A good wrestling game for wrestling veterans. Great for picking up and laying the smackdown on-the-go!
The gameplay is what brings WWE fans to buy the games, right? Like I said, the game plays exactly like the PS2 version. That may or may not be a good thing, depending on how people look at it. This game is in every way EXACTLY like the PS2 version. The Season Mode and GM Mode are there as well the numerous match types. I'll recommend this when you look at SvR 2006: You can't go wrong with either version as they're both the same! Probably the neat thing is that Jake "the Snake" Roberts is an exclusive PSP WWE Legend and you can transfer season data from the PS2 to PSP version and vice versa. Plus, the PSP version has three neat exclusive mini-games: (1) Eugene's Airplane Spin, where you guide Eugene down the ramp while avoiding obstacles. (2) WWE Texas Hold-Em, the famous poker game WWE style! and (3) WWE Trivia, where you can answer questions about your favorite superstars. All these things are great to play and kick back from the action in the ring for a while.
The game's Season Mode is great, filled with cutscenes with full voice work, included your created character. The 3-D locker isn't there anymore. Just screens like the previous Smackdown! games, which isn't bad of course. And commentary has been cut in order to cram more stuff on the UMD, which will be missed. The Season takes your Smackdown! or RAW superstar through one year in the WWE. While it's fun while it lasts, once you play a season on RAW and a season on Smackdown!, you'll might as well just play exhibition for a while. Oh and one more note: try playing Season mode as John Cena! Anyways, moving on...
General Manager Mode puts you in the shoes of a GM for either RAW or Smackdown! and you take your brand through one year. Pretty neat indeed, but maybe not for everyone. It seems too short and simple. It would be neat if there were cutscenes included in this mode, but hey, life's no fair...
The creation modes are back and provide a wide variety of tools to create the craziest superstar you can imagine. Create-A-Superstar is very deep indeed as you'll spend lots of time creating and making that monster in the ring. Create-A-Move is also here and even deeper! I only say that some moves are gone from the previous game and more were added! Plus, some of the names are different so if your looking for a certain move, better preview all of them before you complain about it! And introduced from the first Smackdown! vs. RAW game, the Create-A-Belt mode which is still expensive! But this time, you can keep track of where your belt is. If you buddy is playing SvR 2006 on their PSP and for YOUR title and you lose, the title stays on his PSP and you can't get in back until you beat him. Interesting concept...
Overall, this game is an example of the PSP's capabilities with a game that was done right. Smackdown! vs. RAW 2006 maybe isn't for everyone, but fans of the series will feel right at home with this game.