WWE Smackdown Vs. RAW 2007 - Does THQ's Franchise Wrestling Series Make a Strong Debut on the 360?

The WWE Smackdown video game series, since its debut on the Playstation in 2000, has yet to disappoint wrestling gamers looking to mash their controller's buttons trying to oust their opponent with an array of body slamming maneuvers. After a successful run with Sony, however, the series dropped its exclusivity and made its debut on the Xbox 360, but how well did the series translate into the next generation with WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2007?

Obviously, there was a lot of weight on THQ's shoulders leading up to the release of WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2007. Every year wrestling fans wait with great anticipation for the next installment in the series, and it's never easy to please everyone. The industry the game is modeled after is always changing, so rosters are usually outdated as soon as they hit shelves (For example, the highest rated superstar in WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2007, Kurt Angle, left WWE to work for another company...Ouch!). And while the industry changes, it is hard to change features and gameplay in the series because you can only do so much in a wrestling game. On top of all this, there was even more pressure since this would be the first wrestling game presented on a next generation game console, and the first wrestling game in the Smackdown series that strayed away from Sony.

So how did WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2007 fare on the 360? Since there are no other legitimate wrestling games on the 360 to compare it to, we will simply pick SDvsRAW07 apart piece by piece. Let's start with the graphics. The Smackdown series has usually always delivered in this department, and SDvsRAW07 is no exception. SDvsRAW07 definitely takes advantage of the power the 360's offerings. The character models look true to life in most cases. As you work through the match, the superstars begin to perspire. As you're locked in a gruesome headlock, the sweat drips from your forehead as you scream in agony. That is one great aspect of SDvsRAW07 - The emotions. The stars don't have the same face for the duration of a match. The stars' facial features go hand in hand with the move they are executing - or being put down with. This helps you feel the impact of the move as your star soars in the air with his mouth open and his eyes winced shut, almost expecting the inevitable crash of his back and the mat that will surely ensue.

However, there are some faults with the graphics. Firstly, while championship belts have been modified and do look more realistic, some of them are a bit bulky. The Hardcore title is the perfect example, and it was embarrassing showing off my new SDvsRAW07 and having hardcore icon Mick Foley come to the ring with his torso hidden behind a belt that instead of wrapping around his waist, seemingly orbited around him. While greatly improved, long hair still appears "stiff". Instead of individual strands of hair, we get "chunks" of hair. When Trish Stratus makes her way to the ring, her hair stiffs to the back as if she was walking through a wind tunnel, come on now! Aside from this though, the graphics are not bad at all, especially for a wrestling game.

With video comes audio, and with graphics in a game comes the soundtrack. Fortunately, the soundtrack for SDvsRAW07 is a lot better than that of SDvsRAW06. The music is diverse and ranges from rock to rap from well known artists, and each song gets you pumped and ready to lay the Smackdown on your unsuspecting opponent. If not, remember, you always have the Xbox dashboard which will allow you to play your music in place of the game's. The soundtrack though, is fine as it is, and is definitely an improvement over last year's. The in match audio? Not so much. In fact, there has been no real improvement in commentary over SDvsRAW06. The lines are EXACTLY the same aside from new recordings for stars making their debut in SDvsRAW07. We still have to deal with the SAME jokes from Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross' SAME responses. You'll still hear your "Pump the breaks, girl pants" and your "I wish I could see things from your perspective JR, but I'd have to pull my head out of my rear end first." Does that even make sense? Put it this way... After the first two days of playing SDvsRAW07, I found myself muting the King and Good ole' JR and, in place, playing some tunes from my 360 dashboard.

