WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007 First Look

By Brian Ekberg, GameSpotPosted Mar 31, 2006 3:48 pm PT

A whole new season of squared-circle mayhem approaches with the announcement of SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007. We're on hand in Chicago for a first look.

Lay the Smack Down

SmackDown! vs. Raw finally moves to the next gen with the 2007 version.

Last year's SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 was one of the better received wrestling games of this console generation. It's blend of high intensity with surprising depth delighted critics and wrestling fans alike. The Yuke's development team is aiming to make this next game in the series, SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007, even better. Today, THQ unveiled the game at a press conference in Chicago, just ahead of WrestleMania 22, which is being held in the Windy City.

The biggest news for SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007, even if it isn't that much of a surprise, is that it will be the series' debut on next-generation consoles. In addition to making expected appearances on the PlayStation 2 and the PlayStation Portable, the game will be available on the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 when it's released close to the holiday season. Of course, THQ folks were most interested in talking about the next-gen versions of the game which, as you might expect, boast some truly amazing-looking graphics.

Considering the quality of player models found in the previous game--which seemed to push the PS2 to its upper graphical limits--SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007 ups the ante even more, with player models that seem to be virtually indistinguishable from their real-life counterparts. Several in-game screenshots were shown during the THQ-guided demo (unfortunately, the game won't be playable until E3), which showcased big-name WWE stars such as Rey Mysterio Jr. and John Cena. The amount of detail visible in these screens was amazing--from the fine lines that comprise Mysterio's intricate back tattoo, to the veins and muscles that bulge from Cena's biceps it's clear to see that the Yuke's folks have invested major effort into making the game take full advantage of next-gen platform power.

If you're looking for numbers, consider this: The wrestler models here will be made up of more than 20,000 polygons apiece--several times more than those found in SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006. Other details, such as more-detailed facial animations and even a realistic sweat system--something no next-gen sports game can do without, it seems--make for a great-looking package all the way around even if, as one Yuke's developer told us, it's been no easy task to get the wrestlers looking as good as they do. Shortcuts that the graphics team could take in the previous generation simply won't do on the Xbox 360 or the PS3. Consider a simple T-shirt, for example. In the previous game, placing a T-shirt on a wrestler was a much simpler task than it is now. The increased graphical power means the art team has to be much more mindful of how the shirt interacts with the player's body, because otherwise it just won't look right.

John Cena and his sweat, brought to you courtesy of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

It's not just the wrestlers that are getting the royal graphical treatment. The crowd also looks markedly improved, with full 3D models that showcase a good deal of variety in animations when they are cheering the action in the ring. One THQ producer told us that a typical crowd will consist of around 1,000 3D models, and that sense of excitement and movement makes the action on the screen that much more palpable.

While the graphics are getting an upgrade, it certainly isn't the only aspect of the game that's going to change this time around. While the game will still differentiate between strong and weak grapples, these moves have been mapped to the right analog stick. Now, when you want to grab ahold of your opponent and execute a move such as a suplex or a slam, you'll do so by pressing the analog stick in any direction. Presumably, your position relative to the position of your opponent will determine which moves are available to you at any given moment. What's even better is that when using the right analog, you'll have greater control over the execution of that move than ever before.

prev next

2 Comments

Refresh comments

jakeboudville
Posted Oct 7, 2006 1:55 am PT

kinda impressive
- agree 0
- disagree 0
- = 0
- Sign in to rate this comment
NightHawk451
Posted Aug 27, 2006 3:43 am PT

who is john cena???
- agree 0
- disagree 0
- = 0
- Sign in to rate this comment

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 Quick Links

GameSpot ScoreN/ANo Rating
Critic ScoreN/ANo Reviews
User Score6.55 votes
Your Score N/A
hover & click to rate
- 1
- 1.5
- 2
- 2.5
- 3
- 3.5
- 4
- 4.5
- 5
- 5.5
- 6
- 6.5
- 7
- 7.5
- 8
- 8.5
- 9
- 9.5
- 10