Name: WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007
Format: Xbox 360 (Also available on PS2 and PSP)
Company: Yuke's (Published by THQ)
Players: 1-6 plus online via Xbox Live Gold (sold seperately)
Price: £39.99 or variable online
WWE Smackdown Versus Raw 2007 is the latest in the Smackdown Vs Raw series which until now has been PS2 exclusive, but this latest incarnation is also available on Xbox 360 and Playstation Portable, this is a review of the Xbox 360 version.
The game has a very up to date roster of Raw and Smackdown Superstars and also various Legends including the late Eddie Guerrero and Curt "Mr Perfect" Hennig, also because the roster was finalised before his debut in TNA, Kurt Angle is featured in the game along with several long time WWE Stars such as John Cena, Batista, The Undertaker, Kane, RVD, Kane, the list goes on.. Certainly the most up to date roster since that of Raw 2 on the original Xbox.
The graphics on the game are flawless, but alas the gameplay is not, there's a few noticeable glitches, but they're not bad enough to make this a bad game by any chalk, and at least it gives the Internet community something to bitch about.
Modes wise, let's have a look what we got here... CAW? (Create a Wrestler) - check! General Manager mode? Check! Fully interactive season mode with branching storylines and choices? Check! We also have the usual exhibition modes where you can pit in game wrestlers and CAWs against each other, and also Main Event mode which features gimmick matches such as the all new Elimination Chamber (As debuted in WWE at Survivor Series 2005, the Undertaker's specialty Hell in a Cell, Cage matches, and another new addition this year, Buried Alive, where the object is to lock your opponent in a Casket and literally bury them alive! There's also the Title Match modes, where you can contest the various WWE titles (after you've unlocked them in season mode).
As for the CAW mode itself, you can make pretty good creations here, obviously the lack of custom entrance themes is annoying (and is the cause of most complaints from the Internet communities) but you can still make pretty accurate recreations of almost anybody, especially the likes of Jeff Hardy it seems... You can also trade CAWs online in this game, as you could in last year's game, this time the trade lobbies work better though, there are limitations to this however, for instance you can't trade CAWs with designs or logos, this is to stop profanity being used online apparently.
Overall, this game admittedly isn't without its problems, but its the best current generation WWE branded game by miles!
Final rating: 89%
