WWF SmackDown! 2 - Beta vs. Final Comparison

So here was go with Beta Comparison number eleven! This time I'm comparing early unfinished, cut content and pre-release versions of WWF Smackdown! 2 Know Your Role for the original Playstation. This video contains lots of differences from attire changes, removed characters, cosmetic differences and more!
It's a shame the updated/changed attires weren't kept in the game as alternative choices, as well as the older ring and apron logos. And as for the classic Legend characters, we will never know why they were removed from the game, but could possibly be down to time constraints as both SmackDown 1 & 2 were released in the same year just 8 months apart. Hopefully another beta version of the game surfaces with these cut characters playable.
Again, a big thanks goes out to Gazasaurus, TCRF, Fozzy22 for the tools and knowledge on how to search inside the game data for the retail and pre-release versions of the game.
#smackdown2 #wwf #playstation #wwfsmackdown2 #wrestling

[@WrestlingVideoGames]

So here was go with Beta Comparison number eleven! This time I'm comparing early unfinished, cut content and pre-release versions of WWF Smackdown! 2 Know Your Role for the original Playstation. This video contains lots of differences from attire changes, removed characters, cosmetic differences and more! It's a shame the updated/changed attires weren't kept in the game as alternative choices, as well as the older ring and apron logos. And as for the classic Legend characters, we will never know why they were removed from the game, but could possibly be down to time constraints as both SmackDown 1 & 2 were released in the same year just 8 months apart. Hopefully another beta version of the game surfaces with these cut characters playable. Again, a big thanks goes out to Gazasaurus, TCRF, Fozzy22 for the tools and knowledge on how to search inside the game data for the retail and pre-release versions of the game.

[@terrrell7798]

Andre the Giant was originally going to be in the game? This is the first I'm hearing of this. What happen?

[@Supermetabros92]

@@terrrell7798 I think they removed Andre from the game due to licensing issues between Andre's estate and THQ.

[@4OVR]

Ladies & gentlemen this is proof. Anything can happen in the World Wrestling Federation

[@metrowater2819]

Panda

[@PLUX4]

Welcome to Smackdown! Oh my god! This is great!

[@ensargaming]

If you smell!?

[@abohsukampret]

You will step in the ring... With The Game!

[@jmwes12]

I can't believe it

[@Spongemonkey26]

This was the game with the infamous Trish loading screen only to pop up when your parents entered the room.

[@94253474]

Don't make us recall that nightmare. I was just 7 then, & whenever trish or jacqueline loads my Mom is gonna be like to check me in the Smack Down Hotel. 👀

[@PressPauseProductions]

Instantly switched the channel to a cartoon whenever I saw my door was opening and those screens were up 😂

[@DaveSwayer]

I felt the same for Debra!

[@soytheus]

The Kat always popped in for me

[@KTF0]

Must've sucked for devs when wrestlers would change their whole gimmick smack dab in the middle of programming it.

[@Smiley_1932]

This video just makes me want to play the game again.

[@dethlady0]

I've been playing the SD2 Inspired mod lately alongside the No Mercy Forever Indy mod.

[@daniishere1009]

Does someone have solution to bypass loading screen or changing the loading screen in to black screen?

[@jadedandfaded7537]

I love these beta comparisons videos! Feels like a peek into an alternate reality. I pray that someday a beta for HCTP gets revealed🤞🏼

[@KingC89]

There's a beta vs final comparison of HCTP on this channel

[@SSJ491]

I want to see the beta and final product of both WWF Smackdown! Just Bring It and WWE Smackdown! Shut Your Mouth.

[@tun-tunninc.6492]

That Billy Gunn beta profile pic is stuff of nightmares. 🤣🤣

[@usernameluis305]

More like bull Buchanan

[@OdaVenom]

Beta picture of Jaquilinn is actually looks like a human being, and Chyna looks kind of cute, instead of Iosif Kobzon we got on release.🤣

[@pabloalvarez-qu2hy]

Removing Big Show was really stupid.

