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The following Smackdown Vs Raw 2010 review is for the PS3 version and may not represent other formats:

- It’s always hard to improve on the Smackdown Vs Raw series. The graphics are always perfect, that goes without saying. And the entrances beam through the screen with all the pomp and circumstance of the real life TV counterpart.

Ring entrances are indistinguishable from TV

Game play itself is only ever tweaked. In fact when a few years go by and THQ feel pressured in to changing the button sequences it can be quite annoying. So similar to last year, a system using the right Analog Stick and the R1 shoulder button is used to inflict damage. Each direction performs a different move and when holding R1 a more powerful maneuver is performed. Nothing particularly new here, but like any great sports franchise it’s the bells and whistles that count the most. A couple of additions include chest bruising after performing Ric Flair like chops. Interacting with the ring apron; for example you can now stand on the apron and perform a dive, instead of having to do it over the top rope. And sticking to the TV Like presentation there is far less HUD info and indicators. You even get a nice “LIVE” logo adding to the realism.

Create a superstar is now on par with the real stars

- Graphical improvements are very noticeable when creating your wrestler. Whereas last year, layers appeared painted on and the overall look just seemed a little off, this time around items of clothing flutter in the atmosphere and your creation’s general appearance molds to the rest of the game world flawlessly. Things have gotten much more personal as well with more advanced logo and tattoo tools. This isn’t where create modes ends though. As well as the much love create an entrance and create a finisher, we are now treated to the Storyline Designer mode.

- This new feature has been long in the waiting. As wrestling fans we all love being creative and imaginative. Years before the current generation of consoles were wowing us with their life like graphics and AI, hardcore wrestling fans were playing simple text based booking simulations like EWR. This year’s WWE game has taken the awe inspiring visuals of the PS3 and given us the opportunity to finally craft our own storylines, and take our created wrestler on the road to Wrestlemania!

Road to Wrestlemania also features a Mickie James scenario

This particularly shines with the online community who have always found a way to create stars from the past and present. From the Brooklyn Brawler to Jushin Liger you’ll find them online and now you can not only showcase these creations to friends, but take them to Wrestlemania or book them in angles as if they were really part of the company.

Long after the main modes have worn out, players can continue having fun checking out each others storylines, which are remarkably well detailed.

You take one of the shows, book the matches, scenes and backstage segments and choose who’s going to get the air time. You are quite literally Vince McMahon – making and breaking careers at the drop of a hat…or elbow. There are over a hundred traditional storyline themes, from the contact signing (that never ends well), to the infamous backstage vehicular hit and runs, (quite hokey on TV but pretty damn cool in the game). Almost like a movie producer simulator you can even do all the camera work, type your own dialogue and instruct the wrestlers how to sell during the segment with several facial expression tools. You can make some pretty comically outrageous looking concoctions with the Divas, if you are that way inclined.

Create your own Vince McMahon style limo explosion

- Another extra this year takes the sparring system that a lot of beat-em-ups have used and turned it in to the “WWE Training Facility’, which has a striking resemblance to WWE’s real life developmental territory FCW. This mode loads automatically in the background of the main menu, so as soon as the game loads you can brush up on the buttons or do some ass kicking before you decide on what to do. The proper tutorials offer over 100 training tips to make sure you’re competent at every nuance of game play.

Train in the FCW arena

- Match types are much the same as last year, accept presumably due to WWE’s new kid friendly product the Bra & Panties match is gone. You didn’t really like looking at those animations did you? In its place comes the Championship Scramble match, which is enjoyable if playing with friends. Against the CPU though it can get almost impossible to make a pinfall with so many opponents breaking them up.

- The online mode allows one to four players the chance to go at it in the ring using the match types (bar Royal Rumble) from the main exhibition mode. You can play a quick match just for fun or a “ranked match” which records the outcome and ranks you on the leader board. A good tweak is that you can build up your created superstars through any match type, online or offline, instead of just career mode. This helps build a rock solid wrestler for going at it with the hardcore online players. It must be noted though, if you are going to play online be prepared for some lag, which can ruin the timing of your moves.

- To conclude, everything you’ve grown to love in the WWE games is here; pick up and play controls, true to life entrances and presentation, several Road to Wrestlemania Scenarios, a career mode, and a stellar set of create modes. That coupled with the all new storyline designer and a few odd tweaks here and there, makes it well worth your money.

MORE DETAILS:

Fans finally get to fly with Evan Bourne

Roster:
Raw:
Big Show
Carlito
Chavo Guerrero
Cody Rhodes
Evan Bourne
Festus
Jack Swagger
John Cena
Kofi Kingston
Mark Henry
MVP
Primo
Randy Orton
Santino Marella
Shawn Michaels
Ted DiBiase
The Brian Kendrick
The Miz
Triple H
Beth Phoenix
Gail Kim
Kelly Kelly
Mickie James
Maryse

SmackDown:
Batista
CM Punk
Chris Jericho
Edge
Dolph Ziggler
Jeff Hardy
Finlay
John Morrison
Jesse
Kane
JTG
Mike Knox
Matt Hardy
Rey Mysterio
R-Truth
The Great Khali
Shad
Eve
Undertaker
Melina
Maria
Natalya
Michelle McCool

ECW:
Christian
Ezekiel Jackson
Goldust
Shelton Benjamin
Tommy Dreamer
Vladimir Kozlov
William Regal
Brie Bella
Nikki Bella

Others:
JBL
Mr. Kennedy
Umaga

So what did everyone else think of the game?