WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006

The night before WWE: Smackdown vs RAW 2006 came out, I remember being scared to death---scared to experience the same painful blow I received a year ago when I ran to my local EB to get the original Smackdown vs Raw. What a disappointment. Not that the game was bad per se, just that it had a sad lack of features that really served to cramp the game's style. So, when SmackDown vs. RAW 2006 was released, I was praying that I would not find the same damning flaw here. After investing some time with the game, I think it is safe to say that SvR2006 is quite an improvement upon the original. How much of an improvement? Let me put it this way: after picking the game up this morning, I recall little besides a blur of gaming action! I don't remember stopping to gobble some food or even to answer the call of nature! Yes, SvR2006 is quite satisfying and the new champion of wrestling games.

Gameplay

Smackdown vs RAW 2006 is a brilliant game in many aspects, particularly the graphics. The special effects were so impressive that, at times, they had me at the edge of my sofa unsure if I was playing a game or actually watching WWE programming!

The texture of the characters, pyrotechnics effects, light reflections, hair, even eye movement and facial expressions, all combine to give you a visually draw-dropping experience. It is no exaggeration to say that SvR2006 pushes the PS2 hardware capabilities to its limits, delivering one of finest wrestling games I've ever seen.

It doesn't with visuals either as SvR2007 delivers a new soundtrack even better than last year's version. With a greater number of original entrance themes derived from current WWE wrestlers, as well as from the legendary wrestlers of the past, SvR2006 eliminates the need for "generic" entrance themes. You can now listen to real entrance songs as characters make their glorious entrance into the ring---which is a very nice improvement. The game also has a more intelligently audible crowd. So, for example, during an exciting moment of the match, the audience will loudly cheer, or, during a lull in the action, simply remain silent.

Clearly, THQ has listened to the critiques of the original Smackdown vs Raw, as a great many features have been added to the game as well. For example, there is now the "Stamina" meter, which is proving to be a gigantic step towards realism. Now your character will get tired after performing high energy wrestling moves or simply by running around the ring evading an opponent. As in real life, if your stamina runs out, your character will be too tired to even stand, making you easy prey for your opponent. The stamina meter is also connected to the amount of damage you can take as a beaten-up character will tire faster. Finally, if both opponents run out of stamina, and a finisher move is performed, a "Double KO" can occur whereby the referee will begin counting to ten to see who can stand up first! Have you ever seen that on TV before? Of course you have if you are a wrestling fan! It is just another reason why I love this game so much. There is also the addition of a "Sleeper Hold System," whereby you can KO your opponent with just three lifts of your opponent's hand by the referee, bringing yet more realism to the match, which will be surely appreciated by hardcore wrestling fans.

Also available are numerous match types, such as the standard "Bar Brawl" and "Handicap Matches," as well as the quite interesting GM Mode. In the latter, you take the role of the General Manager and prepare matches, schedules, and other events in order to be the dominant brand of WWE. There is also an improved Create-A-Wrestler Mode (one of my personal favorites) where you can create your very own character with any characteristics you want (including clothes, wrestling moves, entrance styles, etcetera). Best of all, SvR2006 now even includes a "name list" which contains the most of the common American names for males and females. Seems like a small feature, but let me assure you that it can be quite a thrill to hear the full introduction for a character that looks just like you and has your name as well! Of course, you don't have to create your own wrestling doppelganger as the game includes many WWE legends, such as Andre the Giant and Bret Heart, along with some fictitious characters. Nonetheless, the ability to customize the game in so many different ways adds further enjoyment to an already enjoyable game!

SvR2006's online features are greatly improved in this edition as well. Far better than last year's poor online play, this time they improved the online component by adding wrestling titles, different match types, and the ability to maintain records and scores. Also, you can now finally share your customized wrestlers with other people. All of this makes online competition greatly enhanced and much more enjoyable.

Do I have anything negative to say? A few things. Let's begin with the worst: the commentary provided by the in-game announcers. Good lord, after listening to the announcers going on and on for hours, I had to fight the urge to become violently sick! To say the least, it was poorly done and very repetitive. How many times can you listen to King cracking jokes about "1" being his social security number? Sheesh!

Another issue is that some "magical wrestling moves" keep occurring from time to time (i.e., arms magically crossing an opponent's chest or legs, or when a Sleeper Hold is performed to the mid-body sections or upper part of the head). Even if this may appear to be minor, it can greatly affect the realism of the game. Fortunately, this is a problem that can be easily overlooked as the rest of the game's visual and auditory realism more than compensates.

The AI is also dumber than before---but it compensates by being more aggressive. For example, your teammates will now cooperate to take you out of a Royal Rumble match, but just don't expect them to help you out as interference during a match. Basically, they will just walk around the ring taunting your opponent while calmly watching as you get your butt kicked. This can be really bad, especially during solo play.

Likewise, the stupidity of the referee can cost you a few games as he gets in the way far too often. Worse, in addition to being a fool, he is far less forgiving of your mistakes! He will quickly disqualify you if you hit him a mere three times. Considering how idiotically he places himself in the exact worst spot of the ring (it almost looks like he does it on purpose), you will have to plan your attacks carefully so as not to hit him and suffer his misguided wrath. There is nothing more frustrating (and aggravating!) than to lose a match because you accidentally punched this idiot of a referee.