WWE's Smackdown vs. Raw 2006 [video game review]
Eric Schomburg
November 27, 2005
I have been a fan of professional wrestling since 1988; however, what wrestling fan doesn?t want to mix it up in the wrestling ring? Well, since I only weigh a buck-ten, I would get killed in the wrestling ring, but in the video game world, I could be the next WWE World Heavyweight champion.
THQ has made crucial mistakes with last year?s Smackdown vs. RAW. While there were some great additions like Create-a-belt, and create-a-pay-per-view, the game was a disaster as far as having a distinct wrestling simulation. In other words, it didn?t feel like wrestling. The voice overs for Smackdown vs. RAW were lackluster and downright horrible. THQ dropped the ball with last year?s Smackdown vs. RAW, and it was only fitting that the next WWE game THQ made would either make or break the franchise of the game.
Enter WWE?s Smackdown vs. RAW 2006. Smackdown vs. RAW 2006 redeemed the mistakes made from it?s predecessor.
In Smackdown vs. RAW 2006, the player can create a wrestler, create a ppv, create a belt, go into season mode with a more established and polished voice over setting. This time you can hear the voices from the likes of Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, John Cena, Mankind, Batista, Triple H, Jimmy Hart, and so many more. The voice overs are fantastically done, and gives the player a feel that they are in a WWE locker room.
Unlike Smackdown: Here comes the pain, and Smackdown vs. RAW, this year?s game has legends who look exactly like the wrestlers, have their theme songs, and have the feel and movement of those very same legends. For example, Jake ?the Snake? Roberts is one of those legends in the game. Jake comes to the ring carrying the green bag that has the deadly snake inside. Jake puts the snake aside, slides in the ring and sits in the corner only to thrust himself up and ready for action. I seriously doubt the real Jake Roberts did the movement, but whoever did it did an excellent job of imitating Jake Roberts.
The legends consist of Steve Austin, the Rock, Mankind, Andre the Giant, Bret ?Hitman? Hart, Jake ?the Snake? Roberts, ?The Million Dollar Man? Ted Dibiase, Junkyard Dog, Hulk Hogan, Hollywood Hogan, Hulk Hogan 1980's and ?The Mouth of the South? Jimmy Hart.
THQ listened to the fans when it came to such things as title changes in exhibition mode, which is in the game by the way. However, other things have been added as well including the extraordinary General Manager Mode, in which you, YES YOU, get to be the general manager of RAW or Smackdown.
The general manager mode starts the player out either having to draft wrestlers from a long list, or having an already made list of RAW wrestlers or Smackdown wrestlers. Any wrestler can be a part of the GM Mode, from Bret Hart to Tajiri, any wrestler can be used. GM Mode is fun, but it does get stale after a while. I suggest if you play GM Mode, you play it like you would play season mode, you set the matches up and you play the matches as well.
One cool thing about GM Mode is the promo?s you can store in the show. The promo?s can consist of advertising your brand, slandering the competition, advertising merchandise, starting a rivalry, introducing a new wrestler to the brand, promoting the upcoming pay-per-view, and promoting the main even for your show.
The GM Mode is great, but it doesn?t stop there, the GM Mode?s purpose is to win over the most fans from your competition. The GM Mode is filled with so many possibilities. Injuries, fatigue, feuds, are all apart of GM Mode. Injuries can be a pain in the rear, but it does give the player a sense of realism in wrestling.
One of the best upgrades that THQ ever produced for Smackdown vs. RAW 2006 is the bloodshed. It?s friggin awesome! When the player gets a chance to cut their opponent it starts as a slight cut with little blood coming out. However, as the match progresses, more blood comes spewing down their face. Not only that, but the blood trickles on the wrestling mat to give it a even more realistic feeling. That?s right, blood spots will appear on the wrestling mat.
With all these great features, the game doesn?t stop there with all the great features. Now, the player has the chance to create an entrance. That?s right, any player who has the time and patience to create a wrestler can create their own entrance. It?s an awesome feature, but there are so many features to create an entrance you would literally have to record what pyro #4 does in order to get the right feeling for your entrance.
WWE?s Smackdown vs. RAW 2006 is THE BEST wrestling game on the market today. THQ has redeemed themselves from the lackluster predecessor, and it shows with the great realism and the added features like GM Mode and create an entrance. Finally, everyone can sell their Smackdown: Here comes the pain, because a better Smackdown game is on the market.
With all of these features, it?s going to be hard for THQ to surpass Smackdown vs. RAW 2006; however, I suggest that THQ have a create a storyline for the next game in order for fans to look forward to Smackdown vs. RAW 2007.
