15.11.2005

I (unintentionally) bought this game the day it came out and couldn't wait to get home and play it! I'd heard a lot about all the new features and, for the most part, I wasn't disappointed.Firstly, the graphics are an incredible improvement and everything runs far smoother than before. The animation is spot on and is more of a complete overhaul than a brush-up. This gives a more realistic look and was something the series sorely needed. Create-A-Wrestlers also stand up pretty well against the real wrestlers looks wise.Unfortunately, the roster is hugely out of date. While this is usually the case, it seems even more so this year than previously. For example, Spike’s been fired,The Hurricane and Chavo Guerrero no longer compete under these names, and so on.The Create-An-Entrance mode is very in-depth, but with descriptions such as "Pyro 4" and confusing camera angles it is mainly a stab in the dark as to how the entrance turns out.Entrances are greatly improved. The announcements sound just like in real life and the announcer stands in the ring during the entrance, along with your opponent(s). Commentary is improved and made me genuinely laugh-out loud at times. However Taz has some very aggressive lines directed at Michael Cole, which did spoil my enjoyment somewhat, and I have already heard certain comments repeated just days into the game.The AI in has been greatly improved and the game is at times genuinely hard (my CAW has a 2-4 win/loss record in season mode). The momentum makes the game more realistic, along with the stamina, and both contribute to lengthen match times (which can be viewed as good or bad depending on the situation). Blood is less frequent (which is good) but honestly looks even worse than previously, with big blobs appearing everywhere, which would be comical if it wasn’t so poor. You can now only have one SmackMove at a time and the momentum meter means they are usually few and far between. I personally view this as a good thing, but I could see others thinking differently.The sleeper mode is fun but I’ve only seen it used once so I can’t really comment.The three new modes are a welcome addition. The Buried Alive match is as exciting as it was playing the Elimination Chamber for the first time. Sorry, ignore that… it’s better!!! The Fulfil Your Fantasy match has great gimmicky value and is fun. However the new spanking system has me rather confused at the mo. Finally the Backstage Brawl and Bar Fight is fun with no complaints.The Title Match mode seems quite good but I’m not sure if it has any value without an Internet connection (which I lack, along with a second memory card). I have yet to explore the Create-A-Title mode, but remain confident that it will be as entertaining (if still as useless) as before.The Season mode is improved, but I’m not very far through it so can’t comment much. Something I found cool was that due to my constant jobbing (losing), I was demoted to Velocity for the week! The voices are all improved (even CAW’s have a voice!) and most of the wrestlers now sound as if they could be a***d!The new GM mode is brilliant and a great innovation. It takes on a form similar to a Football Manager Sim and rewards the more obsessed fan, while still being accessible to the casual fan.Everybody can now create their own profile and customise their own locker room, through which you can access the Challenges menu and other similar things.ShopZone has proved a minor disappointment with only Legends and customisable items for your locker room available. Everything else is unlockable through trophies you win in the game, for example by being GM of the year.For newbies, the game is less pick up and play because of the new Irish Whip system etc.Finally the ECW arena and Hardcore title are available to unlock, with unlimited potential. I can’t wait to get them!!That’s about everything I can think of to talk about, but I’m sure there’ll be more gems to discover! Overall the game is excellent and is a huge improvement on the last. While marred by a few flaws, the game is at least three times bigger thanks to the new matches and modes, and I can see it being well past next November before I’ve finished everything (I’m still stuck on some of the challenges from the last game!). Buy it now or forever regret it!Holla, Holla!!!R.I.P. Eddie Guerrero (1967-2005)

