IGN's Smackdown vs Raw 2006 review (best wrestling game since No Mercy!)

TheRock88

TheRock88

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9 (100%)
http://ps2.ign.com/articles/664/664472p1.html

If you're too lazy to click on the link, they gave it a 9.2.

9.0 Presentation
This is wrestling done right. Post-match celebrations, an excellent recreation of WWE programming, and some of the accurate ring walks around. THQ spared no expense this year.

9.0 Graphics
A higher polygon count, true 3D crowds, motion-captured animations, and dead-on facial recreations make for the best looking SmackDown ever (there are still collision problems, though).

7.5 Sound
The voice-overs this year are huge improvements compared to last time and the selection of music is more varied. Announcer commentary, on the other hand, is really, really bad.

8.5 Gameplay
Imagine the familiar SmackDown mechanics but add the strategy of a real momentum and stamina systems, while refining just about every other aspect of the game. That's SVR 2006.

9.5 Lasting Appeal
A much-improved online feature, the General Manager mode, a cinematic season option, a huge array of customizable segments, tons of bonus unlockables, and dozens of matches. 'Nuff said.
Click to expand...

November 15 suddenly seems so far away. :drool:
 
I never really liked the control scheme for the Smackdown games (i.e. having to do Mortal Kombat-esque button combinations to perform moves). Have they changed the controls drastically since Just Bring It (that's the last wrestling game I bought)?
 
Awww man, I'm soooo tempted to buy this at full price. I'm crazy broke right now too. Hopefully Fry's will have it for a little cheaper.
 
[quote name='2fast_2fuhrer']I never really liked the control scheme for the Smackdown games (i.e. having to do Mortal Kombat-esque button combinations to perform moves). Have they changed the controls drastically since Just Bring It (that's the last wrestling game I bought)?[/QUOTE]

WTF? The controls in smackdown are probably the simplest in any wrestling game ever. You must be thinking of Attitude.
 
[quote name='evanft']WTF? The controls in smackdown are probably the simplest in any wrestling game ever. You must be thinking of Attitude.[/QUOTE]

I always preferred the controls for the Nintendo wrestling games. I didn't think the controls in Attitude or Just Bring It were any good.
 
Damnit now I can't wait to try this game! Hopefully their review is spot on, I've never really gone by ign reviews to buy games
 
I enjoyed the Smackdown! series up until Just Bring It. Hmmm... maybe I should actually try this one...
 
[quote name='A Happy Panda']Does it have the same control scheme as No Mercy? I can't remember. Or was it Def Jam? If someone confirms this, I'm all over this game.[/QUOTE]

No.
 
I guess it is the best game since No Mercy if you ignore to factor in the awesome japanese import wrestling games that are King of Colosseum II and Fire Pro Wrestling Returns.
 
[quote name='wishfulthinker828']I guess it is the best game since No Mercy if you ignore to factor in the awesome japanese import wrestling games that are King of Colosseum II and Fire Pro Wrestling Returns.[/QUOTE]

When it costs around $100 for the game+flip top+swap magic, we sure do.
 
Exhibition title defense, 4-player online, Create-An-Entrance, online CAW trading... damn this thing is gonna get played to death :D

And the adjustable stamina consumption and Momentum system should make for more epic, long matches. The simple fact that momentum can be LOST will really change the way matches flow. Also body damage will recover with time, I think it's tied to stamina somehow. Heh and I know these things were in other games (stamina from FirePro, momentum from No Mercy, etc.), but I really don't care as long as Yukes is ripping off GOOD ideas.

Seriously they could have just taken the first SvR and jacked up the online play and I still would have gotten it (I'm a sucker for online wrestling). But they went far beyond that and I couldn't be happier... I am all over this as soon as it releases.
 
[quote name='wishfulthinker828']I guess it is the best game since No Mercy if you ignore to factor in the awesome japanese import wrestling games that are King of Colosseum II and Fire Pro Wrestling Returns.[/QUOTE]

I often wonder if pretentious wrestling fans are any better/worse than pretentious music fans.

"Yeah, that Beatles album is good and all, but it's not the $75 limited edition that included a coffee mug, a small Korean child, and a cell phone strap that was sold at three different Bic Camera stores for 15 minutes!"

...and I happen to own and like King of Colosseum and Fire Pro.
 
[quote name='Metal Boss']why watch sweaty men in tights fake fight when you can play with sweaty pixilized men fake fighting!?[/QUOTE]

Yawn...
 
