WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006

"TakeEmDown's Offical Review of Smackdown vs. Raw 2006 for the PSP"

The wrestling series made by THQ has finally hit a portable system, and it hits the PSP with a bang. SvR2006 is possible one of the greatest games currently on PSP. If you are looking for a game with excellent replay value and/or are a huge wrestling fan, then you need to pick up this game AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

The Game itself isn't as different as SvR2006 on PS2 except for one thing:
SvR2006 for the PSP doesn't have the ring announcers that do the play-by-play and commentary like on the PS2 version, but I see that as a plus. If you have played the original Smackdown vs. Raw, you will notice how annoying the announcers were.

SvR2006 has the traditional season mode with two different story lines that you can change, (Depending on your results in matches, choices, etc...) one for each brand. There is also a wide variety of new things to unlock including, WWE/WWF Legends, Attires, and Wrestling Rings and much more. There are more match types available at you choosing including Bar Room Brawl, Fulfill Your Fantasy Match, and a match requested by the people, THE BURIED ALIVE MATCH, were you must lock your opponent in a casket were he will REST IN PEACE.

There is also a new mode that you can play called GM Mode. GM Mode is were you choose a brand to manage, Smackdown or Raw. You can then draft superstars or have a pre-set roster to bring to the brand of your choice. You then schedule matches compete against the other brand and battle your way to Wrestlemania to see we brand comes out on top.

The gameplay mode is quite different now in SvR2006, originally you could use power moves again, and again and you wouldn't break a sweat, but with the new stamina bar it changes everything. When you use a lot of power moves and/or you are sprinting a lot, your stamina bar will begin to decrease. To increase your stamina, simply stop moving and do nothing, or stop moving and hold down select. (Holding down select makes your stamina bar increase faster.)

There are really only two cons to SvR2006

1. The Loading time can take awhile, but it's not as long as people say it is. Just give it some time and you should be wrestling in no time.

2. There is some trouble getting to the top rope. Sometimes when you press triangle near the top rope you just sprint instead.

All-in-all this is a great game for the PSP, and I even recommend it for the PS2 too. So if you have a PSP (and/or PS2) you need to pick this game up.

TakeEmDown's Overall Rating: 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/24/06