16.11.2005

SmackDown! vs. RAW was great, no doubt the best grappler out on any of the consoles. But it simply lacked in too many areas.There were only 4 official championships in the game, though you could create titles, and you could only fight for them on season. Changing Superstar on season would result in the titles reverting back to their orginal owners (JBL, Booker T, Randy Orton & Chris Jericho).The matches were very short and easy to win, even on Legend difficulty. Superstars did not have all of their proper moves (i.e. Batista's Spinebuster, Angle's Super Angle Slam etc.) and they didn't all have official Entrance movies, moves and themes.Voice-overs were very poor and commentary was limited.SVR 06 changes the entire world of virtual wrestling.Now all characters look very close to how they do in real life, with even those like Hurricane and Conway looking good.Everybody, as far as I am aware, has their correct move-list (though you have to assign Batista's Lethian Spine Buster in place of Lesnar's version.The Stamina bar can be turned on or off, so people who hate the idea can play with the same feel as all the other SmackDown! games. Entrances, including moves, movie and music, are nearly spot-on and look great (with the acception of Batista's firework timing!).The new showing of 'newly aqquired' Finishers (not 'stored') shows you just how cool some of them are.Casket matches are not individual matches but instead are joined up with a truck full of dirt to give you a very gratifying Buried Alive stipulation. People like Undertaker can perform special Last Rides/ JBL Powerbombs into the Casket to gain a quick win (stored finisher and full momentum needed), whereas the other Superstars have a simple Powerbomb. This makes Buried Alive matches quite hard to predict if you're playing against a friend. If you don't want a quick win then you can try to push them in with the submission-style bar and then slam the lid of the casket down on them.Special Referees are not limited to tag team, singles and Ironman matches any more, because they can be used in a Steel Cage, Hell-in-a-Cell, tag team, singles, Ironman etc.Battle Royals are no longer pin/ submission eliminations only and you can chose either pin/ submit eliminations or over-the-top rope eliminations. Royal Rumbles can also be for 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 Superstars, and so you can play a quicker Rumble if you haven't much time.The arenas are amazingly realistic and vary in size and popularity (for GM mode). They include:RAW, SmackDown!, Heat, Velocity, WrestleMania IX, Unforgiven 04, No Mercy 04, Survivor Series 04, Armageddon 04, New Year's Revolution, Royal Rumble 05, No Way Out 05, WrestleMania 21, Backlash 05, Judgment Day 05, Vengeance 05, ECW: One Night Stand, Great American Bash 05, SummerSlam 05.Championships can be defended on exhibition, as well as season mode, and titles are not reverted when changing Superstar on season. Cena and Austin wear their 'spinning'/ 'Smoking Skull' WWE title if they are the WWE champ and the new GM mode gives you a great sense of power over the Superstars you hate.GM mode allows you to control an entire year in RAW or SmackDown!, with you creating the matches, advertising to get finances, hyping matches to get better ratings than the other show, and hyping the return of injured Superstars. Those wrestlers that don't like your method may jump to the other show, so you need to get them involved in expensive matches and title shots, or give them a title that has been vacated due to a champion's injuries. You also have to pay to keep them in your contract else they become a 'free agent' and you must rehire them at full price.Create-an-Entrance (from GamesCube's WrestleMania X8 & XIX and Day of Reckoning 1 & 2) makes an appearance, with some great tracks to chose for your theme music.Create-a-PPV has stayed, so has the Create-a-Championship option and all of the match types from the other SmackDown! games.SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 is everything that SVR wasn't, and that means it is the GREATEST wrestler to hit the shelves.Get it now, and prepare for 'The Fight Of Your Life!'

