WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It
The first SmackDown! game on PlayStation 2.
WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ for the PlayStation 2. It is the third game in the WWF SmackDown! series, the first in the series on the PlayStation 2, and the last released under the WWF name during the Attitude Era.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Yuke's
- Publisher
- THQ (WW); Yuke's (JP)
- Series
- SmackDown!
- Platforms
- PlayStation 2
- Released
- November 16, 2001 (EU); November 19, 2001 (NA); January 24, 2002 (JP)
- Genre
- Sports
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Director
- Toshihiko Kitazawa; Taka Chihaya
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
This installment introduced play-by-play commentary to the series, with Michael Cole and Taz as announcers. It added six-man tag team matches, as well as six-man and eight-man battle royals, and was the only game in the series to allow eight players on screen simultaneously until WWE 2K18. Each wrestler now had two finishing moves, and players could edit in-game wrestlers' move sets for the first time. Authentic, complete ring entrances debuted in this game. Venues included the Raw Is War arena, both the original and new SmackDown! arenas (Ovaltron, Sunday Night Heat version, and Fist stages), while pay-per-view arenas (except WrestleMania X-Seven and Insurrextion) shared a single arena design based on WrestleMania 2000 with different ring mat logos. The roster was criticized as outdated, finalized early in the Invasion angle before many ECW and WCW stars emerged; new additions included William Regal, Raven, Rhyno, Tajiri, Spike Dudley, Jerry Lynn, and Molly Holly, but Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, the Hurricane, Lance Storm, and Mike Awesome were absent. Fully Loaded 2000 appeared as a pay-per-view mat instead of Invasion. Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit appears in the game as part of an agreement for the use of the song "Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)" as Undertaker's theme. This is the only WWF game featuring Jerry Lynn, and the first not to include Chyna after her departure. A new reversal system allowed almost every move to be countered, with some counter-attacks able to be re-countered.
Release
The game sold over 400,000 units in North America, earning a spot in Sony's Greatest Hits collection for PlayStation 2 in October 2002, becoming THQ's second Greatest Hits title after Red Faction. Upon re-release, it was renamed WWE SmackDown! Just Bring It due to the World Wrestling Federation's lost court battle with the World Wildlife Fund, though in-game branding remained unchanged.
Reception
Reviewers on Metacritic gave WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It generally favorable scores. The commentary drew criticism for being disjointed and repetitive, with awkward pauses during name calls. Gary Whitta of Next Generation praised the game despite its issues. Famitsu rated it 29 out of 40. It earned a Platinum sales award from ELSPA for selling at least 300,000 copies in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It released?
WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It was released on November 16, 2001 in Europe, on November 19, 2001 in North America and on January 24, 2002 in Japan.
Who directed WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It?
WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It was directed by Toshihiko Kitazawa and Taka Chihaya.
Who designed WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It?
WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It was designed by Toshihiko Kitazawa.
Who composed the music for WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It?
The music for WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It was composed by Momo Michishita.
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