Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 21:11, 14 June 2012

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2007
NTSC boxart for the PlayStation 2 version, featuring (clockwise from top left) Rey Mysterio, John Cena, Torrie Wilson, Triple H, and Batista, with audience in the background.
Developer(s)	Yuke's
Publisher(s)	THQ
Series	WWE SmackDown! Series
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and Xbox 360
Release	PlayStation 2 November 2 - November 10, 2006 November 14, 2006 November 16, 2006 November 16, 2006 January 25, 2007 PSP/Xbox 360 November 2 - November 10, 2006 November 14, 2006 December 15, 2006 February 22, 2007
Genre(s)	Professional wrestling, Fighting
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer, multiplayer online

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 is a professional wrestling video game released by THQ and developed by YUKE's Future Media Creators. The game is based on the professional wrestling promotion World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It is the latest installment of the WWE SmackDown! series and is the successor to 2005's WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 and will be succeeded by WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2008 in fall 2007. On March 31, 2006, THQ, YUKE's and WWE officially confirmed the game. The game was released in November 2006 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 consoles and was released in December 2006 for the PlayStation Portable system.

The game introduced a few key new features including an analog control system, interactive hotspots, and fighting within the arena crowd. The game also included several improvements on the previous game's existing match types and modes. The Xbox 360 version was the first game in the SmackDown series to be published on a seventh generation video game console and the first SmackDown game to be released on a Microsoft console. It is also the first game to be released outside the PlayStation consoles.

Gameplay

Match gameplay

THQ said they would bring a more realistic fighting experience with a new, but old analog control grappling system, enabling the player to throw their opponent anywhere they want with in reason, in contrast to previous preset animations. In the new system, grappling moves are now affected by analog control, in contrast to the button-based system from preceding games. Much like the previous game, one can also move around the ring by analog control instead of using the D-pad. An option to switch to the previous control layout is also possible . The chain reversal system has also been improved and now involves grapples as well as strikes.

The Category 1 and Category 2 movesets are determined by your weight-class now, so lighter wrestlers have access to martial arts or lucadore move-sets, while heavier wrestlers have access to more power moves. In addition, a wrestler can only lift up or hurt with certain strikes, wrestlers one weight class heavier than them or less.

A lot more interactivity in the arenas is also present such as fighting within the crowd. Signs and objects from the crowd can be used to beat down the opponent. One major feature is the inclusion of environmental "hotspots" such as the ring ropes, steel steps and scaffolding which players can interact with. The PS2 version however has a restriction on crowd fighting and interaction for specific match types.

The graphics have also improved with each superstar consisting of 20,000 polygons for the Xbox 360 compared to the total of 500 from the PS2 version of the previous game. Sweat from the wrestlers has now been included in the Xbox 360 version of the game. The game's audio system has been overhauled and features new sound effects in Dolby 5.1 as well as the inclusion of new crowd chants and grunting from the wrestlers.

Match types

The following match types are playable in this game:

Cory Ledesma, creative manager of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, confirmed that the game has no new match types. However, there are improvements in existing match types. The Money in the Bank variant to the ladder match is now added and all ladder matches feature more flexibility in placing the ladders. The player now has to use the analog sticks as hands and arms to retrieve the match's prize.

The Tables match has also undergone a complete overhaul, requiring players to build up momentum for a finisher and damage their opponent enough before being able to put them through a table, and making one of your opponents limb red.

Notably, this also marked the first game since WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth to not feature a diva-specific match stipulation with the Fulfill Your Fantasy match from the previous game removed.

Create modes

The Create-A-Entrance mode has been improved with a new preview mode. As well as instantaneous previews of the entrances when the player makes a change, one can also specifically set the timing for camera angles, pyrotechnics and other effects. Despite the Xbox 360's hard drive and MP3 capabilitiy, the game is unable to recognize any music you may have saved onto your hard drive like previous WWE games for the original Xbox did for custom entrance music.

There is also a Create-A-Stable Mode which allows you to make a tag-team, alliance, or a stable with up to five members. This also allows you to come out in the same entrance as your teammates unlike many other WWE wrestling games.

Inspired by John Cena's custom spinner championship belts, the ability to create belts with spinning centerpieces in the returning Create-A-Championship mode is now possible as well as the player's ability to manually spin these belts during an entrance. The championship belts from the previous game are included in this game in addition to created belts. These include the belts used by WWE in 2006: the WWE, World Heavyweight, Intercontinental, United States, World Tag Team, WWE Tag Team, Women's and Cruiserweight championships. Stone Cold Steve Austin's "Smoking Skull" belt and the nWo's version of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship has joined Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Championship and the WWE Hardcore Championship as classic belts that can also be won and defended in the game.

Release

The official demo for WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 was released on the Xbox Live Marketplace on September 28, 2006, containing a No-DQ match between Triple H and Kane.

Like the previous game, the game was released on the PlayStation 2 and the PlayStation Portable. While the series has traditionally been exclusive to the PlayStation series of consoles, this game was released on Xbox 360 after a series of lackluster wrestling games THQ released on the original Xbox. This is the first time a game in the SmackDown! series is featured in two different console generations.

