Wrestling-starved Xbox 360 owners can finally smell what THQ has been cookin' for their next-gen system with the anticipated debut of WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007. While its entrance on Microsoft's platform isn't as flashy as Hulk Hogan's in WrestleMania, the gameplay is tighter than Big Show's choke slam. A slew of match types, the ability to create custom wrestlers or Pay-Per-View events, and a roster spanning over 60 past and present stars are series highlights. With a revamped control scheme and play modes showcasing the trials and tribulations of the sport's greatest superstars, SmackDown! vs. RAW will appeal to anyone who appreciates the intense action, the spectacle, and more importantly, the cheese that embodies professional wrestling

Pinups and Pindowns

The graphics are an obvious improvement over past iterations, with large, well-detailed characters, vibrant arenas packed with 3D crowds, and generally smooth motion-captured moves. While the visuals for the most part capture each male and female wrestler's look and style, from clearly defined tattoos and bulging biceps to swishing hair and exposed thong-th-thong-thong-thongs, characters still have a plastic-like sheen to them and some of the transition moves in between strikes and grapples are stiff looking. Facial animations are a nice touch, but many characters look like they are casually chewing gum instead of reacting to their opponent. Collision detection can also be off at times, and there are minor clipping issues, but these have been problems with nearly every wrestling game released since 1997.

Risk vs. Reward

One significant change is the decision to streamline the controls to appeal more to the pick-up-and-play crowd. In addition to single-button strikes, which can be modified with the left analog stick, players can now perform quick grapples by flicking the right analog stick in one of four directions. Strong grapples are also initiated with the right analog stick, but only after an opponent is locked in a grip. Also new are "ultimate control moves," powerful combos initiated by clicking the right analog stick while the opponent is in a grapple. A heads-up display will appear in the corner of the screen, and you decide which move to activate by following the on-screen cues. While earlier games in the series have featured more complex moves, the simplicity of this version's control scheme makes for an immediately enjoyable game that places the emphasis on strategy rather than button memorization. 

A Deliberate Pace

One of the game's strengths is how the developers captured the ebb and flow of real-life wrestling matches. This is not a title where you can just waggle the stick or jam buttons to succeed. You have to plan your moves, and the inclusion of the stamina meter effectively forces you to pace yourself and alternate attacks instead of relying on one or two moves. Constantly running around the ring, for instance, will quickly cause your wrestler to become winded, leaving him or her vulnerable to attack. Stamina also rapidly depletes while lifting a wrestler, forcing you to either drop him or to try a more devastating ultimate move at the risk of becoming fatigued before you can pull it off. Momentum is another factor in your decision-making, as each successful strike and grapple fills up a meter that, when maxed out, allows you to activate your wrestler's finishing move. You can opt to unleash a finishing move immediately or store it for later use, with stored moves at risk of being stolen by opponents. 

Smash and Grab

Your wrestler's position also influences move types, so running, standing behind an opponent, facing the turnbuckle, and so forth opens up situation-specific attacks below and above the belt. New environmental hotspots in and out of the ring offer even more attack options. Maybe your rival has an itch on his forehead, which can be remedied by scrubbing his face along the ropes. Or possibly he's a tad forgetful, needing a few shakes against the turnbuckle to clear out the cobwebs. Rivals can even be dragged into areas near the crowd, where fire extinguishers, trashcans, crutches, and other "gifts" can be bestowed upon opponents.  All of the key match types from previous games have returned, from the charming "hell in the cell" and "buried alive" events to the popular ladder and table matches with improved features. The story-driven career mode is still too linear, however, with the same scripted events occurring in multiple play-throughs.

RAW Deal?

WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007 is not without its share of faults. There are visual hiccups, the music often sounds like someone hit their thumb with a hammer and screamed into a microphone, the commentary is repetitive and disjointed, and both the career and general manager modes could have used additional tweaks and options for a more robust single-player experience. Yet the quality of the action and the intuitive controls will not disappoint wrestling fans. Playing WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007 on Xbox 360 is a lot like being on the receiving end of Trish Stratus' "stratusfaction." Sure you'll wince a few times, but it's hard not to appreciate the view.

Article by: Scott Alan Marriott
Video produced by: Eric Acasio