WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 [PS2]

When a franchise jumps ship to a new console generation, there's always cause for concern. Will its older-gen sequel still be worthy? How bad will it look when compared to the new hotness? SmackDown is back for what is likely its final PS2 performance. It definitely goes out with a bang, and is easily the best entry in the long-standing wrestling series.

For this year, the gameplay has undergone the biggest revamping in SmackDown's seven-year history. The right analog stick has almost always been sitting there, staring the developers in the face; they've now decided to use it. To pull off a simple grapple move, just point the right stick in a direction. Ba da bing. That's the easy part, but there's also a lot of depth. For starters, "ultimate control" lets you have your way with opponents like never before -- carry them around, hit repeated moves on them, and take time to gloat over your superior manliness. Environmental hotspots really add to the entertainment value, too -- especially being able to fight in the crowd.

This is all as masterful as a 5-star frogsplash, but gameplay in SvR 07 has two flaws worth of fans chanting "You &@#$ed up!" First off, the AI can be annoying, in that it seems to either be relentlessly whupping on you, or just letting you beat it down. This keeps matches from having a smooth, balanced flow. The second gripe is the slowness of play. Almost every submission requires time-consuming button-mashing; stamina drains too quickly; and characters are too slow to get up.

Complaints in the rest of the game are honestly very hard to find. Both story mode and GM mode are better than ever -- which is a powerful statement to make. The former has more bite-sized storylines, and goes off on some crazier, more clever angles than the TV programs. It also features a customizable locker room, which will take up a surprising chunk of your time. The latter allows for more tweaking of rivalries and good/bad affiliations, Heat and Velocity "B-shows," and is all-around sharper than before. GM Mode, along with the various sliders for the game, actually makes SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 come close to sports-game territory, instead of being relegated to fighting game classification.

Mr. Kennedy, Bobby Lashley, and Umaga make their first video game appearances here; while Mr. Perfect, Bret Hart, and Bam Bam Bigelow are some of the Legends on the roster. Of course, ECW kind of got snubbed, but such is the peril of a long development cycle. It's interesting how super heavyweights require a different strategy to combat, but cruiserweights are still drastically underpowered. Next year, it'd be nice to see characters wrestle more uniquely and like their real-life counterparts -- emulating what basketball games have done in recent years, for example.

The graphics on SvR 07 for the 360 are definitely drool-worthy; but to be honest, what the developers were able to do on PlayStation 2 is almost more amazing. Guys like Batista, Triple H, and Kurt Angle are unbelievably spot-on -- complete with spectral highlighting and realistic animations. To continue gushing over the graphics, the arenas look better than ever; the audience is especially vibrant and detailed. SmackDown has always strived for dramatic camera angles, and this concept has now been kicked into overdrive. Extreme close-ups and long cuts that would be impossible in real life only make the game look better.

The audio is also superb. Recent years have really shown how much of an enhancement having real WWE Superstar voiceovers is, and SvR 07 features more than ever. The crowd has received an intensity boost, and comes up with some great chants. This year's game has the best soundtrack of any SmackDown so far, with a lot of catchy songs. Discerning ears may notice some repeat commentary from the teams of Cole/Tazz and JR/King, but there's tons of new banter, too. Improvements could be made in how much precedent submission-move dialog takes during matches, and tweaking audio levels on promos to sound more like they're coming out of an arena mic instead of being in a sound studio; but both are very minor complaints.

As always, the list of matches is lengthy. Money in the Bank is new, and is essentially a six-man ladder match. Speaking of ladder matches, those and table matches received major tweaks. Ladders are more intuitive to position, and climbing them is more realistic. To take down a belt, you need to move both analogs to find the sweet spot -- almost like Splinter Cell's lockpicking. You can also lean one ladder on another to run up it and leap off, a la Shelton Benjamin at WrestleMania. Table matches require more strategy to win, as you need to store a finisher and have your opponent's damage meter in the red. Instead of placing your foe atop the table, you powerbomb them through it -- which is the more accepted method these days. Both tables and ladders can be leaned against the corners, or used as weapons.

You can compete in almost any of the plethora of match online, as well. The online interface is slick, and it keeps good track of stats and rankings. You can even trade your created Superstars online. The PS2 version supports six-player matches offline, which is two more than on 360. Speaking of crowded rings, the auto targeting is a little better than last year's game.

SvR 07 has creation modes for stables, championships, move sets, entrances, and Superstars. The character creator isn't quite at the level of EA's GameFace, but it's got a ton of options and the ability to add style to almost every piece of apparel. You'll be able to create a reasonable facsimile of yourself or any other individual your imagination can come up with. A few suggestions for next year: Include a sign creator, and the ability to use ripped songs for entrance themes.

SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 is a lot like Raw Superstar Umaga: It's an absolute monster, with tons of power while simultaneously possessing impressive agility. The few gameplay missteps threaten to negate the cool new control options, but the title as a whole is a true heavyweight that all gamers -- not just those of us who know what a DX crotch-chop is -- should take a serious look at. And don't worry, PS2 owners: You're not missing out by sticking with your old faithful console. To paraphrase a Ric Flair quote, "Whether you like wrestling or hate it, learn to love this game, because it's the best thing going!"