Reviewed: March 17, 2007
Reviewed by: Justin Nixon

Publisher
THQ

Developer
Yuke's Media Creations

Released: November 14, 2006
Genre: Sports
Players: 1-4
ESRB: Teen

9
9
8
9
8.8

Supported Features:

I started watching wrestling about the same time that Stone Cold Steve Austin became big in the WWE, then known as the WWF. The Rock and Triple H were just starting their superstar careers. The Undertaker was already an established superstar and Hulk Hogan was still big in WCW, which I was also a huge fan of until it was bought out. I watched Goldberg’s first match in WCW and his last match in the WWE. I’ve seen some of the greatest matches in wrestling history, and enjoy every minute of it.

Back in the days of the Nintendo 64 and the PlayStation, wrestling games really started to become popular. The Nintendo 64 had Aki developing classic wrestling games such as WCW/NWO Revenge and WWF No Mercy. The PlayStation had Yukes creating the beginnings of the longest running gaming franchise for wrestling, the WWE/WWF SmackDown series. Both, Aki and Yukes, were published under THQ. At the same time, both systems were graced with Acclaim’s WWF Raw is War, and WWF Attitude. All of these games were amazing for their time and really gave wrestling fans a choice.

Today there is only one major wrestling game out there and that is the SmackDown series. WCW was bought out and Acclaim went out of business. Wrestling fans like me are no longer given a choice of what game to play, but the newest game from Yukes, SmackDown vs. RAW 2007 for the Xbox 360, is all I need to suppress my gaming needs.

The main menu is just like previous SmackDowns. You are given a list of options on the left side and a live action wrestling video on the right side of the screen. Like most wrestling games, SmackDown vs. RAW 2007 as a ton of different options. From the main menu you can choose Exhibition, Game Modes, Create Modes, Locker Room, Xbox Live, and Option.

When you pick the exhibition option you can then pick if you want to wrestle in a single, tag team, triple threat, fatal 4-way, handicap, royal rumble, main events, or a title match. The main events include everything from previous SmackDowns plus the new Money in the Bank match, which is essentially a ladder match. That is basically the only new match type, which is a little disappointing. I would have like to see a few new types. Exhibition mode is also the only way that you can play multiplayer without going on Xbox Live.

Under the Game Modes option you can find the ever-so-awesome Season Mode, which has been revamped this year, the more strategic General Manager Mode, which has also received a face-lift, and the PPV Mode, which hasn’t changed from previous versions.

The Season Mode has been re-worked with over 40 storylines. Which one you get to play through depends on the wrestler that you choose and the decisions that you make throughout the season. Some storylines mimic actual events on TV and some are completely original.

The General Manager Mode has received the most changes from last year. SmackDown vs. RAW introduced this strategic game mode with a lot left out and I still couldn’t get enough. This year they included a lot of what was missing from last year making this year’s General Manager Mode one of the most addictive parts of the game. As GM of your own show, SmackDown or RAW, you can draft your own superstars, designate champions, create stables, trade superstars, set-up feuds between them, and a lot more.

The whole feud mechanic has been redone. In this year’s game you can actually choose the scenario in which the superstars are feuding. For example, you can have them feud over a diva. You could have a legends feud with Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart over who’s the greatest of all time. It adds even more strategy into an already addicting mode.

The same Create Modes are back. You can create your own WWE Superstar and take him through Season Mode. You can create your own move-set for you WWE Superstar. You can create an entrance for you superstar to come out to. You can create a WWE Championship, which I’ll get back to that in a moment. Lastly you can create your own stable.

Last year’s game introduced the Locker Room feature. It is kind of like the Crib feature that 2K Sports uses. It allows you to customize your own pad with the money you earn in Season Mode. This year’s game has also includes the Locker Room without much change. If it’s not broken don’t fix, I guess. It works well and gives you a chance to spend that hard-earned cash. It is also the place where you go after each match. You can check e-mail, read the latest wrestling headlines, and of course buy stuff. The stuff you can buy range from wrestling legends to move-sets to furniture for your locker room.

Last and definitely not least is the robust Xbox Live that allows you to face other fanatics across the world. You can use any superstar on the roster or you can use your created Superstar. You can even take that WWE Title that you created and defend it against other people, but beware, once it’s gone it’s gone. Many of the game modes are available online just as they are offline so you can test your wrestling ability against thousands of people.

The controls for SmackDown vs. RAW 2007 have also been changed. Yukes has added a new level of depth to the matches by giving you more control over the moves you do. First they mapped the grappling moves to the right analog stick adding a new level of control. After you lock up using the right analog stick, you can then move the stick in different directions to do different moves, or you can press the stick down to go “Ultimate Control Moves.” These moves allow you to lock them into a move then you can hold it, and even walk around the ring while holding them.

When you’re ready or you just run out of stamina, yes there is still a stamina meter, you complete the move. For example, one of the moves allows you to lift your opponent on your shoulder. At that point you can hold them there and walk around the ring. When your ready you can powerslam them to the mat. DDTs, powerbombs, and powerslams can be performed using this method. This makes you feel more in control of the action and adds some more replay value. It’s fun to play with each superstar attempting to do all of their “Ultimate Control Moves.”

Another new feature that was added to the actual wrestling is hotspots. These hotspots are scattered throughout the ring and surrounding area. These spots allow you to slam your opponents head into the barricade outside of the ring or pummel them with punches in the corner from just a standard grapple. You just lock your opponent into a grapple and drag them to the hotspot. There is a type of mini-game that starts and you can control how many times you slam their head into the steel or punch them in the corner turnbuckle. Beware though because, if timed right, your opponent can counter, and you may find yourself getting pummeled. This also adds a new level of interaction to each level.

All of these features are great but like all wrestling games there are things that could be better. My biggest complaint is with Xbox Live capabilities there should be some kind of roster update download. I felt that many wrestlers were left out that should have been in it. On top of that, each month there are many new wrestlers that come into the company and many leave. Wrestling game rosters are always changing. With Xbox Live available there should be a way to update those rosters. My last complaint is that they dropped any kind of diva specialty match. No Fulfill Your Fantasy match. No Bra and Panties match. They completely dropped them out but yet they still have divas as playable characters.

One of the graphical issues that you will notice though is the occasion collision problem. This is most apparent when you are playing as a big guy like the Big Show who is over 7 feet and you’re against a small guy like Rey Mysterio who is only about 5 foot 5. At times, when you are throwing him around the ring, it will appear like you aren’t even touching him. This has been a problem with most wrestling games in the past though.

Commentary is provided by either Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler or Michael Cole and Taz, depending on the show you are wrestling on. Most of the commentary is just recycled, and a lot of it is taken from last year’s game. It gets repetitive pretty quick so make the matches short.

A feature that could have been implemented into the create-an-entrance would have the ability to rip your own music for entrances. Raw 2 for the original Xbox did it so it’s not too much to ask. Plus, the music that the game provides for created superstars is weak. It would have nice to give my created wrestler the music that I thought would have matched his personality but instead he was stuck with some generic theme music.

As for Achievements, there are 29 objectives required to earn those 1000 points. They range in length and difficulty such as merely completing a year in the GM mode or finish a Season on any of the various difficulty settings. There are also plenty of online challenges like trying to win 50 consecutive matches defending your Superstar in 20 or even 50 online matches. Plan on spending the better part of a year if you want to exploit the achievement system for this game.