WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 [PS2]

Kurt Angle clotheslines John Cena over the guard railing and both wrestlers flip into the crowd. The Olympic champ is drenched in sweat, and when he stands up, someone from the crowd hands him a bottle. With the crack of glass, Cena is left sprawled on the concrete. That's when it happens. Kurt Angle rolls the WWE champ on a table and begins to climb the scaffolding near by. The camera pans back with a cinematic flair usually reserved for Monday nights on USA, then Angle takes the death defying leap, attempting a moonsault through the table.

If this was real life, you know Angle misses the moonsault (doesn't he almost always?). But this isn't real life. This is the first footage of WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 for the Xbox 360 (which we're told is similar in gameplay to the PS3 and PS2 versions), and at first glance, it's the closest you can get to the men in tights without buying a front row ticket.

From the ab definition to the buildup of sweat throughout the match, the 20,000 polygon wrestlers (next-gen only) show amazing details. Tattoos, shoes, even facial expressions from fear and shock to the look of pain after getting beat over the head with fluorescent light bulbs... it's all in the game, presented, at least in the demonstration, sans HUD (think Fight Night 360).

But the improvements to the series aren't merely cosmetic. Using a new analog grappling system (featuring both quick and strong grapples), users will be able to control when and where they can pickup opponents, then what to do with them once they're hoisted into the air. For example: If Cena decides to pick Angle up in a vertical suplex, simply flick up on the right analog stick.

From here, Angle is in a bad way, completely upside down and completely at Cena's mercy. Hold up on the right analog stick and you can keep Angle in the air. While he's vertical, Cena can choose to taunt the crowd or his opponent, even walk to the ropes in order to setup a more vicious superplex. In fact, there are over 40 interactive moves like this where gamers will be in full control of when and how to slam their opponent. Think about rotating the stick for an airplane spin, and you get the idea of the fun that could be had.