[@tremainworrell5997]

They could've add The Big Show, Ken Shamrock, Jeff Jarrett, Goldust, The Headbangers Mosh & Thrasher many many Luna Mochon They could've left The Godfather Pimpin Ain't Easy The Ho Train alone They could've left D'Lo Brown early attire alone They could've left Val Venis alone with curly hair style

[@WillYouCutThatOut]

@@tremainworrell5997your complaining way too much for a game that was out in 2000 that can't no longer be fixed nowadays

[@KirbyVanPelt]

​@@WillYouCutThatOut**coughs** Modding **coughs**

[@alfi8674]

Old attire like Ministry Undertaker, Kane tanktop, can be found on create mode. Sometimes Big Show appear as "Unknown" on Royal Rumble match.

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

Same with Shamrock, too.

[@JMaxwell85]

While we lost Big Show and Ken Shamrock, there are actually several characters not in the beta that are in the final version: Cactus Jack, Debra, Mick Foley, Shawn Michaels and Steven Richards.

[@BrettJ2010]

This is why I love modded SD2 games on PC. They restore all the beta stuff. So fun

[@MR.__G]

The ladder not having spreaders is a missing detail that always annoys me. Still happens to this very day with modern wrestling games

[@mindrover777]

Yes, not sure why it's still not used

[@FlyBoyEnterprises]

The parts for Shamrock, Big Show amongst a few others were in Create a Wrestler. For some Beta character models & photos, they were from the first Smackdown game ported and updated for Smackdown 2.

[@benchwarmerss9165]

I felt like I saw triple h and Eddie Guerreros before .. wasn’t sure if it was Mandela effect though

[@PressPauseProductions]

Yup a lot of their body parts were left in CAW, they just took the heads out. And of course all their moves and taunts were still in the game

[@unr3alGaming]

This takes me back. I do remember occasions where if you played in Royal Rumble mode, on very rare occasions either the Big Show or Ken Shamrock would show up as one of the AI controlled wrestlers. I can't remember if that game allowed you to take them over if you got eliminated or not. In any case it was weird to see them unannounced.

[@anunhealthydistrust14]

We were going to get Bob Backlund? This game could've been ahead of it's time.

[@mattypaul87]

I remember Big Show being removed from WWF No Mercy, but didn't realize he technically was removed from Smackdown! 2 as well. If I recall, it's because he was gaining too much weight so WWF punished him by sending him back to developmental and removing him from games. For Smackdown 2, he was clearly already fully programmed into the game since his model appears in Royal Rumble. It was probably too late in development to fully remove him.

[@Rschr101]

And he came back fat as ever😂

[@ivanroa5988]

This and Here Comes The Pain, simply the GOATs with no discussion.

[@MannuhFestIt]

I’m glad they did the final version of profile pics for most of these because the pictures added more character to them, in my opinion. Especially Billy Gunn (12:47) because…….. yeah……

[@jonathanturbide2232]

Great stuff, I had no idea the game originally had Legends like André and Sarge on its roster. 👍🏻

[@jedvlds7976]

Perry Saturn just said thank you for changing his photo 😂

[@kamiloalvarez5800]

shamrock profile picture was used in wwf attitude, smackdown 1, wwf no mercy and smackdown 2 (unused)

[@waqaskaash7319]

They could of gave us ministry taker as well

[@billy9497able]

Just hearing that music takes me back

[@pikkon899]

It pains me to know that certain legends like classic Slaughter and Andre were cut. I had so much fun playing these games as a kid and the second Smackdown game was for sure better than the first game.

[@theaaliyahkylie]

this beta stuff is dope. interesting how many things get changed. them using essa rios lita at first is so interesting

[@brooklynra1988]

Back then they really made these games as up to date as possible

[@DaveSwayer]

What a great video, this was so interesting for me. I remember I used to play this a lot when I was young.

