Title: WWE! Smackdown vs. RAW 2007

Date: 12.20.2006

Genre: Wrestling

Platform: Xbox 360

Developer: THQ

Publisher: THQ

Finally, the critically-acclaimed Smackdown series has graced the Xbox 360. After three lackluster efforts to recreate the WWE experience on the Xbox, THQ has finally delivered what we were all waiting for.

Gameplay

The most important aspect of any game, Smackdown Vs Raw 2007's gameplay is solid and marks a serious improvement upon that of the WWE Raw series and Wrestlemania 21. Although not far removed from the basic mechanics seen is its predecessor on the Playstation 2, a number of new features have been implemented to allow for a fresher, more in-depth gaming experience. Firstly, and most noticeably, a brand-new analog control scheme has been introduced to this year's Smackdown outing. By moving the right analog stick on the Xbox 360 controller, players can engage in a light grappling move with their opponent. Moving the right stick while pressing the right bumper will initiate a strong grapple, inflicting more damage on the opponent.

On top of this, clicking the right stick will make a few extra moves available, controlled manually by pressing a number of other available buttons. While this may seem complicated, it adds much-needed depth to the control system and takes very little time to get used to, even for seasoned veterans of the Smackdown series. In addition, several "Hot Spots" have been added to both the ring and the outside props. By dragging an opponent to any of these "Hot Spots", players can use various areas of the arena to inflict more damage upon their foes. This can range from using the ropes to bounce the opponent up and down to leaping from some scaffolding through a table below. This is a fine new touch to Smackodwn's gameplay which adds to the overall excitement of the game. However, some old AI issues from the 2006 incarnation still plague this game, which can really get frustrating when playing offline.

Graphics

Thanks to the graphical power of the Xbox 360, WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 has by far the best graphics of any WWE game to date. While a few of the superstars, such as Carlito, look a little shabby, many of the wrestlers bear creditable resemblance to their real-life counterparts. Furthermore, with new sweat animations and better blood mechanics, a WWE game has never looked more real.

Sound

Always a stumbling block for WWE games, a few sound issues crop up in this year's version. The music in Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 is typically awful, a shortcoming only redeemed by the Xbox 360's ability to play custom soundtracks while playing. This, however, poses another problem. Having custom soundtracks playing disrupts the pre-match entrance music and, for some reason, drowns out any crowd noises. What is worst, though, is that custom soundtracks cannot be used in the game's Create-A-Superstar mode, something that was even seen in WWE Raw 2 and Wrestlemania 21. This marks something of a step backwards, leaving players to have to choose from a few useless B-tracks already preloaded into the game. On the other hand, the voice acting in the game's Season Mode is very respectable, with most of the superstars giving performances similar to those seen on WWE television.

Season Mode

This year's Season Mode presents an entertaining journey in the life of a WWE superstar. Rather than following last year's inclusion of a full annual calendar, Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 simply contains a number of unrelated storylines. Most of these are fairly enjoyable and the Season Mode can be played extensively with little or no storyline repetition, allowing for an enjoyable experience overall. Through playing Season Mode, money can be earned to unlock new attires, move-sets, belts and Legends in the WWE Shop. All in all, Season Mode offers a high level of entertainment for the initial time that players will spend playing the game.

General Manager Mode

For the second year, the GM Mode has found its way into a Smackdown game. Unfortunately, this year's version makes little improvement over last year's less than entertaining experience. While storylines, writers and the inclusion of Heat and Velocity can be seen this year, there is still not a great deal of motivation to go through a year of text-based menus.

On the whole, it appears that WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 is not remarkably unlike th other games in the Smackdown series. But for Xbox 360 owners, it allows a chance to find out what has been missing from a Microsoft console. With a number of interesting features, this game has more than enough to keep WWE fans happy until next year.

Pros

+ A lengthy, engaging Season Mode.
+ Plenty of unlockable items and superstars.
+ Stunning new graphics bring the wrestlers to life.
+ Challenges and wide range of difficulty settings ensure high replay value.

Cons

- In-game music is sub-par and irritating.
- Online multiplayer suffers from a lot of lag.
- General Manager Mode is still not fully developed.
- AI is lacking is key areas.

Game Score

B

Reviewed By: Contributed