[quote name='ViolentLee']My SmackDown vs. Raw 2006 review went up on Yahoo Video Games today. I gave it 4.5 stars out of 5 (or a 9 out of 10, if you'd rather). GM mode is the best thing to happen to wrestling games in a long time, and the voiceover work and graphics are unbelievable. It doesn't play too bad, either.

Here's a link: http://videogames.yahoo.com/gamereview?cid=1951020573&tab=reviews&page=0&eid=412130[/QUOTE]

It's interesting that you mentioned the John Cena and Batista being on the wrong shows since it looks like they at least had enough time to make it look like they were on their respective shows with the cover art. If the game allows you to move people around to try and simulate a closer present day lineup, then I spose it's all good.
 
[quote name='Drizzt']It's interesting that you mentioned the John Cena and Batista being on the wrong shows since it looks like they at least had enough time to make it look like they were on their respective shows with the cover art. If the game allows you to move people around to try and simulate a closer present day lineup, then I spose it's all good.[/QUOTE]

In Season mode, if you choose a Raw Superstar, John Cena and Big Show invade and beat down your character, Flair, and Triple H on behalf of SmackDown. The voicework the Superstars lended for all this stuff had been recorded months and months ago, so it was tougher to change than if it was in, say, Day of Reckoning 2.

In GM mode, you can redraft the entire roster, which was nice. I had Angle, Eddie, HBK, RVD, Christian, Shelton and Tajiri (my tag champs), and a lot of other good work-rate guys; while the other brand was stuck with 'Taker, Triple H, Cena, Kane, Big Show, etc.
 
I was very disappointed with SvR, so I'm going to hold off until this is $20. It looks good, but I need to learn to be more frugal, and what better place to start than with sports titles?

Let me know what your thoughts are on CAW (any nwo/wcw/ecw attire? any older themes?) and GM mode.

Also, whose theme songs are generic or different? The IGN video showed Hollywood Hogan used a generic nWo theme ripoff, and I hope it's been changed for the actual release.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']I was very disappointed with SvR, so I'm going to hold off until this is $20. It looks good, but I need to learn to be more frugal, and what better place to start than with sports titles?

Let me know what your thoughts are on CAW (any nwo/wcw/ecw attire? any older themes?) and GM mode.

Also, whose theme songs are generic or different? The IGN video showed Hollywood Hogan used a generic nWo theme ripoff, and I hope it's been changed for the actual release.[/QUOTE]


CAW, havent tried out yet

Played about an hour of GM mode and it's pretty fun. Very refreshing after playing some matches. If you play fantasy sports, you'll pretty much love this mode.

Music seems pretty spot on, only seen some minor differences. Stacy still has the same theme she's had for years now, Rob Conway has an older version of his current theme, Batista has his current theme (even though there's no pyro). I have to unlock Hollywood Hogan so I wont know about that one.
 
I was gonna say that I didn't care about Stacy's theme (I doubt they'd license Kid Rock, if it's still his cover of "Legs."

Then I noticed your avatar. ;) Thanks for the quick response; any later updates are greatly appreciated. In the meantime, enjoy the game!
 
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!! My GameRush actually called me today (They've never done that before) and my copy is in. I can pick it up tonight since the store is right by the bar I go to every Wednesday night, but I won't have my system til tomorrow so I can't play it! :'(
 
[quote name='Matt Young']FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!! My GameRush actually called me today (They've never done that before) and my copy is in. I can pick it up tonight since the store is right by the bar I go to every Wednesday night, but I won't have my system til tomorrow so I can't play it! :'([/QUOTE]

Go ahead and send your copy to me, then. Granted, I don't have a PS2, but I'll take good care of your copy. ;)
 
well after a messup at gamefly ... the game shipped today and hopefully i have it in my fat hands Saturday (should came friday) i paid the extra 8 bucks per month to get 3 games out at a time at gamefly so i could have it before thanksgiving... man i be up all weekend if it comes playing this and DQ8
 
[quote name='Matt Young']Aha! So it looks like I will get my PS2 tonight.

DRUNKEN SDvR!

Does PS2 online play support headsets?[/QUOTE]

Yes, they do. I use the headset that came with the first Socom game. It's pretty much crap but at least it's useable.
 
[quote name='TheRock88']Yes, they do. I use the headset that came with the first Socom game. It's pretty much crap but at least it's useable.[/QUOTE]

That doesn't mean that the game supports it. I've heard that the game has no way for you to communicate with anyone.
 