[@kamiloalvarez5800]

they should introduced alternate selectable attires in this game

[@createyourownheaven]

Such a good video. Very informative. Keep up the good work!

[@WrestlingVideoGames]

Thanks, much appreciated 🤘🏻

[@RRNumber4]

So much nostalgia this game is my childhood those early picture models definitely needed changes so glad we got them

[@shiibo6839]

Nostalgic soundtrack. 🥺

[@Blackbohnstergaming]

So they planned on having Legends in Smackdown! 2? Thats interesting!

[@WrestlingVideoGames]

Such a shame they never made it.

[@kurosenpai]

I was 13 when I played this game. I will never forget the feeling of putting the disc in my Playstation (RIP) and booting the game. When the menu music started to play, all my worries from school were gone.

[@XX-vu5jo]

For those wondering, Big Show was sent to OVW due to his poor performance and inability to meet Vince's standard for a superster, while Ken Shamrock went back to UFC, before the release of the game. Thus, this made the officials decide to remove them from the game.

[@DBoy38]

Actually Ken Shamrock had long left the WWF by then. He was meant to face Chris Jericho at the Unforgiven '99, however he would leave the company after that week's Smackdown taping were he lost a first blood match to Jericho. In the PPV Shamrock was replaced by X-Pac who won the match.

[@kamiloalvarez5800]

@@DBoy38 but then, why he was still in smackdown 1 and wwf no mercy?

[@miracle_ftw]

So if you added wrist tape to Eddie in the final version... why didn't you do the same for Dean?

[@silversoulken]

And Perry……

[@jacksonlongboarding1]

The steel cage in Beta was better in my opinion and the legends would of been good as well and why not keep both right to censor and regular attires, and still can’t believe Big Show was not in these games besides royal rumble matches

[@mcydodge919]

That last picture also showed "WIINNER" with two I's 😂

[@Daniel19073]

11:47 Jacqueline❤❤

[@Kielicho11]

Stephanie's photo is better in BETA

[@elyonkunda6772]

Wrestlemania XIX or Day of Reckoning next?

[@pottertaker]

The changes in logos and clothing are a sign of the change in the family WWF and the attitude era

[@gregorioramirez2896]

The roster on the Beta was so much better, should have legends, also i remeber create a superstar parts for Goldust and Jeff Jarret , maybe they where on beta too

[@BrianAwesome]

Or models that they were going to use in Smackdown 1, since that was a 1999 developing game.

[@James.chalmers]

Why are they so many loading screens in this game especially in the season and royal rumble match.. it was like the game wasn’t finished yet it doesn’t do that in the original smackdown game

[@iq175]

Damn Rikishi portrait photo looks like the Usos

[@PressPauseProductions]

Not sure about the removed legends but I do remember a lot of the alternate attires and body parts for Show and Shamrock being available in CAW. I don't think they ever finished the legend models like they did for those two. Also parts from SD1 guys were also in CAW, they just left out the faces I did like the CAW in the first two games because if you wanted you could make a wrestler with Taker's head, Rikishi's body and Crash's legs 😂 the next slew of games gave us more customization but we could no longer access parts of in game wrestlers anymore. I'm guessing because it would've been too easy to make updates of them however now a days we have that option again

[@NYGiantsfan1029]

Two of my thoughts on these images. One: at the the game came out I didn’t realize it but looking back at the models now they look a lot like the model from the attitude game. Yeah it is the same gen and the graphics are improved a little but it isn’t that far off I don’t think. Two: I know they were going with the more updated ppvs for the rings mats but damn 99’s mats looked better than the 2000 ones imo

[@ADG.Est.1988]

I agree except for summer slam logo colors. That Summer slam was Better than WrestleMania

[@GhettoSidVicious]

I've waited 20 yrs for this

[@DemonDriver31]

The viscera pic is scary Mr ass pic was funny Farrooq looked like he wanted to go home Benoit was like did you grt a good shot.

