WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw

"Great Game, But Pretty Disappointing"

I'm pretty new to the SmackDown series (the only other SmackDown game I've got is the WWF SmackDown - the first one which I played last 3 years ago). Even though there's a huge difference, I can still give my opinion.

Graphics - 9/10
Fantastic. The graphics looks very real compared to WWF SmackDown! Cool with the crowd responds and all that. I can say that the faces looks pretty real for most of the wrestlers (The Rock, Eddie Guerrero, Roddy Piper, etc.). But I've compared to some wrestlers to the real-life ones and reckon they are lacking. Somehow you just can't tell that he is him and that is that. Look at Shawn Michaels' face for example. His face isn't anywhere near good. I mean, I expected the graphics to be like, 'Oh My God!' since there are many SD games released. HBK's face is so weird, with the expression and the nose. Also, take a look at Triple H. Somehow I just think there's something weird/missing in his face. The nose is fine. Perhaps the beard, but I suggest it's okay. Oh, maybe the aging and expression. Somehow HHH's face always seem 'straight' with that expression and doesn't have enough wrinkles. Not saying that the real HHH is wrinkly, but I reckon HHH in the game looks young.

Anyway, some of their faces can still be compared to photos. Kurt Angle's face is good, but his expression makes me feel weird. But I've seen that kind of look in his face at Wrestlemania XX, so it's okay. Still makes me feel weird.

Sound - 8/10

Some themes are just not the real ones. Note Batista, Ric Flair, and Stacy Keibler. At first, it IS true that Batista uses a bit of Evolution theme song like Randy Orton (but then change). If Batista's theme is the Evolution, why not Ric Flair's? Rather than having that poor classic instrumental music. Stacy's doesn't really matter, but THQ should work on it.

The commentating is not bad, but pretty annoying of having to hear the same comments in almost every match. Like, "These guys are at the top of the game, and they make it look so easy!" I mean, come on. There should be almost-real comments like, "no, don't tell me he's gonna do that" or something like that. Also, the commentating should never really stop and proceeds when something like finisher happens. It all went quite and suddenly, "Crossface! Crossface! Benoit's go the Crippler Crossface locked in, he's gonna tap!" Also, they should work on high-flying comments or just by climbing the turnbuckle.

The Superstar Voice-Overs aren't bad, but sometimes doesn't make sense. Example: Big Show, before the Royal Rumble, calls Eric Bischoff for help. The words, "Thanks, Mr. Bischoff!" wasn't spoken, but Michael Cole said, "What? Is he actually calling Eric Bischoff for help?" That's weird. How did Cole know that Show's calling Bischoff? Also some of the voices doesn't sound like the real superstars. Shawn Michaels' voice is too high and not gruff like in the television. Also Bubba Ray Dudley. Eddie Guerrero's Spanish sayings are very few, and even if he does, it will sound weird. But actually it's better to have Superstar Voice-Overs than not at all. It would seem weird if doesn't.

Season - 4/10
Different compared to WWF SmackDown! It doesn't matter if you can't walk backstage (ould've been good though), but the choices you make doesn't really do much of a difference. It's the outcome of the match that really matters. Like having titles or not, having enough Superstar Points, and that sort of stuff. Choices only affects heel or face terms, and there are hardly any choices. When playing the Survivor Series to Wrestlemania XX, you're actually playing face. The heel/face is lacking, especially with the Dirty/Clean match tactics.

The season is crappy if you think again. When I first played the Season Mode, I got all excited with the confrontations and choices. As I progressed to the next part, I realized that choices aren't important at all, just changing your face/heel part.

Gameplay - 9/10
Nice effects, cool match types. Very good. Especially with the grappling system. (Which is why I got confused. I can hardly executed an actual move. I based my fighting strategy to brawlings and weapon using) I love the heel effects. Remove turnbuckles, complain to ref, refuse to let go of submission hold, etc. The thing is that heel got advantage of the game as they are easier to play rather than face. Face should have more thing to do.

The managers helps you a lot, man. Gives you weapons and distracts the ref. The weird thing is they don't DQ interfering wrestlers. Also for the manager, the only thing that the ref can do about them is when they distract him 3-4 times, then he can ban them from ringside. However, this doesn't happen to you if you're a manager. No matter how many times you distract the ref, he won't send you off. If the reason is so that are part of the game, then the result should be DQ instead of banning you from ringside. Managers and interfering wrestlers should be DQ'ed if caught attacking wrestler. It's like, they are managers and they can do whatever they like as long as they don't enter the ring. They are more like special enforcers.

Overall rating: 7/10

Great features, but unfortunately the Season Mode has let WWE down.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 03/28/05