Games
Sony
Microsoft
Nintendo
Other Platforms
Upcoming &
Recent Releases
xx
Aliens in the Attic
xx
Astro Boy: The Video Game
xx
Backyard Football '10
xx
Bakugan Battle Brawlers
xx
Band Hero
xx
Ben 10: Alien Force - Vilgax Attacks
xx
Cabela's Outdoor Adventures 2009
xx
Cars Race-O-Rama
xx
DanceDanceRevolution X2
xx
Disney Sing It: Pop Hits
87
DJ Hero
xx
FIFA Soccer 10
50
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
71
Guitar Hero 5
xx
Guitar Hero: Van Halen
xx
Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier
xx
Jurassic: The Hunted
xx
Madden NFL 10
70
Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy
xx
Marvel Super Hero Squad
xx
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2
72
MotorStorm: Arctic Edge
xx
NBA 2K10
xx
NHL 2K10
xx
Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
xx
Rock Band Metal Track Pack
xx
Scooby-Doo! First Frights
xx
Secret Saturdays: Beasts of The 5th Sun, The
xx
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
xx
SingStar Motown
xx
Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
xx
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up
xx
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 27 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 114 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre(s): Sports, Wrestling
Players: 6
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: October 27, 2003
Summary
Features an exclusive story mode with original storylines developed by WWE. Unique Superstar abilities featuring real-life attributes of strength, submission, technique, speed and stamina. New and improved controls including an in-depth countering and interactive submission system. All-new match types including Bra & Panty, First Blood and Elimination Chamber. Enhanced production values feature dynamic camera transitions, an improved audio experience, Superstar voice over and more-realistic animations. [THQ]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GameSpot Guide
Also On The Web: GameSpot Preview IGN Preview Official Website TechTV Preview
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
GameShark
The vast number of improvements to gameplay and the addition of legendary characters, new modes like Elimination Chamber and Bra and Panties matches and a better season mode makes this game the king of the world.
Read Full Review >TotalGames.net
Overall, this is the most complete Smackdown game yet, with changes and improvements everywhere you care to mention and a fighting system that's such fun, knowledge of the WWE isn't even necessary to enjoy it.
Read Full Review >netjak
As far was wrestling games go, it gets no better than this. With the new additions to the roster and the modified gameplay, fans of the series will not be disappointed, so don’t believe HCTP is the just the same old song and dance, because simply put, this is where it’s at.
Read Full Review >GameZone
Bar none, the best WWE wrestling game of the series and one that will leave fans more than satisfied.
Read Full Review >IGN
One of the best wrestling games we've ever played...With its ultra-improved gameplay mechanics, enhanced visual engine, smarter career mode, and established create-a-character feature, Yukes and THQ are definitely the track to success.
Read Full Review >Play Magazine
If they fix the play balance and are able to add that last bit of audio polish (and adjust that Steph model...she was hot in the preview build), the next iteration could be perfection. [Dec 2003, p.101]
GameSpot
What the game lacks in innovation, however, is more than made up for in sheer playability.
Read Full Review >Eurogamer
A superb blend of traditional and wrestling-specific fight mechanics, and there's so much variety here that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say you could play this one from now until the next SmackDown without getting bored or running out of things to do.
Read Full Review >Game Chronicles
A severe, albeit pleasant, shock to system. The game has grabbed me in a way that only “No Mercy” has ever topped.
Read Full Review >PSM Magazine
An absolutely awesome wrestling experience...Thanks to features like improved graphics, more match types, and an overhauled grappling system, it's definitely the most realistic and rewarding WWE game on the market. [Dec 2003, p.56]
GameBiz
Here Comes the Pain will give you hundreds of hours of gameplay in Career mode, and plenty more in Exhibition mode and with your friends.
Read Full Review >Next Level Gaming
Easily the best Smackdown game of them all. And it right up there with best wrestling games for any of the three big game systems.
