WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW

Smackdown vs Raw is definitely, hands down a great game. But how great? Let's see.

THE GOOD. Clean-dirty tactics. This really captures the flow of a match. Being a hardcore WWE fan, I love it when wrestling games are realistic.

Season. Not as long as the other games, but in my opinion that is a huge improvement. I was sick of long seasons. Also the story lines are fresh and original.

Create a PPV. Ahhhhh.... it's good that THQ finally put this back in. It's really detailed.

Entrances. The thing that most people look over. I personally think that these entrances are awesome and I love the fact that they even went as far as to make your manager walk out with you for your match.

Detail! I love the fact how every match has been improved on (for instance you can tell your manager to get a weapon, and you can argue with the ref).

THE OKAY. Royal rumble. The royal rumble is still really fun and great, but the meter is a little odd.

Challenges. I thought this was gonna be great, but the fact that some of the challenges are really tough and you don't get paid that much, just does not really make me excited. Still pretty cool though.

Create a wrestler. As usual, pretty much the same, just with more options.

THE BAD. Online. OH MY GOSH!!! THIS MODE SUCKS!!! GET IT UPDATED PLEASE!!!!!

The menu screens. The fact that divas are the menu screens is just stupid. Especially the fact that everyone thinks that I did that on purpose.

Hardcore matches. Multiple interactive backstage areas you will be missed.

So that's my review. Hopefully this will give you some thoughts on if you want to buy this game or not.

Awesome game, great new features also very exited about peer 2 peer gameplay only on this version of wwe game ps2. Graphics were awesome considering the fact that i have most of the WWE games id like to state that this is the best wwe game from WWE production

When I heard of this game and heard it described by it's creators I was expecting a huge improvement over Here Comes the Pain. What I got was a game that did take 2 steps forward but also took 1 step back. In other words there really isn't anything about the game that knocks my socks off. Sure the Create-a-Belt and PPV functions are great but there are some additions I think they could have done without. First being the voiceovers of the superstars. They are obviously scripted and sound like they were recorded in a box. The match commentary is mundane at best and a bit detached but it is something that can be overlooked because you can tune it out. The improved story lines are pretty good so far in season mode and are a lot like what you see on WWE television which is a plus but a big minus in season mode is the inability to take part in any matches that your season superstar isn't in himself. I found this great in HCTP a little perplexing that you can't in this version. A surprising omission in Raw vs. Smackdown are the tag titles. This is something I don't understand. Sure you can create them but why create a championship that should already be there? Couple that with the fact that to create 2 tag belts will take a tremendous amount of Smackdown dollars which take a long time to accumulate. I think Yukes/THQ dropped the ball on this one. What puzzles me about this is that in HCTP they had the Hardcore title which was long gone by the time Shut your Mouth was released but this time around they decided to omit an existing championship.

I do like the dirty/clean aspect because it can sway a match either way. What is strange, however, are the weapons. You only get 4 hits with each weapon then it disappears and you have to go back out and get a new weapon. This doesn't make sense. I have never seen a chair just disappear after 4 hits so why this was put in I don't know.

Another aspect of the game I do like is that if you are to have a manager, he/she will accompany you to the ring and play a big part in your match. If you are about to be beaten you can call for your manager to jump on the apron to distract the referee or you can have them get you a weapon. This is also a realistic part of what we see on t.v.

One of the much talked about features was the ability to fight your way back during the Royal Rumble. This is both good and bad. The good is that if someone tosses you over, you can get back into the ring as long as you have enough left in your bar. The bad is that this also goes for NPC wrestlers which makes for a very long match. I've yet to watch a full Rumble because it takes so blasted long. Another bad point is that I've been in 2 Rumbles and have been eliminated although I had at least 50% on my elimination bar but again, as long as you don't get yourself into that position I'm guessing you can eventually win but so far I find this more of a hindrance.

All in all it's still a good game but if I have to rank it I would have to say that HCTP is still the best in the series. Although the graphics are better here total gameplay is about equal. Do I feel cheated? No, it's still worth the money only because you have new story lines to play with but I have to say that I'm just slightly disappointed in this game. If I have to rank it I'd give it a 7 out of 10.

Average wrestling game. This game walked so the rest of the series could run. Only play if you're a completionist -- otherwise, skip it.

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs

The WWE's flagship programmes,WWE SmackDown! and WWE Raw,are brought together for this ultimate match-up.Competitors from both shows may play against each other.Players may also take advantage of the opportunity to create their own Tag Team match-ups,as well as handicap matches,play in the simulation of actual real life WWE PPV matches and much more...

I was never a big fan of wrestling as I grew up.Even from a young age,I could tell how carefully chereographed it all was and had trouble taking it seriously.But over the past year or so,I was able to take it for what it is a bit more and find it more enjoyable.And now,I have the opportunity to play this game from THQ.

Once you're in the wrestling ring with your selected competitor,it's a little hard to adjust to the controls at first,but once you get in the swing of it,things get much better (even if you aren't able to deduct quite how you made your character perform certain moves!)The graphics just about cut it as adequate,but are certainly far away from brilliant.None of the characters seem to come out with any of their signature catch-phrases either,which is a bit disappointing.The non-stop roaring rock soundtrack will either get you pumped up and in the mood for all the slamming and throwing or start to grate on your nerves somewhat after a while,depending on your mood.The character's title music that they come out to the ring to blares out in full glory.

There's a number of competitors to choose from.As well as modern reigning giants such as Triple H,John 'Bradshaw' Layfield and Randy Orton,there's a selection of wrestling legends such as 'Superfly' Jimmy Snuka and 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper to pair against the more up-to-date fighters.Some by-gone characters,such as The Rock,appear 'Locked' and that's too bad...You can even get male characters to compete against female fighters,such as Torrie Wilson and Trish Stratus (if the thought of a man getting his ass kicked by a woman is your kinda thing!...)

Overall,this isn't a brilliant game and it certainly ain't as great as it could have been,but it's certainly not as bad as it could have been,either and you certainly won't be bored playing it.***