[quote name='Scorch']That doesn't mean that the game supports it. I've heard that the game has no way for you to communicate with anyone.[/QUOTE]

Oh, got the question mixed up. But yea, the game doesnt support it. Just checked the back of the box.
 
omg, the HBK TURNBUCKLE FLIP is in!!!!!!

power whip him into an exposed turnbuckle and he'll do it! Awesome to finally see that in a videogame.

Had an awesome Eddie/Cena match in season mode. It went on for a LONG time, at one point Cena hit the FU on me but he COLLAPSED afterwards because his stamina was drained. Then the ref did the 10-count KO thing! Cena got up at 8 so the ref stopped. Match went on a little longer, finally I yanked Cena's neck across the top rope, ran inside and rolled him up with the tights for the win. Awesome. :D
 
My submission match with Flair has been my longest. Took me 27 minutes to finally get him to tap as Masters. Got the Master Lock on him twice, but both times he was near the ropes. It's funny, because Triple H tapped in our cage match after about 8 minutes. Who's the better wrestler between him and Nature Boy, huh? ;)

Anybody love GM mode as much as I do?
 
I wasn't able to play last night, but I opened up my PS2 and SDvR today. I've played about 15 matches, trying out various stipulation bouts as well as deefnding titles, picking different guys each time. I love it so far. I even drafted a roster and ran a show in GM mode, although I don't have a memory card so I wasn't able to save it. I do love thatmode, though. I've always loved fantasy booking, but I only do it in my head unless I have a program (this, or EWR) to sim things/store info since I'm too lazy to do it on my own.

I played some HCTP with a friend back in Illinois, but this is the first SD game I've owned since SD2 and it's great. I won't be playing my other systems much for at least a few days, but I'll be playing this gamea lot longer than that. I still have season mode and online play to look forward to!

I can't say for sure until I see whetheror not it holds up over time, but overall (just gameplay, no, but overall) this is probably the best wrestling game ever released in America, although Fire Pro D would of course beat it.
 
i can personally say BLEH!! on this game. unless it gets better the more you play it.. I really cant go out and buy this since i have last years game and the year before that... the gm mode is kind of neat but it gets boring very quickly and what is stupid

the people cant hold more then 1 title at a time in gm mode

Big show and kane (tag champs) vs Cena (ic champ) and Jericho Champ

Cean and jericho win Yet it still says SHow and kane are the Tag champs kind of stupid there...

another stupid thing is you should be able to strip the titles off people who are hurt...

Trish is hurt for 7 weeks yet she is able to keep that womens title??


if this was a real GM mode you should been able to fix the outcomes of the match (maybe next year this will be a bigger part of the game) then again i could see the money hogs that the WWE is spinning this off into its own game

next year

Smackdown vs raw 2007 and WWE GM game 50 bucks each dont laugh it could happen. take the gallop racer engine combine it with wwe and boom GM game

i still like HERE COMES THE PAIN the most


overall i give it a 5 out of 10.. nice rental BUT damn glad i didnt pay 50 for it
 
[quote name='Matt Young']I got my PS2 hooked up for online play. Haven't played any online matches yet, but my user name is MattYoung.[/QUOTE]

HOW MANY TIMES ARE YOU GOING TO SAY THAT? lol you've posted that like 20 times
 
[quote name='Scorch']HOW MANY TIMES ARE YOU GOING TO SAY THAT? lol you've posted that like 20 times[/QUOTE]

Once in the wrestling thread, once here. :)
 
[quote name='MorPhiend']I hope this gets more reactions like slidecage's or else I'm going to have to break down and buy me a PS2... :?[/QUOTE]


i played it for a few more hours last night and i found a way to take the title off people when they are hurt BUT The gm mode is still boring. was nice for the first couple of months. the main game itself Yea the graphic might be nicer but I would still rather stick with HERE COMES THE PAIN.... i still think the game overall was a major letdown
 
omg I had an epic 25-minute ladder match with some dude online today. Eddie vs Kurt; hellacious spots all over the place. I'm so glad they removed the time limit for online matches this time around, you really appreciate that once you manage to have a match like this one. I love this game!
 
[quote name='slidecage']i played it for a few more hours last night and i found a way to take the title off people when they are hurt BUT The gm mode is still boring.[/QUOTE]

Dear god.. Slidecage's first coherent sentence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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