WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 (Xbox 360) Review [2]

Posted by Joshua Richey on 11.27.2006

Vitals

Genre	Wrestling
System	PS2/PSP/PS3/Xbox 360
Release Date	11/17/2006

Is this once hot franchise beginning to show its age?

Finally, Smackdown has come to the X-Box. The previous versions of this highly prestigious franchise were only available on Sony’s Playstation and PSP platforms-- but not anymore. Not only is Smackdown making its debut on the X-Box, but it is also making its grand ‘Next-Gen’ debut as well. The game was also originally scheduled to be released on the PS3, but the PS3 version was canceled by THQ—citing that they wanted to focus more on the 360 version.

With this added focus and attention, did the 360 get a remarkable wrestling title, or did they simply get a port of the Playstation 2 version? I’ll answer these questions and more as I review WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 for the X-Box 360.

GRAPHICS

In SvsR 07, you’re wrestlers will sweat, they’ll bleed, and their large steroid enhanced veins will bulge; but still, you’re going to be left wanting more. Graphically, Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 isn’t going to ‘wow’ you. It’s not that the game has bad graphics; it’s just that they leave a whole lot to be desired. This is supposed to have the look and feel of a ‘Next-Gen’ title… however; the game looks like nothing more than a slightly more polished version of the PS2 game. This is disappointing, but not tragic.

The games character models are all astonishingly well-executed. The Developers have really done an incredible job at capturing damn near every detail from the actual wrestlers, themselves. John Cena’s stupid looking hair-cut, those cancerous looking moles on the Giant Khali’s chest, the jigglyness of Trevor Murdoch’s breasts… they’re all there and accounted for.

The fact that Smackdown vs. Raw has always looked very good on the PS2 will help damper the disappointment of not having 360 caliber graphics. When you add the sleekness of the wrestlers, the spaciousness of the arenas and Melina’s ring entrance, what you get is a well orchestrated game that really does look and feel like a WWE telecast.

GAMEPLAY

If you’ve played the previous versions of Smackdown, than you probably think that you’ve got a good handle on how this game plays. Well, think again, because THQ has completely overhauled the control scheme. Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 really emphasizes the use of your two analog sticks. Your left analog stick will now move your wrestler around, where as the right analog stick is used to execute moves.

After several frustrating minutes, you’ll be able to master the new controls. Afterwards you’ll begin to realize the usefulness of the new system. It results in a much more fluid gaming experience that at times looks stunning and coordinated.

Sadly, one of the things that continues to hold this franchise back is its horrendous A.I. This is genuinely good for people that suck at video games, but for people looking for a challenge, it’s frustrating. Not even on the hardest difficulty will you get much of a struggle. The games A.I (or lack there of) makes many of the games features a pain in the ass to play. Let’s take the Money in the Bank match for example… in this match you will battle 5 other opponents in a quest to retrieve a brief case that is suspended high above the ring. It’s a great concept, and it would probably be even better if the game’s A.I wasn’t so bad. But the way it plays out is nothing short of a clusterfuck. It’s sort of like playing a game of Tug-of-War with a bunch of Amputees. It’s so frustrating, that you’ll likely end up quitting the match after 30 minutes of that tomfoolery.

SOUND

Okay, how should I approach this? I should probably start out by saying something nice, I guess. So, yeah, Mark Henry’s Three 6 Mafia theme song is in the game… it kicks 400 lbs. worth of ass. Other than that, that’s the only good thing that I can say about the sound in Smackdown vs. Raw 2007.

Whoever was in charge of this area needs to be relieved of their duties. It holds the game back so much. Never before has the mute button been such a wonderful friend.

What’s wrong with it? Well, let’s see… the commentary is laughable, the voice acting is horrid, and the music that plays during the menu screens will make you want to shove glass-shard-covered-cottonballs into your ears. Yes, it’s that bad. After 4-5 years now, you’d think that they’d either fix the ailing commentary, or just get rid of it entirely. The commentators will comment about Superstars that aren’t even included in the match that you’re in; leaving you dumbfounded and irritated. They’ll call moves that aren’t being executed. They’ll get side-tracked into telling the same corny jokes that we heard in previous game--and they’re still not funny.

