WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 [PS2]

All of the last game's features are being enhanced. Season mode has a complex, branching story that promises to make the experience different for every player. This is huge, as the writing in 2006 rivaled that of the actual WWE programming. Where last year's game had voiceovers recorded for around 20 Superstars for Season mode, developers tell us around 90 percent of the active roster has contributed lines for this year's Season.

GM Mode -- a new feature that allowed players to be a general manager to one brand -- is coming back with more options and a slicker presentation. As for online, there are around 50 match types you can play and it will support voice chat. Create-a-wrestler will have a host of new parts to craft your ultimate superman (or woman), and the roster has been updated and will feature new Legends.

As the series is headed next-gen, we've got to talk about the graphical improvements. THQ showed a real-time match on Xbox 360 between new SmackDown champ Rey Mysterio and RAW's big dog, John Cena. Both characters looked unbelievably realistic, and were made up of upwards of 20,000 polygons. Rey's mask and pants shined under the arena lights, and all of his tattoos were crystal clear. Cena's muscular frame was an intimidating sight, with even the veins being visible. It's one thing to see fictional characters square off, like those in DOA 4; but when it's real people you've seen on film countless times, it's even more impressive.

Facial expressions have been done up to an amazing degree, showing emotions ranging from fear to shock to pain. As the match progressed and these two beat the ever-loving heck out of each other, sweat started to drip all over their bodies. The crowd is fully 3D and looks incredible -- even interacting with the wrestlers as they were chucked into the seats. Even with normal- and bump-mapping in full effect, THQ boasted that the game was running at a smooth 60 frames per second.

WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006 was easily the best wrestling game in the last five years. For the 2007 installment, the scouting report couldn't be more positive: Next-gen graphics, a revamped control system, and more hardcore gameplay should pop the wrestling-game crowd like never before.