

WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role was the first game in the SmackDown series which introduced advanced Create-A-Superstar, allowing the player to create a character in greater detail as opposed to just choosing preset mix-and-match templates like the previous game. Big Show and Ken Shamrock were removed from the game before release Big Show had been removed from the promotion's programming and sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling while Shamrock left WWF to return to mixed martial arts competition, but both may randomly appear during a Royal Rumble match (which the player can take control of) and can be used in other modes via as an unlockable, although their names were removed. This is Michael Cole's first appearance as an unlockable superstar, the second game being WWF No Mercy, and his last in the series until WWE '12 Mr. Wrestlers such as Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Billy Gunn, Mick Foley (including Cactus Jack) and Debra Marshall are unlockable superstars. The Season Mode has multiplayer support, with up to four players playing at once in a Season. Wrestlers, wrestling moves, and arenas are unlocked as the player progresses through a season. These changes were given a mixed reaction by fans and critics alike. Along with removing the pre-season mode from the original, Know Your Role gave more storylines and more matches per show. The Season Mode was heavily modified in this game.
