Smackdown Here Comes the Pain:

Released in 2003 for the PS2 this game was the perfect mix of arcade and simulation fighting. It is still regarded as one of the best wrestling video games of all time. It had the largest roster of fighters at the time as well the first game to include the famous elimination chamber match. Smackdown Here Comes the Pain’s most iconic mode is its story mode, wear you take control of your favorite wrestler or create your own and take him/her through 1 calendar year of WWE. This mode had a plethora of branching storylines and options for your fighter to choose from. U can pick what championship you want to go after, start fights backstage, request to be traded to another show, make allies and form a team etc… there was so much freedom in this mode that it really made u feel like you were in control. The game play for this is still in my opinion the best control scheme for any wrestling game to date. It required a little of learning but once u got it down it was pretty simple and every wrestler had a unique set of moves so hitting the same button combos still felt special when doing them with different fighters. Smackdown Here Comes the Pain still remains my favorite wrestling game of all time.