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WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007

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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.
Developer(s)YUKE's Future Media Creators
Publisher(s)THQ (WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007)
YUKE's Future Media Creators (Exciting Pro Wrestling 8)
SeriesWWE SmackDown! series
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and Xbox 360
ReleasePlayStation 2
Europe November 2 - 10, 2006
United States November 14, 2006
United Kingdom November 16, 2006
Australia November 16, 2006
Japan February 1, 2007
PSP/Xbox 360
Europe November 2 - 10, 2006
United States November 14, 2006
Australia December 15, 2006
Japan December 31, 2006
Genre(s)Professional wrestling, Fighting
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer, multiplayer online

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 (Exciting Pro Wrestling 8 in Japan) 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. On March 31, 2006, THQ, YUKE's and WWE officially confirmed the game. The game was released in November 2006 for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and Xbox 360 consoles.

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.

Gameplay

Match gameplay

THQ said they would bring a more realistic fighting experience with a new analog control grappling system, enabling the player to throw their opponent anywhere they want, 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. 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.

Move sets now feature restrictions on specific moves for particular wrestler classes. Moves such as hurricanranas cannot be done by taller, heavier wrestlers and more power based moves cannot be performed by cruiserweights or divas.

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 included 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:

File:Moneyinthebank.jpg
In-game screenshot from the Xbox 360 version, displaying the Money in the Bank ladder match.

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.

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.

Game modes

Season Mode

Ledesma announced in a video interview that the Season mode is similar to the one featured in WWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain, featuring champion, challenger and generic storyline paths and more choices for the user. The Season mode features about 36 specific storylines. The season mode's storylines is now based also on how worthy the player is at gaining a title shot as well as ones based on the wrestler's attributes. Season mode has several new features, such as the inclusion of a replica WWE.com, where the player can purchase costumes, belts and legends, as well as read wrestler biographies and articles on developments in the season mode. Also included is WWE Magazine, where one can read about the current storyline, and the ability for wrestlers to switch brands throughout the season.

General Manager Mode

There are improvements to the General Manager mode with more detailed information for the player's roster and more user-friendly interface including roster search filters. The roster size is of 20 Superstars, as in the previous Game.
The General Manager mode now also includes the Power 25, a weekly ranking system of the top 25 WWE Superstars based on their achievements that week on RAW and SmackDown!, as well the top 15 of each show. The player can also hire writers for their show to make rilvaries. There are specific rivalries for single superstars, tag teams, cruserweights, divas, and more. The player is also able to book matches for the televised HEAT and Velocity shows which build momentum for less-popular stars, but will not affect the ratings for their respective RAW and SmackDown! shows.

Online Mode

Voice chat is now included in the game to communicate with other players in the online modes. This was a feature that was supposed to be included in the previous two SmackDown! vs. RAW games but was not included due to time constraints.

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.

Inspired by John Cena's custom spinner championship belts, the ability to create belts with spinning centrepieces 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 early 2006: the WWE, World Heavyweight, Intercontinental, United States, WWE Tag Team, World 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

File:WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 Special Edition.jpg
The aluminum case for the special edition version of the game.

The official demo for WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 was released on the Xbox Live Marketplace on September 28, 2006.

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.

Reaction

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 (references to incorrect moves, the wrong wrestlers participating along with their gender) and 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).

Roster

Featured wrestlers
Divas
Legends
Unlockables
Non-playables

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:

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

Soundtrack

Lonely Train and The Enemy were also used previously 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. ^ Dunham, Jeremy. "SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 Hands-on". IGN. Retrieved 2006-10-29.
  10. ^ "GR Exclusive Video Interview THQ Developer Cory Ledesma (requires registration)". GamingRing. Retrieved 2006-06-03.
  11. ^ Navarro, Alex. "WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007 Updated Hands-On". GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-10-06.
  12. ^ Simpson, David. "Smackdown 2007 Interview With THQ". ProWrestlingGames. Retrieved 2006-10-26.
  13. Dunham, Jeremy. "SmackDown vs. Raw 2007: Season Sneak Peek". IGN. Retrieved 2006-08-25.
  14. Ekberg, Brian. "X06: SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2007 Hands-On: Achievements and Roster Rundown". GameSpot. Retrieved 2006-09-28.
  15. ^ Dunham, Jeremy. "WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007 -- World Premiere". IGN. Retrieved 2006-03-30.
  16. "WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 Developer Q&A (requires registration)". GamingRing. Retrieved 2006-11-01.
  17. "X06: Smackdown! Demo, Trailers Pop Up on Marketplace". IGN. Retrieved 2006-10-06.
  18. Dunham, Jeremy. "SmackDown PS3 Smacked Down". IGN. Retrieved 2006-07-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  19. "WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 Special Edition Confirmed (requires registration)". GamingRing. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  20. "Glitches In RAW/SmackDown Game, Emotional Regal". ProWrestling.com. Retrieved 2006-11-24.
  21. "Even More Glitches Found In SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007". ProWrestling.com. Retrieved 2006-11-24.

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