Read Full Review >GamingTrend
Probably the best wrestling game to come out since "No Mercy" on the N64. Yukes seems to have finally combined what was great in the AKI games on N64 and what was great in the Smackdown games.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
It's a triumph for THQ and vindication for Yukes. This is best of the series, and one of the best wrestling games to hit a console.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
It emulates the ruthless aggression of WWE better than anything before. [Dec 2003, p.138]
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
The lighting effects and polygonal detail has been kicked up a few notches, and for those of you who don't like your grapplers dipped in corn oil, HCTP has the best looking character models on the market - more realistic in motion, musculature and personal detail than Raw 2's sweaty oafs.
Read Full Review >GameNow
The best of the three THQ wrestling games released this year. [Jan 2004, p.57]
GMR Magazine
Submission moves finally makes sense, thanks to a logical location-based damage system, and wrestlers' weights are accurately presented. [Jan 2004, p.92]
1UP
The total package is solid, and while it's not the holy grail fans have hoped for since the N64's "No Mercy," it's light-years beyond what THQ used to try and sell under the SmackDown! name.
Read Full Review >Gamestyle
New match types such as the elimination chamber, and a revised control system, mean that unlike other WWE titles appearing on other formats, this one can stand up in its own right as an accomplished game - and one that people outside of its hardcore fanbase should have some fun with.
Read Full Review >NTSC-uk
Jaded grapple-fans will find much to love about Here Comes The Pain. It restores some much-needed faith in THQ’s franchise and stands out as a great game in its own right.
Read Full Review >G4 TV
As the wrestling game with the most depth, great playability, impressive visuals, and slick presentation, SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain delivers in all the categories WWE fans hold in high regard.
Read Full Review >GamePro
How about a Bra & Panties mode where WWE Divas rip off each other’s clothes? It’s the raunchiest Teen-rated action you’ll find anywhere.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
Thanks to its incredibly deep Season mode, Pain is easily the best wrasslin' title since the days of the Nintendo 64. [Jan 2004, p.140]
Weekly Famitsu
8 / 7 / 7 / 7 - 29 [Vol 798; 30 Jan 2004]
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
The first game in the series that tries to accommodate both sides by combining quick action with the technical elements of wrestling, and it works -- almost. [Jan 2004, p.132]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 114 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Bryan M. gave it a9:
This game rocks just by having Goldberg in it makes it a 8, but they could have done better in the season mode that is why it stays a 9 and not a 10.
Shane M. gave it a9:
this game is a excellent game, but it has to have more room for the seasons and the legends. Smackdown here comes the pain focuses on the smackdown and raw ppv's and is good for practising your wrestling moves on this game.
Andrew A. gave it a10:
I think that out of the smack games i think that this one is the best. i think that the legened characterisc was the best they did to make the game good.
Erik R. gave it a10:
I own every smackdown game and this is by far the best. better gameplay and smoother graphics. i recommend this game to anyone even if you dont like wrestling.
Jimmy W. gave it a 10:
Awesome awesome awesome the best game i have. looks like the real smackdown and raw i,d reccomend this game 4 any1 who loves wrestling and luvz 2 snap people best game ive ever played.
B. Rantala gave it an 8:
Having played pretty much all the Smackdown games to come before, I can say with some confidence that in pure gameplay, this is the best. The fighting system is as good as anyone could really expect it to be and leads to matches that are as fun to watch as they are to play. HOWEVER-- 1) The new system where you must "level-up" a created wrestler to make him championship-quality needs tweaking. Players determined enough to fight all the way to the heavyweight title will have to endure many unavoidable beatdowns on their character along the way--there's no way a brand new character, or even a mildly experienced character, can face the likes of Triple H or Brock Lesnar in this game and hope to survive. It would be nice to at least have a chance in these situations--the way they've done it, it's just frustrating. 2) The music is utterly horrible, especially when you are trying to build your own wrestler. 3) Any sort of entrances for the "Wrestling Legends" are not included. This is annoying, being that it takes many hours of play to unlock them and a player should get what he earned.
Batman gave it a 10:
This is the best wrestling game...the only problems are...you can't hit people when they are doing submissions and you have to do season mode for like 4 years before u can max out a created character...and the create a wrestler mode isnt as cool as wrestlemania xix...
