WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2006 (PS2)

...the 7th instalment of the WWE wrestling game series for the Playstation. It all started on the PS1 with Smackdown. As Smackdown was the dominate brand over RAW, it was Smackdown that got the title of the first game. Next came Smackdown 2: know your role, which in turn became the greatest wrestling game of its time. The WWE then moved to the PS2 with Smackdown: just bring it. A flop in most senses of the word as it was just the same as Smackdown 2 ...
...into with the last 2 WWE games, so they released Smackdown: Shut your mouth with the current brand battle WWE had on there actual show WCW Vs WWE. With one hit came another with the release of Smackdown: Here comes the pain. This was the change that took THQ to another level and the graphics, game play and improved storyline kept this game on the hit list. So with the dominance of Smackdown through the title of the games THQ took the next brand battle ... more

Game title: Smackdown Vs RAW 2006
Format: PS2
Made by: THQ & JAKKS pacific
Published by: Yuke's co
Genre: Wrestling/sports entertainment
Certificate: 16+
Players: 1-2 players (1-6 with two multitaps)
Disks: 1
Other: Network Adapter (Ethernet) compatible 2-4 players
Contains: blood, violence and mild bad language

Smackdown brand dominates…
Smackdown Vs RAW 2006 (which I will now be referring to as SVR06 as it's quite a long name to write) is the 7th instalment of the WWE wrestling game series for the Playstation. It all started on the PS1 with Smackdown. As Smackdown was the dominate brand over RAW, it was Smackdown that got the title of the first game. Next came Smackdown 2: know your role, which in turn became the greatest wrestling game of its time. The WWE then moved to the PS2 with Smackdown: just bring it. A flop in most senses of the word as it was just the same as Smackdown 2 and didn't really advance in any way. After this flop the worst continued with the release of WWE: crush hour, a pointless game to say the least. You can't take wrestlers and put them in a racing death match environment, there wrestlers not racing drivers. I am sure that THQ realised the potential grave they were digging them selves into with the last 2 WWE games, so they released Smackdown: Shut your mouth with the current brand battle WWE had on there actual show WCW Vs WWE. With one hit came another with the release of Smackdown: Here comes the pain. This was the change that took THQ to another level and the graphics, game play and improved storyline kept this game on the hit list. So with the dominance of Smackdown through the title of the games THQ took the next brand battle that was happening on the WWE, Smackdown Vs RAW. The hype for this instalment was huge and no gamer or WWE fan was left disappointed.
The fans hungered for more…
2005 brought along the release of the game in question, Smackdown Vs RAW 2006. The graphics were improved, the amount of matches available was made bigger and just one way to describe the change, the 2006 version took its predecessors lunch money and made it weep in insignificants.
The fight continues…
Rumours have it that a 2007 version is making its way to PS3, will either brand ever win?

Options you can play: ok so there is plenty to go at in SVR06, here is a list of all that is available to you in the main menu and a brief description of each…

-Exhibition: here you can play an exhibition match. You can go one on one or play against friends for fun. You can also challenge for the title as well as play against up to 6 computer opponents. All match types are available too and all unlocked superstars and created superstars.

-Game modes: here you can participate in a preset PPV (Pay-Per-View) or create your own, play the all new GM (General Manager) mode or start a season with any WWE superstar or created superstar.

-Create modes: here you can create a superstar to use in exhibition or season mode, create a move set for the WWE superstars or your created superstars, create your very own entrance, create a stable (team) of superstars, customize the attributes for your created superstars and create your very own single and tag team championships.

-Locker room: this is where your trophies, belts and honours/achievements you have earned during season mode are kept. You can customize your locker room also with different furniture, posters, ornaments etc to suit your desired look; some accessories have to be unlocked then bought with the money you earn during season mode.

-Online mode: here you can take the WWE world…across the world. (still havent tried this option out)

-Options: here you can adjust sound settings, match rules, in game options, save/load your profile and more.