[@CarlosCuello-uj6jf]

WWF ROyal Rumble 2 is a game that graphically pushes PS1 hardware beyond its very limits. The fighters models looks very detailed...If you put them higher res, take out pixelation and apply some filter and it could had pass from some early PS2/Dreamcast wrestling game era. In fact, models doest look that behind from the ones on WWF Royal Rumble on Naomi/Dreamcast...But in other hand, on that game character models look simplified in order to put so many on screen at once.

[@ADG.Est.1988]

The Lita beta profile pic, had her looking Like Jim Carrey at the end of Batman forever

[@Rschr101]

Slanderous 😅

[@thatkid_rob1]

8:31 final version of Mark Henry looks like a mugshot

[@rulus5556]

I remember i got big show with gameshark code or something like that. , i dont even remember how i did it but i was very excited, there was even a super tall Lader

[@heddingite]

I remember if you tap your playstation at the right time at startup you could watch all the titantron movies

[@BeezyBalmain]

The Cages Man 🤣 The Same Look The HIAC Had Shoulda Been The Cage Look Too

[@JuanPablo-zq9gd]

2:59 Jericho looks much more badass in the final version

[@DCLK]

I kinda prefer the beta over the final game

[@head6856]

That beta Mark Henry profile pic tho

[@lpbbinc]

Would this have been the only time Bob Backlund made a video game appearance?

[@BlackMachismo316]

I F’N LOVE THESE VIDS!!!!

[@dale234gamerandmodlover2]

Merry Christmas

[@payno20]

early saturn attire is way better

[@edpwrestling]

Idk why but I feel like I remember both Eddie Guerrero profile pictures in the game

[@tompratt9112]

Maybe the Beta was used on the loading screens?

[@49ersfanMatt]

Also you can unlock some of the beta attires I believe as caw parts tho lol lol

[@1inaBillionEnt]

from what i recall it used to stop after King of the ring... chipped games for you 😅

[@gazelliott2414]

chyna and stephanie are so hot

[@TechTrendz937]

Still looks bawls

[@49ersfanMatt]

Big show and shamrock are in the final game you can see and play as them in the royal rumble it's a rare occurrence tho lol lol

[@david29497]

Beta mark henry pic better

[@adambuckley3725]

Where is Big Show?

[@muhammadehsan6033]

Why big show removed of final version?

[@Supermetabros92]

He was sent to development in Ohio Valley Wrestling in order to lose weight at the time the game was about to be released.

[@KarzanAhmed-h5j]

Bar is green but in final version it is red

[@simonbelmont65]

Undertakers ministry attire looked so much better than his American Badass attire. They should have kept his ministry attire or at least made it an alt attire. The American Badass attire is garbage.

[@JP-os4zo]

I see a the second player in as green then changed to red

[@metalmanny666]

Did he skip Shawn Michaels?

[@LuisJoséVargasFernández]

Cuando se creaba un jugador porque en el modo season si simulábamos la pelea siempre perdían

[@JorgeMau-et6ev]

Stephanie McMahon looks better in the beta version

[@TDAWWWWWWWW]

WHY WAS ALL LEGENDS TOOK OUT 🫣

[@childofnature4402]

The beta vs the Chad.

[@spongebelt]

Yeeeeeeeaaaa Krispy kreme.

[@Devil_and_Angel777]

why seem like downgrade for final version 😔

[@TheSBleeder]

Poor Big Show.

[@tremainworrell5997]

They could've add him on the Smackdown 2 Know Your Role And his new attire Big Nasty Bastard

[@Jaygottimaseratii]

What ?

