December 7, 2006 - Following up on the fiasco that was THQ’s last wrestling release WrestleMania 21, it would seem next to impossible for Smackdown! vs. RAW 2007 not to look great in comparison. With a mix-up in duplication sending an incredibly buggy WM21 version to stores, the WWE series needed a change of scenery and a fresh start, and SVR 2007 is just that. Developed by Yukes, not only is SVR 2007 the most complete wrestling game to date, it’s quite simply the best wrestling game ever produced.

The depth of SVR 2007 is overwhelming from a distance. Outside the ring, you can manage a season with intricate storylines for each superstar, run the show from the position of a General Manager, create your own Pay Per View, Create a Superstar, and even customize the signs in the audience. If you want to take on a friend, and can step into the game with a quick exhibition match, or head online via Xbox Live for an all out brawl.

If SVR 2007 offered nothing besides the season mode, it would still be a superb game. Season mode is so incredibly deep and engaging, for any wrestling fan, this is as good as it gets in video game form. You can select a superstar (each superstar has a somewhat different story tree), and progress with them facing off against opponents, getting cheated out of wins, teaming up for championships, and creating rivalries that will get right under your skin. The season mode really succeeds in creating riveting storylines, and although they are sometimes predictable for any seasoned veteran of the WWE, it’s something you’ll just keep pressing through as the plots continue to twist. The cut scenes building up between matches really feel like something you’d see on a TV broadcast, and help engage the story. As you progress through the season mode, you’ll unlock new arenas, superstars, and other wonderful little things, though my favorite is without a doubt the diva loading screens (and the diva banners, diva posters, and diva standees).

The GM mode is a different beast altogether, one where you’ll step back from the ring and manage a roster of superstars, trying to establish yours as the best brand of sports entertainment. The primary goal is to manage a solid roster of superstars (signing contracts, free agents, and trades), creating schedules for each week’s show, and managing your finances to ensure you can afford writing paychecks. These aren’t the kind of people that you want to be skimping out on their paychecks. In addition, you can hire writers to create riveting storylines, and establish rivalries between superstars to bring the fan support to your brand. I’ve sat down with this mode for quite some time, and it plays smoothly, my only complaint is with so much going on it’d be nice if more information on each superstar was available when scheduling matches. For example, it’d be nice to see if they are a clean or dirty superstar on the match scheduling screen, as you’d get a better feeling of whom to pair up. My only other nitpicks are when creating storylines, the game only gives you the title of the plot, and a rating in stars. It’d be better if it had a full summary of the plot, giving you a better indicator of which superstars it would be most applicable for on your roster, rather then taking a guess and hoping it pans out in the end.

Speaking of match types, SVR 2007 lets you pretty much do it all. Versus, tag team, tornado tag team, ladder, hardcore, table, hell in a cell, cage, first blood, special referee, there are simply too many match types to list off. With the exception of the Bra and Panties matches that have been left out this time around, SVR 2007 offers enough in this area to satisfy even the most seasoned WWE veteran.

Stepping into the ring, the gameplay in SVR 2007 is quite different from previous outings. While the left thumbstick is used to move your superstar, the right thumbstick is now used to perform a series of quick grapples. The right bumper acts as a modifier, allowing for stronger attacks and grapples, as well as performing other attacks like Irish whips, throws, and submission holds. SVR 2007 also carries over the concept of stamina from the previous SVR PS2 edition, trying to balance out the action like you’d see in a typical WWE match. As you lay waste to your opponent, you’ll get tired, and if you fail to recharge your stamina (done by holding the B button) you’ll eventually need to stop and catch your breath, allowing the opponent to get a few sweet shots in. While this may seem unrealistic for certain characters (Triple H doesn’t get dead tired after give knee drops) it does force you to use proper ring management/tactics and also balances out the more devastating moves. One of the big complaints of past releases is in the ladder and cage matches, as the controls were very awkward. Yukes has addressed these issues this time around; in a ladder match when you get to the top of the ladder, you’ll have a little mini-game with either thumbstick. You’ve essentially got to find the sweet spot for the thumbstick, at which point the indicator will tell you to simply hold that position as your superstar reaches up towards the prize. If you hold it long enough without getting your ass thrown off the ladder, you’ll claim victory. Still, easier said then done.