Now here we are, 12 years later and the wrestling still seems as popular, probably more so. But you do need to be either my Dad or 15 to get the most out of it. Well, at least that's what I thought until finding the plug for my PS2 and playing HERE COMES THE PAIN.

The first thing that struck me is the speedy loading. One thing that has disappointed me about the PS2 is the constant grinding and loading the damn thing does, and I know from previous WWE games on the format by the time the match had loaded I had often all but lost interest. Well I'm not sure what THQ has done but other developers would be best to find out. Once the main menu has loaded up it is all pretty much instant. No matter what game option you choose.

   

And boy are there some options - LOADS of them. Firstly you can choose a one off match, ranging from normal one on one, to a ladder match, to a cage match, to a cell match, to a tables match… The list goes on and on (and on), there's even a bra and panties match! There are tag team options, three man tag teams, one on two, one on three, I could probably fill a page just on match types and options alone. To compete in all these match types there's a roster of around 60 wrestlers - some of whom go back to that night in '91.

Once you have got to grips with all the options there is the main meat of the game, the career mode. It is here you can take the wrestler of your choice through week-by-week events making a name for yourself and taking part in matches and backstage action. However before embarking on this I stopped off at the create a wrestler section to attempt to recreate a 'virtual me' for my next challenge. This is a game itself, there are even more options here and anyone can be created, even the likes of Spiderman or The Terminator (or so I'm told) - so with an perfect likeness of me created in a few hours (well, he may be 6ft4 tall and about the same wide, but it's almost like me) I headed off to the career mode.

You start as a complete up-and-comer newbie - I believe they used to be referred to as a 'ham and egger' - and you just feature in the weekly events. The first thing that strikes you is just how hard the game is. I managed a couple of punches and a head butt before being knocked senseless by some guy who looked like Elvis. Before I knew what was happening it was 1, 2, 3 and I was out. A quick exit and restart (knocking the difficulty down to easy) and I'm back in the ring. This time it's still hard but fun and hard. The match is just like the real thing. Punches, kicks, pile drivers you name it, it's here. After about 10 minutes I land a stunning foot to the face of this Elvis guy and he falls, blood pouring from his face, I drop to cover him and this time after a count of 3 it's me that walks out the victor. Blimey this is fun!

This win gives me three things; the first is cash and this can be used to "purchase" some of the hidden extras. Second are XP points that allow you to boost the attributes of your character to make him stronger, faster or tougher. The last award is star points - these are what show just how big a star in the wrestling world you are and the type of wrestlers you'll fight. You start around the 40 mark - the likes of The Rock and The Undertaker are way up in the 90s so it's going to be a long time before you fight them.

This being the career mode you get to take part in numerous storylines in the wrestling world. Mine have so far involved a feud over a car, with mine getting trashed by a forklift (with me in it) - to some guy not liking me because I was fighting in England - It really is like the real shows. Also between matches you have the option of talking to people backstage - this usually gets you into all sorts of trouble but you do get to fight in various locations. You can also use the scenery, smashing down walls or knocking people out with objects such as a nearby computer screen, not to mention chairs, bins, crates, hammers and motorcycles.

   

This is one of those rare games that I found very hard to put down. The not knowing what comes next and wanting to see the next story you will be involved in just keeps you going. The RPG element with the stats also allows for a much more tactical fight. Unlike many fighting games you actually do feel like you have earned your win. Fights can go on for 10 minutes or more and a lucky punch or well timed move can make all the difference.

The graphics in the game are again very good, all of the wrestlers resemble their real-life counterparts and they move realistically. Adding to that realism is the fact the smaller wrestlers can no longer lift the bigger ones, it adds something to the fights and is amusing when some guy tries to lift you off the canvas but ends up pulling his back by doing so, which allows you to pile drive him into the canvas.

Sounds-wise the game is lacking. The fighting sounds are ok but aside from the crowd chants that's pretty much it, disappointingly all speech is shown with subtitles and not voices. I guess that's what we get for the enhanced loading times.

Regardless of what reviews say about this it's bound to sell just because of what it is, but that's slightly unfair as what it is is a very big game and a fun one at that. Don't let the subject matter put you off - this game gives you more for your money than possibly any other PS2 game. An essential purchase for all PS2 owning WWE fans.