WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007

THQ’s WWE SmackDown! Vs. Raw games has created some of the best titles to use the WWE license to date.  Each one has offered successively more details and WWE nuances, as well as solid gameplay and tons of features. This year’s WWE SmackDown! Vs. Raw keeps this momentum going, offering even more wrestlers and new additions to bring you into the game. While some of the previous issues that plagued the series are still around, the game does get most of what it does right, and is a solid wrestling game that worth a look from the Xbox 360 owner who’s been waiting patiently for a WWE game for their system.

SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2007 carries on the series legacy by allowing you to play through many different game modes as tons of WWE superstars and divas. You’re not just limited to current wrestlers, but also classic stars from wrestling’s past. This adds for some interesting matchups that could only happen in a videogame (like Mick Foley versus Mankind, for example). You’ll have the choice to play your matches clean or dirty, with dirty giving you a certain edge but also opening you up to referee intervention if you get called on it.

One of the cool new features in SmackDown! Vs. Raw is the new analog grappling system. By pressing a direction on the right thumbstick, you’ll be able to grapple with your opponent in different ways, either grabbing their shoulders or one arm, depending on what you do. This opens the possibilities to different throws and holds, and after the learning curve, feels like a very fluid move that adds to the gameplay.

The out-of-the -ring areas are also chalk-full with extra items that you can turn against your opponents. Not only can you grab chairs and slam your opponent with them, but in a move similar to Def Jam: Fight for NY, you can pound your foe into staircases, against speakers, into announcer’s tables and so on, and the end result adds a cool new dimension to matches.

However, there are still some problems to be found in SvR 2007. The AI still leaves much to be desired. Opponents will act buggy and erratic at times, and the tag-team AI is just plain dumb.

The controls still feel generally stiff, as well. While the new grappling controls feel pretty responsive, the rest of the controls don’t handle quite as well. Your wrestler still lumbers around sluggishly, and there’s a delay in response when throwing a punch. Also, when you get knocked on the ground, you are still required to mash away at the buttons until your character gets back up, which can be a very frustrating endeavor.

Graphically, the game looks pretty good, albeit lacking something to really make it stand out among other next-gen offerings. Perhaps it’s the robotic animations that seem to be ported straight over from the PS2 version of the game. Whatever it is, it makes the game feel like a very good looking current-gen game bumped up to 720p.

The sound is also somewhat of a mixed bag. The power-chord rock anthems in the soundtrack go well with the game’s format, and the fact that the developers were able to secure the actual superstars to provide their own voices in the game is quite impressive. However, the commentary is pretty lousy, never seeming on task with the action on-screen or commenting on something a little too late.

WWE SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2007 is a solid addition to the franchise, offering some nice new features. While it’s certainly not perfect, it should make a fine addition to any wrestling fan’s Xbox 360 game library.

Gameplay: 8.0
The new out-of-the-ring environments are very interactive, adding a new element to the gameplay, and the new analog grappling system works great. The rest of the controls still feel a bit stiff, and there are still some AI issues.

Graphics: 7.5
SmackDown! Vs. Raw looks pretty good in general with some nice sweat details and stuff, but seems to lack the next-gen flair of other second year Xbox 360 titles. The character models more like they’re from an Xbox game that was bumped up to High-Def.

Sound: 8.0
Chugging metal tunes fit the mood of the game, and the voice work by the actual superstars is a great touch. The commentary is a bit off most of the time.

Difficulty: Medium

Multiplayer: 8.0
The game offers several matching possibilities via Xbox Live or through one console.

Concept: 8.0
SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2007 keeps the series’ tradition of tons of features and tons of wrestlers from the past and present.

Overall: 8.0
WWE SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2007 makes some nice additions and improvements to the SvR formula. However, some of the more glaring issues, like stiff controls and poor AI, are still present. Still, this is probably one of the best WWE wrestling games out there, warts and all.