2.9.2005

Well, i'm back and ready to update you all with all the information given out so far. This is the CONFIRMED ROSTER. Source-IGN. Legends have not yet been confirmed. Anyone who shows the roster differently, is WRONG.SVR2006 RosterBatistaBig ShowBooker TCarlitoChavo GuerreroCharlie HaasChris BeniotChris JerichoChris MastersChristianChristy HemmeDanny BashemDoug BashemEddie GuerreroEdgeEugeneGene SnitskyHeidneriechThe HurricaneJBLJohn CenaJoy GiovanniKaneKhosrow DaivariKurt AngleLitaMark JindrakMichelle McCoolMuhammad Hassan (Wooo!)Orlando JordanPaul LondonRandy OrtonRene DupreeRey MysterioRic FlairRob ConwayRob Van DamScotty 2 HottyShawn MichaelsShelton BenjaminSpike DudleyStacy KieblerStevenRichardsSylvain GrainerTajiriTorrie WilsonTriple HTrish StratusThe UndertakerWilliam RegalNew Match TypesBuried Alive MatchBar Room BrawlA lot of work has been done to Cage matches to provide a more realistic feel.New Random StuffSeason mode 2 years longYou can now store a finisher2 new attributes. Hardcore & StaminaStamina will play an important part in matches. More realistic so now you can't just continuously batter your opponent.Online has apparently been revitalised completely with a broader choice of options.There will be a Secret Belt which is still to be unveiled.Create-An-Entrance has been confirmed.Create-a-belt returns.You can now pick which Mini-Game you have before the match.Around 50% of moves have been reanimated (finally)Polygon count and figure models improved.TITLE BELTS CAN NOW BE DEFENDED ONLINE VIA A 'VIRTUAL WWE CHAMPIONSHIP. WITH CAREER LEADER-BOARDS AND A PERMANENT ID SYSTEM THAT TRACKS ALL OF YOUR USER STATS.Superstar-specific storylines. Voice-overs return.More than 100 Match types.19 ARENAS, POSSIBLE 20TH. ECW ONE NIGHT STAND INCLUDED!Fully customizable locker-rooms.3 levels of blood.Players can now do a cool sleeper hold, just like the real thinkg where the Ref lifts up the guy's arm three times.You can now PLAY POSSUM. Unsure of what it is? It's when you lay down and pretend to be injured, you then jump up and hit a quick move or pin. Think Eddie Guererro.Improved AI. Hard difficulty is actually pretty hard.The Momentum System. It combines the old adrenaline system and the Dirty/clean meter.Super dirty moves. The cheapest move in the game. Super Clean move, will be stealing your opponents finisher.You can now steal your opponents taunt.The amount of damage you do with a weapon is determined by what your Hardcore Attribute is like. So you won't see Lita hitting someone with a chair with the same velocity that a guy like RVD does.Improved weight detective system.Stamina can be regenerated.Now there are 5 groups of moves. Just pressing Circle, which used to be irish whip, now puts you into a grapple hold. So that means that each superstar will have a huge 25 front grapples.New Super Strong Irish whip.Reversal system redeveloped. Now you can have a chain of 3 reversals. (Chain Wrestling)You can now keep more than 1 profile on a memory card. That means you can do multiple seasons with different characters, instead of just the one.Wrestlers will be in the ring while their opponent enters. Or, they may decide to hide outside the ring.Announcers. Lilian Garcia and Tony Chimmel will be in the ring while introducing the wrestlers.Entrances are no longer limited to just 1minute. Now, guys like HHH and Taker will be parading for over a minute and a half.There will be a lot more info to come as time progresses. Including the new legends.This game is looking amazing. I can't wait. There are so many new features and improvements. This is number 1 on my hitlist, and should be yours too!Thanks for your time.

7.12.2005

On the face of it, SDvsR 2006 is a step up from the previous game in several ways - and gains bonus points for ditching that annoying chop battle system entirely. However, after a day or two of playing you'll spot a lot of things wrong with the game.First, what's good about it. For a start, it's the first game that actually admits that people want to create wrestlers that aren't in the game and offers a lot of assistance. Movesets are almost fully customisable so there won't be any more problems of trying to fit seven moves into four slots as there's an extra slot per grapple, and you can change the allocation of move types. Also, you have unlimited attribute points after playing through a couple of seasons,to save months of time trying to perfect the roster you made and entrances are fully customisable and you can create your own from scratch. There's also plenty of moves for people not in the game, such as AJ Styles, Low Ki and a lot of Japanese wrestlers.For non CAW makers, season mode is more interactive and rewarding, as storylines unlock different hidden wrestlers and other things to collect (admittedly mostly loading screens and decor for the locker room hub), and the voice acting is vastly improved. There's also a pile of new match types, new wrestlers (as expected, really) and commentary is far superior to the previous game.However, the cracks start to appear after playing for a while. Firstly, a large chunk of the roster were fired six months before the games' release (Spike Dudley, Charlie Haas, Mark Jindrak and Joy Giovanni included), so there's no excuse to have them in there - barring, of course, they'd recorded their voice acting already. Just as mystifying is how guys like Nunzio didn't get on and, quite annoying indeed, there's a few wrestlers you can't use in season mode, such as Tajiri and Rob Conway. Also the game isn't 100% CAW friendly, as some moves have actually been removed from the game, which also affects some of the in-game wrestlers (Edge's implant DDT is out, but they kept the spinning one he doesn't use, for example).There's a few issues with collision detection and the strange sight of your wrestler not running but seeming to ice skate across the ring, which is a major oversight in programming and makes the exercise look half-finished and rushed, which a premium title plainly shouldn't. And, yet again, the limits on attiributes are in place, so once again Heavyweights such as Chris Jericho aren't fast enough to be realistic, while Cruiserweights like Eddie Guerrero aren't strong or tough enough. The introduction of the Stamina attribute levels things out a bit, but also slows you down in the ring as you get tired too quickly at key moments.And for an innovation, the GM Mode is a good idea on paper - think of it as a business management sim - but is grossly unfair on the player as your show always had injuries, while your competitor never does. Yet the most criminal aspect is that you need a PSP, a copy of the PSP version of the game AND an internet connection just to unlock Jake Roberts, yet the game has three versions of Hulk Hogan to unlock. I still can't find anyone that wants three versions of Hogan, which also leaves two other Legends on the scrapheap.Yet with a batch of problems that a bit of quality control would've fixed in a short space of time, the game is emenantly playable to a point. It may be a far way off the best in the series (Here Comes The Pain still offers better controls and realism), but it does stand above the worst (the previous SDvsR, Just Bring It) without much effort. Just be warned before you buy that it might not be a long-lasting experience.