-PSP connection: Smackdown Vs RAW 2006 is also available for the PSP, here you can upload unlocked season data from PSP to PS2 or download unlocked season data from PS2 to PSP. With this I think that THQ have been a little greedy, you have to own the PSP version to unlock all of the characters! You have to unlock Jake the Snake Roberts on the PSP version then upload it to the PS2 to unlock him! Very unfair to most who think the PSP and its games are expensive, Bad move THQ!

Storyline/s/season mode: the season mode is where you will be spending most of your gaming time. Every superstar on the WWE roster wants to hold the famous WWE world title and the WWE world heavy-weight title. So staying true to the games title you can either pick to be a RAW superstar or a Smackdown superstar and battle your way through the year to win your chosen brands top honour. Along the way through the year there are up to 4 or 5 different storylines for some characters, more variety than the previous SVR but still far too repetitive. There are challenges along the way and things to unlock including Trophies, belts, locker room accessories and WWE legend superstars including Hulk Hogan, Andrea the Giant, Mankind, Junkyard Dog and many more. I was wondering to myself why The Ultimate Warrior had not made it on to the WWE legend lists, well me and Dempsey found out that the WWE hated him, so there is the answer to the question. Anyhow as well as things to unlock you can also earn money by winning your matches. With the cash you earn you can buy extra superstars, locker room accessories and use the money to create a single or tag team championship. Even though there is a lot to unlock due to the repetitive storylines the season mode can become a little tedious and tiresome.

The superstars/characters: there are plenty of superstars to wrestle with this time around. SVR06, this time every superstar can talk, even your created superstar. JR and The Kings commentary have improved also; the commentary will cut out when something different happens in the match, instead of carrying on and miss timing the next event. Superstars include greats like…

-The Undertaker
-Kane
-Triple H
-John Cena
-Batista
-Shawn Michaels
-Edge
-Ray Mysterio
-Randy Orton
-And many, many more

There are also some legends for you to wrestle with and others to unlock including...

-Hulk Hogan (there are actually 3 versions of Hogan to unlock, current, 90's and 80's).
-Mankind
-The Rock
-Stone Cold Steave Austin
-Bret Heart
-Junkyard Dog
-British Bulldog
-Andrea the Giant
-And others

But Jake the Snake Roberts is only unlockable if you have the PSP version and unlock him on there then upload him to your PS2. Cruel THQ very cruel!
This time around the superstars have had a make over and a good one at that. The dream of having a WWE wrestling game that plays and feels like the TV show is close to its realisation. The superstars now move realistically and the superstar and facial animation has improved immensely, finally the superstar's mouth moves with the words they are saying. Though the movement has improved and I'm not sure if this is a personal thing but Christian still walks like he has filled up his tights lol, I don't know maybe it is a personal thing; he is the only one that does it.

Graphics: well the graphics have improved yet again and are very close to the real thing. The superstars look like they do on the TV show and the background scenes look amazing. Another graphical thing that has stood out for me is the cloths and costumes the superstars wear. In other games the cloths look skin tight and just look like they were painted on, in SVR06 the cloths look like they are being worn, they actually hang like loose cloths would and there are even realistic wrinkles on the clothing. Another factor that stands out is the look of your created character; your created character actually looks like the WWE superstars. THQ have paid as much attention to the created superstars as the WWE superstars.

Match types: well I decided to do a section on the match types you can play. There are over 100 different match types to play with including…

-single match
-Tag team match
-Triple threat match
-Royal rumble match
-6 man battle royal
-Hell in a Cell match
-Cage match
-Hardcore match
-Backstage brawl match
-Ladder match
-TLC (Tables, Ladders and Chairs)
-Bra and panties match
-And many, many more

There are also some new match types available for SVR06, including…

-Fulfil your fantasy match
-Parking lot brawl
-Buried alive match (its about time THQ!)
-And many more

So with over 100 different match types SVR06 should keep you busy. Also most matches contain the ability to play either single, tag, triple threat, fatal four-way, handicap or 6 man matches. You can also challenge for a WWE title or your created title (a good way to earn money is to challenge for the title or defend your own).

