Video Game Vintage Title: WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2007

WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2007

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 is a professional wrestling video game released by THQ and developed by Yuke's Future Media Creators. The game is based on the professional wrestling promotion World Wrestling Entertainment . It is the eighth installment of the WWE SmackDown! series and is the successor to 2005's WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 and was succeeded by WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008. On March 31, 2006, THQ, Yuke's and WWE officially confirmed the game. The game was released in November 2006 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 consoles and was released in December 2006 for the PlayStation Portable system.

The game introduced a few key new features including an analog control system, interactive hotspots, and fighting within the arena crowd. The game also included several improvements on the previous game's existing match types and modes. The Xbox 360 version was the first game in the SmackDown series to be published on a seventh generation video game console and the first SmackDown game to be released on a Microsoft console. It is also the first game to be released outside the PlayStation consoles.

WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2007 Gameplay

THQ said they would bring a more realistic fighting experience with a new, but old analog control grappling system, enabling the player to throw their opponent anywhere they want with in reason, in contrast to previous preset animations. In the new system, grappling moves are now affected by analog control, in contrast to the button-based system from preceding games. Much like the previous game, one can also move around the ring by analog control instead of using the D-pad. An option to switch to the previous control layout is also possible. The chain reversal system has also been improved and now involves grapples as well as strikes.

The Category 1 and Category 2 movesets are determined by your weight-class now, so lighter wrestlers have access to martial arts or luchador move-sets, while heavier wrestlers have access to more power moves. In addition, a wrestler can only lift up or hurt with certain strikes, wrestlers one weight class heavier than them or less.

A lot more interactivity in the arenas is also present such as fighting within the crowd. Signs and objects from the crowd can be used to beat down the opponent. One major feature is the inclusion of environmental "hotspots" such as the ring ropes, steel steps and scaffolding which players can interact with. The PS2 version however has a restriction on crowd fighting and interaction for specific match types.

The graphics have also improved with each superstar consisting of 20,000 polygons for the Xbox 360 compared to the total of 500 from the PS2 version of the previous game. Sweat from the wrestlers has now been included in the Xbox 360 version of the game. The game's audio system has been overhauled and features new sound effects in Dolby 5.1 as well as the inclusion of new crowd chants and grunting from the wrestlers.

Reception
Though gaming critics have rated this less than series' previous release, reaction to this game has been generally positive. The game currently has ratings of 82.4%, 80.8% and 78.3% on Game Rankings for the Xbox 360, PS2 and PSP versions respectively.

There is some criticism over glitches featured in the game, such as commentary (such as a chair shot being referred to as a Stone Cold Stunner, and the commentators talking about wrestlers who aren't in the match) as well as ring announcing problems (such as the announcement of only one member of a tag team in some matches or Tony Chimel announcing in the ring to Lilian Garcia's voice). Also, there are some game-breaking glitches present (which can possibly stem from the game's collision detection issues), with wrestlers able to skip climbing an occupied ladder, making the Money In The Bank match extremely difficult. For example, if one wrestler is on top of the ladder, another wrestler may suddenly superplex him, without even climbing the ladder. However that would only happen if the player has a stored finisher, meaning that the suplex is the ladder finisher. If a wrestler receives a Controlled-Drop Suplex onto the table, he may somehow land between the two announcers, and the crowd.