23.11.2005

For fans of the WWE-wrestling games, this title has been awaited as much as any football-buff anticipates the great manager-games. "Smackdown vs. Raw" is going to be the standard title for the games to come in the series.The 2006-game features all the matches and controls of the previous titles. It combines the slight air of hyperreality surrounding Pro-Wrestling with an excellent game system, focussing on strategy and a variabaility of wrestling styles, over plain button-mashing.The pearls of this title, is what seperates it from a standard beat-'em-up game. The object is to pin your opponent or force him to submit, rather than just beating him senseless. To achieve this goal,the player must exercise timing and charisma to allow for the "Finishing move" that characterizes every wrestler since Hulk Hogan (who is featured in three different varieties, by the way!), or concentrate on softening up certain parts of the opponent's anatomy for submission-holds. Graphics and controls are improved once more, and the game features voice acting from most major superstars."Smackdown vs. Raw 2006" also has three different 'modes', apart from the good old-fashioned match:First of all, there is a manager-game, which puts the player in the seat of a GM, allowing him to make matches, start rivalries and hype PPVs and superstars.Second the game allows the player to design a wrestler in eerie detail - from facial features, over costume, to enterance and, of course, the many, many moves that the character will execute in-ring. The level of detail and the number of items is amazing, eve though the designers seem to have reserved some items (such as Coach's shirt) fororiginal characters only.Thirdly, the game features a personal Roleplaying-like season mode, where the player can go through 'realistic' wwe-storylines as either a home-made wrestler or one of the wwe-superstars (with their own voices!), improve his wrestling abilitis trough a multi-faceted attribute-system and eventually challenge for the title.The game has a wonderful degree of costumisation, from wrestler looks over move-sets, to furnishing your backstage-area sims-style. Also, it features a goldmine of unlockables and buid-in challenges, that makes for many hours of motivated fun, beyond just exploring the many opportunities of the game.The only thing that bugs me about the title, is that the storyline season-modes are relatively short, and do not have a lot of re-playability. In earlier titles the order of plots were randomized, and smaller challenges and backstage encounters made the game go on forever with equal intensity.If the worst thing there is to say about a game, is that it is too short, then the rest muts be very good indeed. And it is.

3.1.2006

03/01/2006WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2006 is yet another title released by THQ who seemed to have a real knack at producing solid wrestling games, ever since WCW vs NWO on the N64!!! (Hours of 64-bit heaven!)The positives: -1. I've played this for a few weeks now and I must say it's great when you have friends/family around to fight against in the countless matches they have to offer.2. The graphics are again crisp and have been improved once again. Crowd sounds and Commentary have also been tweaked.3. Create a Superstar - Your created character no longer stands out like a sore thumb with the improved graphics, they look more like a real person now and you can give them 1 of 5 voices which THQ have recorded lines for which adds greatly to the season mode.

