SvR2010 features many new gameplay improvements that make it the best PS2 Smackdown in awhile.
There are tweaks to the moveset, which allow you to do more moves with standing grapples and grapples to a downed opponent. Every grapple is performed by moving the right control stick in a direction; this makes it feel quick and easy to perform moves. They brought back the feature where every direction is a different type of grapple hold. So moving the stick upwards is a power grapple, down is submission, left is signature moves, and right would be quick moves. This gives you a lot more moves at your disposal, and its nice to see it back as its an improvement over last year where you started doing the same moves over and over again due to lack of options.
The roster, while featuring a lot of the familiar faces has some new wrestlers added that are making their first appearance in a Smackdown game. When all characters are unlocked you'll have a total of 67 superstars and divas at your disposal, not counting all the created wrestlers you can make.
The game looks as good as ever and each character model looks clean and crisp. The arenas all look great too with the new larger, HD friendly sets WWE now has. The entrances are all spot on with accurate theme music and lighting. For a PS2 game it's hard to find any major flaws with the look of the game. The only real complaint I would have is that some of the title belts, such as the 2 divas belts and the ECW title look like small foam replicas you can buy for 20 bucks at the WWE gift shop.
The create-a-finisher mode that began in the 2009 installment has been brought back. You still get the basic standing, facing your opponent finisher. Which is still not complete freedom and still limits you, it gives you enough that with the right amount of work you can come up with some things you like. But new for 2010 is diving off the top rope finishers. These at times can be creative as you can insert all sorts of back flips and front flips that finish with a devastating landing on your opponent. This too is not as deep as it could be, but it does give you the chance to creative something unique.
Anyone looking for a Smackdown game is sure to be happy with 2010. Even if you have the 2009 version, 2010 feels so much more complete then last years game. I highly recommend this game to any WWE fan looking for a wrestling game.