Aside from a few Fire Pro entries, the portable wrestling game market has always been barren. Most games were stripped of the essentials and programmed with the complexity of Pong. With the PSP, fans finally have worthy pro wrestling on the go, and it's a complete experience.

It's easy enough to say this portable version of Smackdown has it all, and usually it's a weak phrase used to save time for the reader anyway. In this case though, it's absolutely true. All the cinematics, music clips, voice work, game modes, match types, and create-a-wrestler pieces have been included. The only piece missing is commentary during the matches themselves.

It's a stunning accomplishment for a handheld, and it's so far beyond what we've been given previously it's like jumping from the NES to the Playstation 2 in terms of features and variety. In this case, when using the feature that allows you to continue your season from the Playstation 2 version on the PSP, you don't miss anything. All the moves and storyline branches have been included.

Controls haven't been compromised in the least, and Smackdown's simplistic grapple system remains. The engine still has problems at its core, including loose collision, cheap AI, and odd glitches like getting stuck inside objects. Sadly, it's the best wrestling you can find with a WWE license attached. We'll always wish for the return of Wrestlemania 2000, but until then, Smackdown can suffice.

Attention to detail is what helps with the title's ability to capture the atmosphere of the sport. Arguing with referees after a slow count, taking off the turnbuckle pad, using the crowd barrier as a launching device, and cheating when the official isn't looking are what makes this franchise special. It extends far beyond what we usually expect from wrestling video games, and the control scheme makes it easy to figure out in the midst of a heated contest.

The GM mode was the biggest addition this year. Here, players fight it out with their rival GM from either Smackdown or RAW (dependent on the players preference of course). It's light on features, though for a first time add on, it's wonderful. You'll need to create feuds, sell related products to keep cash flowing, and try and keep wrestlers from moving over to the competitor. It's addictive, and if you don't like the wrestling portions of the game you can play without ever stepping into the ring.