Controls: this is where SVR06 can put gamers off. The basic controls are as follows

-X = strike attack
-Circle + triangle = Irish whip
-Hold circle = triangle = strong Irish whip
-L2 = counter strike attack
-R2 = counter grabble attack
-L2 + R2 = counter finishing move
-L1 = finishing move
-Circle = grabble opponent
-Circle + any direction = Grabble attack
-Square = pick up weapon

I will agree with anyone who is thinking this…
(I'm sure you are I thought it too at first)
"If these are the basic controls, what are the advanced like!?"
Well the advanced controls are far too large in quantity to list; there are different sets of controls for…

-Facing opponent
-Behind opponent
-Opponent on mat
-Turnbuckle/ropes
-Running
-High-flying
-Weapons
-Tag team
-Manager
-Ladder match
-Table match
-Cage match
-Hell in a Cell match
-Fulfil your fantasy match
-Elimination chamber match
-Backstage brawl match
-Buried alive match

As I said, too many to list but you will find the complete list of moves and button commands in the playing manual, it is set out well and easy to read which is handy. Also another handy thing for the controls is that while the match is loading up (if the match has a specific move set) a window will display the button combinations for that match, you can read and memorise it for as long as you want, when you're done just press X to start the match, handy I think you will agree.

GM mode: the GM mode is a new game mode for SVR06. Instead of battling your way through the season as a superstar, you can now do it as General Manager for either RAW or Smackdown. You can control what goes on in your show, you can set up grudges between superstars, set up special matches, buy other superstars for you roster, send one of your superstars to the other show to stir u trouble and many other things. The main aim of the GM mode is to beat the other show through ratings. The matches and superstars you use will affect the rating and also your bank balance. It's not a case of using the best matches and higher rated superstars though, you must vary the superstars you use or the superstars will complain or become injured due to over use. The special matches like Hell in a cell are high rating matches but cost more than others, you have to watch your bank balance; the ultimate prize is the GM of the year Trophy. The GM mode is a great concept in the making that requires you to think and make career changing decisions, but due to its lack of real control over what unfolds; it can become rather boring and a little repetitive.

Unlockables: well here is a short list of what you can unlock…

-WWE legend wrestlers (you can use some in season mode)
-Extra arenas
-Extra belts
-Locker room accessories
-Moves for your created character
-WWE superstar loading screens
-Trophies and honours

All that should keep you busy for a while to come as most things are unlocked through season mode using different characters.

Game play: well the game play is overall excellent but it does have its flaws. The computer A.I. can be unfair at the best of times, the storylines are still far too repetitive and as I said before the GM mode needs revising. But on the whole SVR06 is a great game to play with mates or family for that matter. The graphics are close to the real thing and with over 100 different match types; the longevity of SVR06 is by far one of the best but I do feel it's too long and gets boring after a while. The controls are a little daunting at first but you do son pick them up.

Game play: 7/10
Graphics: 10/10
Storyline: 2/10 (repetitive, far too repetitive)
Longevity: 3/10 (only scores low due to the fact of its too long and boring)
Score: 22/40 not a bad effort THQ but many things need improving.

Overall: overall SVR06 is really a game for its fans to get the full enjoyment out of playing it alone, but it is a slobberknoker of a game to play with others. Even though THQ need to revise many things, they haven't done a bad job this time around. Maybe THQ know this and we will see the Smackdown Vs raw we all want to see in the 2007 version on the PS3.

Where to find: you can find this game at any leading game stockists. I paid the price of £40 when it first came out, but it has been realised on Platinum and you can pick this up for as little as £14.99 at play.com. The first version is still going for about £25! You choose.

As always here are some handy links for you to check out if I missed anything…

www.thq.co.uk

www.wweeuroshop.com

www.wwe.com

www.wweshop.com

www.play.com

Thanks for the read and I hope you enjoyed it…

G-virus aka James

 

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