[@joypadlad]

WIINNER

[@theevn7]

Goid details

[@McGomezAddams]

I can whoop anyone in this game

[@idktho831]

I still cant stand the fact that they put RTC version of val venis and godfather in this game with that horrible entrance music and outfits 👎👎🤮🤮

[@simonbelmont65]

Undertakers ministry attire looked so much better than his American Badass attire. They should have kept his ministry attire or at least made it an alt attire. The American Badass attire is garbage.

[@msu15]

Man why did they remove those legends!?

[@head6856]

Had to make room for the Mean Street Posse

[@evanhanley6437]

I like some of the beta wrestler photos and attires more than the final games ones. Mad to see Sgt Slaughter, Jerry Lawler, Bob Backlund and Andre The Giant as part of the roster. Maybe THQ and Yukes planned to make them playable at some point?

[@michealhunt6607]

They are still in the final game as CAW parts (the standard section that has alot of the models from the first game) but you need a gameshark code

[@Joe_Parmesan]

Some of those beta photos found their way to No Mercy: The Godfather, Rikishi, Bull Buchanan (with sunglasses), and possibly Jeff Hardy (I think it's the same photo) and Viscera. Also, some of the final photos were on No Mercy too: X-Pac, Faarooq, Bradshaw, Test, and Matt Hardy.

[@mcydodge919]

​​@@michealhunt6607You do need a GameShark to use their heads in CAW, but their upper and lower parts can be unlocked in the normal game. I had never seen their profile pictures until this video, which is really cool!

[@rainmaker5692]

This is the game that made me love wrestling as a kid. I had no idea of pro wrestling back then, and when I received a gift which is PS1 with a lot of CDs to try, this is the only game that I loved and played for weeks. And then one time, my dad was switching channels and stopped to watch wrestling, when I glanced, I immediately recognized the wrestlers that are on the program. The excitement of seeing every wrestlers that I was using in the game on TV is unforgettable, especially when I thought that the game I was playing is only fiction. Seeing a beta version of this is surreal, I expected Show and Shamrock here but the pictures, beta ring designs is good to see.

[@StillycoBra5150]

Love that story, homie! Really cool how you discovered the game before the show. I bet it was kinda like seeing superheroes in real life

[@JJB11]

Pimp Godfather rule. Right to censor Goodfather sucks!

[@metrowater2819]

Cap

[@head6856]

Oh, so once the Ho's are gone so's the love, huh?

[@KirbyVanPelt]

Bro... You'll need to understand the purpose of that gimmick.... RTC is a MOCKERY of the PTC (Parent's Television Council)...

[@head6856]

Why did KZbin notify me of another's comment in this chain when I don't have any comments in it?

[@JMaxwell85]

A list of finishers that changed from the beta to the final: Chris Jericho - Double Powerbomb in beta, Walls of Jericho in final Eddie Guerrero - The Money Shot in beta, Frog Splash in final Mark Henry - Bearhug in beta, Big Splash Pin in final Michael Cole - Elbow Strike in beta, Standing Crossface in final Paul Bearer - DDT in beta, Big Splash Pin in final Perry Saturn - Tiger Suplex Pin in beta, Rings of Saturn in final Stephanie McMahon - DDT in beta, Woman’s Special Slap in final Tazz - Tazzplex in beta, Tazzmission in final Trish Stratus - DDT in beta, Woman’s Special Slap in final Viscera - Belly to Back Flip in beta, Big Splash Pin in final

[@crashharty]

I also noticed in the picture where Al Snow's beta attire is seen, Crash's name bar has him listed as Crash Holly instead of just Crash like in the final game.

[@rajdhaliwal9488]

Stephanie was hot back in the day!

[@TheChampCave]

This video makes me want to fire up this classic again! Ahhh the memories.

[@cokelandino]

Both listas picture lita are hot 🔥

[@FunkSwaggMusiK]

0:00 Best song in the game. I actually made a remix of this back in 2014 😂

[@kamrankhodapasand9023]

So technically the game was ruined by release

[@andialianto2019]

Removing The Big Show and Shamrock character was really stupid