1.6.2006

Smackdown games have always been great, the best being Smackdown 2 on the Playstation. This is another great title, and once again it has loads more new features. The graphics on this game are truely amazing, all the WWE superstars look amazing and are incredibly detailed. The gameplay is excellent as well, superstars now have 25 front grapple moves, and you can execute new moves like Super Irish whip, which is handy if your in the Royal Rumble or want to throw someone out of the ring in a triple threat match. Another good feature is in title matches you can hit people with the belt which is great.There are a few new match types, backstage brawls which basially speak for themselves,

26.8.2007

A game with huge return to pull - I've put It In a draw & as good as forgotten about It for weeks but once played again It's enjoyable all over again.Takes a while to fully command the finer points like all 24 or so grapples, finisher reversals, tag moves etc once learned this game Is a joy. The ability to create superstars Is excellent down to the ring entrances lighting to their kneepads. TLC matches are possibly the best laugh a person can have without being arrested. Most fun to play are comedy heels such as HHH or my favourite Dupree - up taunt/left downed upper body grapple! The commentary Is generally good at points some of the slurs hilarious but at the start of every match we get "here we are from....(somewhere there not)....what a reversal" ad nauseum.

8.5.2006

the original was a masterpiece. this is what most people know.but for god's sake, the season mdoe was all over the place (i was the undertaker chasing torrie wilson ans stacy keibler).now, with the arrival, of 2006.............WHAM! amazing. the new superstar specific storyline feature is incredible, meanign you can watch your favorite lads cut promos and slogans at each other...and if your character is meant to appear in the season mode, you get whisked off on a legends tour...this might seem patchy, but its effective..as you can revisit that infamous night in Montreal as HBK apparantly forced Bret Hart to "tap out" (for Bret Hart fans out there: he was meant to win that match,

27.11.2005

This is obviously the best wrestling game ever in terms of graphics. But, WWE games and THQ games have always had the upside in that department. Also, the action is the most realistic of all time.Having stamina, momentum, hardcore, created championships, and new moves make even the pros quiver. Now you can create championships and defend them against your friends in person. Which means you can create multiple accounts. 1 for every friend you have. (Actually about 10) With the accounts you can have 1-10 season modes, new locker rooms, loads of championships, and the all new GM mode. THis is a great mode in which you go head-to-head against a computer or player for ratings. The new create an entrance mode is great.

11.11.2005

In the past years THQ has successfully completed some big game titles, but in the wwe genre it is the same story every year.This year THQ, in my mind, had made an astonishing video game for the wwe genre. With new inhanced graphics, which bring authenticity to the wwe superstars.The possum counter sytem lets an superstar store a special for future use to use on the opponent went they least wxpect it.Also, the new stamina system makes a player think more carefully, to bring the in-ring feeling of the wrestling world.In my mind, THQ has out done themselves this year, with over 100 different match types. THQ,

3.8.2007

I bought this game just for fun thinking it would be average.The graphics are superb, the controls are simple and best of all it's fun.You can create a player, create a move set, create a WWE belt, create a stable.The game modes are cool too with new manager mode where you arrange the fixtures and rosters for either Smackdown or Raw.There is however only 1 slight problem which is the commentary. They talk about a certain player and in the middle of a word they cut off and say something like: 'The WWE is the most physica- Stone Cold Stunner did you see that?'Apart from that it is a superb game and i highly recommend it for a small price

28.3.2006

Well i'm not gunna go into detail about what this game isCos if your reading this review then you should have a pretty good idea of what to expect from a WWE Smackdown titleBut let me just say what is exciting...and newTitle match, being able to put a title on the line in exhibiton mode. Best thing for me is having a friend over and putting the WWE/WORLD title in the line (or both cos it can be done if both champs are in a match).Even better is doing this is envioroments such as elimination chambers, fatal 4 way ladders, armageddon hell in a cellYou'll have great thrills and laughs on this gameThe game is just great!

21.7.2007

this game is a very good game and has both positive and negative piotsPOSITIVEseason mode, good with different storylinesgraphicsgameplay ....and very addictiveNegativecommentary i don't know why sd! and raw hate eachother so much and also the tazz always dises cole and same on rawtables vey, very hardto put ppl throughoverall this game is the best sd vs raw game so far and better than 07

16.11.2005

This version of Smackdown vs Raw is a vast improvement on the previous release.The graphics and gameplay are brilliant and the storylines are even more brilliant.Also love the new range of moves for Create a Wrestler.I have to say my fave character in this has to be Undertaker and its about time they intorduced the Buried Alive match.So overall this game is best wrestling game to date.

WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006 (PS2) - Reviews

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