to have the option to turn off "friendly fire" so you don't end up beating the crap out of your tag team partner(s), too.

Of course, where Smackdown triumphs over all wrestling titles in its variety of matches. Three-on-three, three-on-two, ladders, tables, tables ladders and chairs, its all here. The problem is, a lot of them aren't exactly executed to best effect. Table matches are laughably easy to win (setting someone up on a table seems to leave them a lot more stunned than they usually are) and certain matches have really nebulous goals. I'm still not clear how to win a TLC match . . . Story mode remains awkward as well - the whole point seems to simply get a belt. Once that's accomplished, you can no longer do much of anything else with that character until you lose said belt. This destroys my dream of holding every WWF belt there is (except the Women's Championship, of course) at once.

The Create-a-Wrestler mode, one of my primary reasons for being a fan of the genre, is expansive, if not a bit awkward. You're given such a myriad of options and combinations, a lot of times you'll get lost along the way. More than a few times, my CAWs ended up barely even looking human, and required major tweaking. And they generally *never* look as good as the pre-created wrestlers, which is understandable, but still disheartening. Not to say that the CAW offered in SD3 isn't good - just a bit unwieldy.

Smackdown remains enjoyable, especially in a world where it seems Aki will no longer be around to grace us with superior wrestling titles. Anchor will be up next, with Raw is War for the X-box, but until then, this is a sound investment for those who are looking for a dose of next-gen sports entertainment.

· · · Riisuke