A PlayStation 3 version was also planned but has been cancelled. The developers publicly announced that they would rather concentrate their resources on other game systems; however, next year's SmackDown! game is planned for release on the PlayStation 3. There was also consideration over releasing the game on the Wii as the game's developers were waiting to learn more about the system. However, during a video interview, creative manager Cory Ledesma announced there are no plans for SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 to be released on the Wii.

A special edition of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 for the Xbox 360 will also be sold for a limited time at EB Games and GameStop. This version will feature the game in an aluminum case along with a bonus disc from The History of the WWE Championship DVD boxset and a copy of The Ultimate WWE Trivia Book.

Reception

Though gaming critics have rated this less than series' previous release, reaction to this game has been generally positive. The game currently has ratings of 82.4%, 80.8% and 78.3% on Game Rankings for the Xbox 360, PS2 and PSP versions respectively.

There is some criticism over glitches featured in the game, such as commentary (such as a chair shot being referred to as a Stone Cold Stunner, and the commentators talking about wrestlers who aren't in the match) as well as ring announcing problems (such as the announcement of only one member of a tag team in some matches or Tony Chimel announcing in the ring to Lilian Garcia's voice). Also, there are some game-breaking glitches present (which can possibly stem from the game's collision detection issues), with wrestlers able to skip climbing an occupied ladder, making the Money In The Bank match extremely difficult. For example, if one wrestler is on top of the ladder, another wrestler may suddenly superplex him, without even climbing the ladder. However that would only happen if the player has a stored finisher, meaning that the suplex is the ladder finisher. If a wrestler receives a Controlled-Drop Suplex onto the table, he may somehow land between the two announcers, and the crowd.

In-game arenas

In total, the game features a total of 20 arenas based on WWE events. It features arenas from the following televised shows:

• Raw
• SmackDown!
• Heat
• Velocity
• Saturday Night's Main Event

The game also includes the following pay-per-view arenas:

These arenas must be unlocked

Soundtrack

• "Alive and Kicking" (Nonpoint)
• "Animal I Have Become" (Three Days Grace)
• "Bullet With a Name" (Nonpoint)
• "Forgive Me" (Versus The World)
• "I Ain't Your Savior" (Bullets and Octane)
• "Lonely Train" (Black Stone Cherry)
• "Money in the Bank" (Lil Scrappy feat. Young Buck)
• "Riot" (Three Days Grace)
• "Stitches" (Allele)
• "Survive" (Rise Against)
• "The Champ" (Ghostface Killah)
• "The Enemy" (Godsmack)

"Lonely Train" and "The Enemy" were previously used as themes for the Great American Bash 2006 and SummerSlam 2006 pay-per-view events respectively.

References

1. ^ Dunham, Jeremy. "E3 2006: SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 Hands-on". IGN. Retrieved 2006-05-11.
2. Ekberg, Brian. "WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007 Feature Spotlight: Analog Controls". GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-07-29.
3. "HANDS ON: WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2007...First impressions! (requires registration)". GamingRing. Retrieved 2006-09-05.
4. ^ Dunham, Jeremy. "SmackDown vs. Raw '07 Update". IGN. Retrieved 2006-08-02.
5. Asher, Ian. "WWE ready for the next generation". WWE.com. Retrieved 2006-09-24.
6. ^ Buffa, Chris. "WWE SmackDown Vs Raw 2007 Interview". GameDaily. Retrieved 2006-04-23.
7. ^ "Exclusive: WWE 2007 In-depth Q&A". GamePro. Retrieved 2006-10-23.
8. ^ Dunham, Jeremy. "SmackDown 2007: Improved Match Types". IGN. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
9. "WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 Developer Q&A (requires registration)". GamingRing. Retrieved 2006-11-01.
10. "X06: Smackdown! Demo, Trailers Pop Up on Marketplace". IGN. Retrieved 2006-10-06.
11. Dunham, Jeremy. "SmackDown PS3 Smacked Down". IGN. Retrieved 2006-07-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
12. "WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 Special Edition Confirmed (requires registration)". GamingRing. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
13. "Glitches In RAW/SmackDown Game, Emotional Regal". ProWrestling.com. Retrieved 2006-11-24.
14. "Even More Glitches Found In SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007". ProWrestling.com. Retrieved 2006-11-24.

• Roster: Ekberg, Brian. "X06: SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2007 Hands-On: Achievements and Roster Rundown". GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-09-28.

External links

Official

• WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 official site
• THQ.com: WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 mini site
• THQ-games.com: WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 mini site

Community

• WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 (PS2) | (PSP) | (Xbox 360) at GameSpot
• WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 (PS2) | (PSP) | (Xbox 360) at IGN

• 2006 video games
• Cancelled PlayStation 3 games
• PlayStation 2 games
• PlayStation Portable games
• WWE SmackDown video games
• Xbox 360 games
• THQ games
• Video games developed in Japan