WWE SmackDown vs. Raw for PlayStation 2

Smackdown vs Raw is the latest WWE game released for the Playstation 2. Give THQ some credit. Despite being all alone in the wrestling game world, the company has never rested on its laurels, delivering quality Smackdown titles year after year. This year's game is no exception. With an updated lineup of wrestlers, Smackdown vs Raw is another excellent WWE game for the Playstation 2.

As usual, the graphics are very sharp. Wrestlers look very much like their real selves with their respective attire in and out of the ring. From Randy Orton to Triple H to the return of the old Undertaker, every grappler is rendered with an impressive amount of detail. The same thing can be said about the arenas. Raw, Smackdown along with Heat, Velocity and every Pay-Per-View sets are right on with sweat details like the mirror-like effect on the Wrestlemania aisle. The only little downer is the fans, who are better looking than in past games but still are a bit too close to looking like puppets whose movements are unnatural. Overall, this is a strong point of the game.

The game's controls are almost unchanged. One new feature is the ability to use your manager. With the left analog stick, players can order their manager to either distract the referee or pick up a weapon for the player to use. Otherwise, the controls are similar to the previous game and they remain efficient.

The Create-a-wrestler mode is back and remains excellent. Very specific variations can be worked on for just about every part of your grappler's body. One minor addition that adds a lot to the realism of the game is in the display setup, where gamers can make their wrestlers wear stuff during their entrances but their matches. Now, gamers can also edit the attire of their wrestlers for cut-scenes that occur during the season mode. The best new part of the create mode is that you can now buy experience points to spend on your created wrestler so that he can actually be half-way decent in a reasonable amount of time. No more trying to earn experience points with a wrestler rated at 42 against Triple H who is rated at 94. Another plus is that you can now buy experience points by either winning matches during season mode or via the new challenge mode. The challenge is simple : meet diverse conditions in exhibitions matches to earn money.

The game features a ton of moves to give your wrestler and a lot of songs for the entrance. A lineup of around ten songs by different music groups has been added. Not only can you use these songs as an entrance music, but they also play during matches and even though you'll notice that you every one of them by heart after two weeks of playing the game, they are still a refreshing change from the generic, boring and noisy tracks that would haunt the previous game.

Speaking of sounds, this was the area where THQ was being criticized. Everybody was bragging for commentary. THQ has finally heard the pledge and included the voices of Raw and Smackdown's duo of Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole alongside Tazz. Unfortunately, all this looks great on paper, but the effort was better than the result. Both duos of commentators speak only banalities such as Michael Cole saying "I think none of these competitors even thought that he might lose this match" or Jerry Lawler constantly repeating "I've never seen this much intensity in a match, JR". The two ring announcers also are included. They are okay except they sound like they are recording in a studio instead of inside the ring because they lack a bit of expression. There is also voice-overs for wrestlers. It's better than the commentary, but it's not perfect. Like the ring announcers, some of the game's grapplers sound a little anemic.

The game introduces two new match types : 1. The triple-threat tornado ladder match, which consists of three teams of two wrestler fighting to climb the ladder and claiming the belts. 2. The parking lot brawl, which is a hardcore match inside a parking lot so that you can use cars to beat down your opponent.

Unfortunately, one of the strengths of the previous games was the large backstage areas. Now the only rooms available are the parking lot and another room with sadistic ways to damage your rival. However, gone is the ability to circulate between rooms backstage.

The season mode is also a bit limited. You either get title shots early on or seduce divas month after month until you have three. By that time, you have arrived to the Royal Rumble, then to the title shot in February only to end in a three stages of hell match to unite the Smackdown and Raw championship belts.

In the end, Smackdown vs Raw doesn't quite live to its potential. However, the moment you slightly like wrestling, it will get addictive very quickly. It has minor flaws, but overall, it's a very good game