As far as voice-acting is concerned, sure, I know that I shouldn’t expect them to be Hulk Hogan in Santa With Muscles when it comes to acting, but still… does it have to be this bad? Just because the Wrestlers recorded these lines of dialogue by reading off a q-card—doesn’t mean that it’s alright for it to sound like they did. The only person in the game that seems to take these voice-overs seriously is Roddy Piper. Man, that guy is intense during the season mode.


LASTING APPEAL

If you’re a wrestling fan, than you’re going to go ape-shit for this game. Nothing that I can say is going to sway you from that. But this game just feels really lackluster… hell, I’ll go as far as to say that it’s not good. On top of the already bad sound and irritating gameplay flaws, Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 also includes a terrible season mode. This season mode contains storylines that are so bad—you'll swear that you're playing a TNA game. Ba-Zing!

Season Mode
Where is this revolutionary Season Mode that I heard so much about? Obviously, I must have missed it because the Season Mode in Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 is absolutely dreadful. Really it is. If ‘dreadful’ isn’t telling enough, then here are a number of other words that I would use to best describe the Season Mode: boring, un-inspiring, lazy, dull, crap, mind-numbing.

None of the stories that the game attempts to tell serve any purpose. For example, here is one of the storylines that I played through in my first time playing:

Match Type: Special Referee
Referee: Me
Opponents: Undertaker vs. Chris Benoit
Don’t quite recall what I was doing during this match, but I knew that going by how dumb this games A.I is, that it would take a good 15-20 minutes for these two to even attempt a pin fall. I didn’t pause the game, rather I went and grabbed a Toaster Strudel or something.

When I came back both of them were still in perfect health, and my patience had reached its limit. I tossed Chris Benoit out of the ring and proceeded to count to 10 as quickly as I could. Match over. Well as I get back to the locker room, I notice that I have an e-mail from the Dead Man. (BTW: The E-Mail system is just a way for the games Developers to save some time from having to animate a cut-scene, further showing off the bad voice acting) Undertaker basically says that he’s pissed at me for screwing him out of that match. That’s just one of the many ‘WTF’ type moments that you’ll experience with this game.

Another problem with the story mode is that it doesn’t appear that the story changes whether you win or lose. On one occasion, my tag team partner, Rob Van Dam, gets pissed at me, and forces me to fight Cade and Murdoch all by myself. I win, but after the match RVD brags about ‘teaching me a lesson’. This is especially cruel of THQ, as it makes the real life Rob Van Dam look like some kind of pot-head or something.


FUN FACTOR

All bitching aside, there is some fun to be had with Smackdown vs. Raw 2007; albeit not a whole lot. The multi-player action is fun. Thinking of new and innovative ways to slam your opponent through tables is fun. And watching Mickie James on top of Candice is fun. But other than that, you’re going to have to be a die-hard Wrestling fan in order to wreak much enjoyment out of this game.

THE 411

After reading through this review you probably think that I’m not going to recommend this game; and you know what? I’m not. Hopefully THQ isn’t going to do with Smackdown—what EA has done with the Madden franchise. Keep the game exactly the same, but with roster updates, and little else. You’d like to think that they aren’t doing that, but by playing Smackdown vs. Raw 2007—you won't be able to convince yourself that they aren't.

The games developers have really failed to take this game to another level. They have failed to offer us something that we couldn’t have done last year. TLC, and Hell in a Cell matches have lost their luster throughout the years. They’re old news. The Elimination Chamber lacks the brutality of the real thing. Hell, the Create-A-Wrestler is even worse than in previous years. On the 360 your CAW is able to hold up to 64 different layers (compared to the PS2’s 32) but this years CAW mode feels even more limited than in years previous.

We still have to see how the THQ/WWE lawsuit will affect next year’s title, but I sure hope that THQ learns a lesson from this. You cannot afford to get comfortable and ‘call it in’ these days. EA gets by with it on Madden, but they’re the exception. I, along with many others, were really looking forward to this game. And now I, along with many others, am very disappointed.

Graphics	7.0	Still nothing more than polished PS2 graphics... not 'Next-Gen' in any sense.
Gameplay	8.0	The new control scheme is impressive, but the A.I. is still dreadful.
Sound	4.5	Please, if there is an '08... please leave the commentary out of it. My ears cannot take much more.
Lasting Appeal	6.5	This is just one of those cases where the bad definitely outweighs the good.
Fun Factor	7.0	This game has its moments, and it is fun, but only in spurts.
Overall	6.5   [ Average ]

Screenshots
All 15 Smackdown vs. RAW 2007 Screenshots