Smackdown vs. RAW 2006 for the Playstation 2 = 10 out of 10.
THQ has made crucial mistakes with last year?s Smackdown vs. RAW. While there were some great additions like Create-a-belt, and create-a-pay-per-view, the game was a disaster as far as having a distinct wrestling simulation. In other words, it didn?t feel like wrestling. The voice overs for Smackdown vs. RAW were lackluster and downright horrible. THQ dropped the ball with last year?s Smackdown vs. RAW, and it was only fitting that the next WWE game THQ made would either make or break the franchise of the game.
Enter WWE?s Smackdown vs. RAW 2006. Smackdown vs. RAW 2006 redeemed the mistakes made from it?s predecessor.
In Smackdown vs. RAW 2006, the player can create a wrestler, create a ppv, create a belt, go into season mode with a more established and polished voice over setting. This time you can hear the voices from the likes of Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, John Cena, Mankind, Batista, Triple H, Jimmy Hart, and so many more. The voice overs are fantastically done, and gives the player a feel that they are in a WWE locker room.
Unlike Smackdown: Here comes the pain, and Smackdown vs. RAW, this year?s game has legends who look exactly like the wrestlers, have their theme songs, and have the feel and movement of those very same legends. For example, Jake ?the Snake? Roberts is one of those legends in the game. Jake comes to the ring carrying the green bag that has the deadly snake inside. Jake puts the snake aside, slides in the ring and sits in the corner only to thrust himself up and ready for action. I seriously doubt the real Jake Roberts did the movement, but whoever did it did an excellent job of imitating Jake Roberts.
The legends consist of Steve Austin, the Rock, Mankind, Andre the Giant, Bret ?Hitman? Hart, Jake ?the Snake? Roberts, ?The Million Dollar Man? Ted Dibiase, Junkyard Dog, Hulk Hogan, Hollywood Hogan, Hulk Hogan 1980's and ?The Mouth of the South? Jimmy Hart.
THQ listened to the fans when it came to such things as title changes in exhibition mode, which is in the game by the way. However, other things have been added as well including the extraordinary General Manager Mode, in which you, YES YOU, get to be the general manager of RAW or Smackdown.
The general manager mode starts the player out either having to draft wrestlers from a long list, or having an already made list of RAW wrestlers or Smackdown wrestlers. Any wrestler can be a part of the GM Mode, from Bret Hart to Tajiri, any wrestler can be used. GM Mode is fun, but it does get stale after a while. I suggest if you play GM Mode, you play it like you would play season mode, you set the matches up and you play the matches as well.
One cool thing about GM Mode is the promo?s you can store in the show. The promo?s can consist of advertising your brand, slandering the competition, advertising merchandise, starting a rivalry, introducing a new wrestler to the brand, promoting the upcoming pay-per-view, and promoting the main even for your show.
The GM Mode is great, but it doesn?t stop there, the GM Mode?s purpose is to win over the most fans from your competition. The GM Mode is filled with so many possibilities. Injuries, fatigue, feuds, are all apart of GM Mode. Injuries can be a pain in the rear, but it does give the player a sense of realism in wrestling.
One of the best upgrades that THQ ever produced for Smackdown vs. RAW 2006 is the bloodshed. It?s friggin awesome! When the player gets a chance to cut their opponent it starts as a slight cut with little blood coming out. However, as the match progresses, more blood comes spewing down their face. Not only that, but the blood trickles on the wrestling mat to give it a even more realistic feeling. That?s right, blood spots will appear on the wrestling mat.
With all these great features, the game doesn?t stop there with all the great features. Now, the player has the chance to create an entrance. That?s right, any player who has the time and patience to create a wrestler can create their own entrance. It?s an awesome feature, but there are so many features to create an entrance you would literally have to record what pyro #4 does in order to get the right feeling for your entrance.
WWE?s Smackdown vs. RAW 2006 is THE BEST wrestling game on the market today. THQ has redeemed themselves from the lackluster predecessor, and it shows with the great realism and the added features like GM Mode and create an entrance. Finally, everyone can sell their Smackdown: Here comes the pain, because a better Smackdown game is on the market.
With all of these features, it?s going to be hard for THQ to surpass Smackdown vs. RAW 2006; however, I suggest that THQ have a create a storyline for the next game in order for fans to look forward to Smackdown vs. RAW 2007.
Smackdown vs. RAW 2006 for the Playstation 2 = 10 out of 10.