Game play wise, SDvsRAW07 doesn't stray from its predecessors, which could be good and bad. If it isn't broken, don't fix it, right? Yeah, but how long will gamers be content with the same game play with a new feature or two thrown in? One improvement is the addition of interactive game environments, or hot spots, that offer complete control to the gamer. For example, you can lift your opponent for a vertical suplex and decide how long to keep him suspended and which way you want to drop him, only having to be mindful of your stamina as you choose his fate. This is an interesting concept, but the hotspots get old quick, because once you've done them a few times, you know what to expect. THQ didn't go out of their way to change any of the mechanics of the game, or offer any new match types other than the Money in the Bank ladder match, which is only a standard ladder match with four additional players and one additional ladder...Hardly a real addition to the game. Not to mention, THQ removed some matches such as the Lumberjack match.

A huge part of every WWE game is the roster of talent. This installment's roster is outdated, but that's come to be expected, and rightfully so, with any wrestling game. Regardless, there are still a good number of superstars with the addition of several new stars such as Umaga and The Great Khali who will surely add to your no holds barred brawls. The Legends Roster is also one of the best looking in the series with stars like Jerry "The King" Lawler, Tazz, Bam Bam Bigelow, Cactus Jack, Shane McMahon, and Mr. Perfect just to name a few of the new faces. Aside from the Kurt Angle botch, the only real disappointment (not including stars that debuted or returned following the cut off date) is the lack of the Hooliganz, Paul London and Brian Kendrick. London and Kendrick have competed on Smackdown and have been the brand's reigning Tag-Team Champions for some time now. It is unfortunate that the Champs had been overlooked.

While fans won't be able to fly high as Jeff Hardy, or take it to the extreme with any of the new ECW extremists, they can enjoy the full voice overs of every star in the game during the extensive season mode. The season offers new scenarios for every superstar, so it will always be a unique experience. If it's still bothering you that you can't play as the homicidal genocidal death defying Sabu, or the straight edge extremist CM Punk, worry not! SDvsRAW07's Create-A-Wrestler mode offers a great deal of flexibility, and with some time and patience, anyone can be recreated. Despite the lack of good hair choices, the attire and physical attribute customizability seem to have been improved upon from last year. Finally, we can tuck a worker's pant leg into his boot! The only unfortunate addition to the CAW mode is the fact that if you add tattoos or designs to a CAW, you will then be unable to use that created wrestler in online gaming. Boo! Regardless, if you're looking for accuracy and don't mind not being able to showcase your creations online, there are plenty of options that will allow you to create just about anybody. Not an artist? Well there are also some websites online that offer formulas to follow so you could be expanding your roster in no time!

We briefly mentioned the online mode, and unfortunately, I wish that's all that had to be said about the mode, because this is probably the lowest point in the SDvsRAW07 game. The online mode is not well done at all. I'm not going to get into the players' cheap antics, such as getting their buddies to serve as YOUR tag partner only to turn on you as soon as the bell rings, turning a 2 on 2 tag match into a 3 on 1 assault. How about players using created wrestlers who appear to be cruiserweights but have a maximum weight so they're impossible to lift? Regardless, players will be cheap no matter what game you play, but in addition to this is the lag in the games. The matches run slowly so it is nearly impossible to time a reversal, and it just feels cumbersome when it seems like you're on a two second delay. It's also annoying when someone quits a 4 way match and the game is over, not allowing the other three remaining opponents to continue. It's little things like this that make the online mode in SDvsRAW07 a mess.

All in all, Smackdown vs. RAW 2007's next generation debut could be looked at as a success. Despite the commentary, stiff hair, minor glitches here and there, poor online mode, and ancient game mechanics, Smackdown vs. RAW 2007 is still a game that is fun to play, especially with friends. No matter how familiar the controllers are, you will still find yourself mashing buttons and trying to make your opponents tap out or keep their shoulders down for the longest three seconds of your life. The one good thing about wrestling games - good wrestling games - is that they never really get old. There is no real way of "beating" a wrestling game, because even if you complete the season, you could still have exhibition matches. This concept is especially true if you play on multiplayer and take advantage of the Create-A-Wrestler mode. This combination will surely occupy your time until the inevitable Smackdown vs. RAW 2008 comes around. Are you ready?!