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Yukes worked hard in the year off. SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 represents a pretty big leap from last year’s SmackDown! vs. RAW, though the sports-style naming may suggest otherwise. In the year off, Yukes added a number of new features and modes for wrestling fans. It results in the deepest and most fun wrestling game available for Sony’s aging console.
The main single-player mode in SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 is the game’s season mode. The storylines is pretty similar to what you can expect from TV, although it is a bit more linear than we’ve gotten used to from the series. The game does include a few storylines, for instance, RAW and Smackdown! wrestlers have their own patches. While it is a bit more linear, the game boasts voice acting from nearly every wrestler in the game adding some much-needed authenticity to the game. There are also five additional voices included in the game for created wrestlers.
The other major single-player mode is the GM mode, which works like a franchise mode in a typical sports game. You’ll have to manage one of the WWE brands but stay within a budget as you expand that brand. To do this, you’ll need to plan events and make sure you have good talent at the shows. A problem with this is that it is difficult to get a rookie to gain the approval of the crowd, so you’ll likely end up with one or two lowly-rated matches in every card. You’ll also need to hype the audience by creating promos for wrestlers that allow you build hype, advertise and keep feuds going without having them wrestle. Unfortunately, you don’t actually get to see these promos. That said, the mode is fun and gives Yukes a solid foundation to improve in the future.
SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 includes a number of additional gameplay modes. The game includes the typical exhibition, tag matches, cage matches, table matches, hell-in-a-cell, TLC matches, first blood matches, the elimination chamber, etc. New to this version are the buried alive and fulfill-your-fantasy matches. In the buried alive match, you’ll have to throw the opponent down a dirt heap. It makes for a pretty good match mode since you need to physically move the opponent from the ring to where the coffin is. Fulfill-your-fantasy is the equivalent to previous years’ bra-and-panties matches, except you’re allowed to choose outfits for the various WWE divas before you get involved in the spanking and pillow fighting. The game also includes the expected create-a-wrestler and create-a-belt modes from previous years and the new create-an-entrance mode.
The game makes some changes to the core gameplay. It introduces a stamina and momentum tracking system. Stamina depends on whether you’re giving or receiving the big moves and momentum depends on the variety of moves you do. Collectively, the systems avoid cheap gameplay since it forces you to use a variety of different moves and prevents someone from using a cheap combination to quickly drain the other person’s life. They also affect your ability to pull off a damaging finishing move. The game also does a good job of differentiating moves between different wrestlers. All wrestlers have four different grapple attacks, one of which is always submission. The other three spots can be filled by old school, power, speed, brawler, martial arts, technical or luchador styles. The moves are further differentiated by whether the wrestler is a good guy or a bad guy; the bad guys (or “heels”) have cheaper moves that contain plenty of cheating, for instance.
The game also includes a much improved online system. Online multiplayer supports up to four-players and every match that is available in single-player. It also lets you trade created wrestlers or compete for created belts. The game keeps tracks of title defenses, wins, losses, etc via online scoreboards. In our tests, we found the gameplay to be mostly lag-free although there were a few games where lag was readily apparent. They were definitely in the minority though.
The game’s visuals are very impressive. The character models are incredibly detailed, arguably the most detailed in any wrestling game. Each aspect of the character model from the costumes, to the skin and faces are unbelievably detailed. The entrances are equally impressive with plenty of pyrotechnics to liven things up. The framerate holds up very well for the most part. The visuals would be perfect but there are some collision detection issues that prevent the game from reaching perfection.
The game’s sound is equally remarkable. The commentary from Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler or Michael Cole and Tazz is pretty decent adding some genuineness to the game’s atmosphere. The soundtrack includes licensed music from artists like Megadeth to Bumpy Knuckles. The sound effects were perfected long ago and sound great in the game. The wrestler voice acting, which was mediocre last year, is much better this time around, allowing you to get immersed in the game’s story mode.
WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 is the definitive wrestling game for the PS2. It includes a number of gameplay modes, solid gameplay, and a stellar presentation. It is definitely worth picking up. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Nov 29, 2005
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