A bigger-than-expected upgrade from it's predecessor, Smackdown vs Raw 2006 seldom fails to please.
The new momentum and the stamina feature in particular add a layer of depth and strategy to what could otherwise be considered a button masher.
Just going in there, suplexing like crazy will drain your stamina and put your foe in a good position to lay the smackdown on you.
The graphics have been given a slight-face lift, but an appreciated one nonetheless - created superstars in particular look better then it's predecessors counterparts, almost looking as if they were made for the game by default, if you catch my drift. They look better.
Blood in particular looks a lot better. In the previous game, it looks like they just grabbed a red text and rammed it into the superstars face, now it looks more realistic and drips down your foes face/chest as you do more damage.
I'm not particularly impressed with the new Buried Alive match, it's vastly over-rated - but regardless of it's mediocreness, a good addition.
I have yet a chance to play the Fulfil Your Fantasy Matches or fiddle around with the GM Mode, but I expect that FYFM's are just highly advanced Bra and Pantie matches in essence, so good for eyecandy if nothing else.
And that the GM mode is a rather basic version of a freeware game, such as Extreme Warfare Revenge.
Not really affecting the games score, I like that we can play now as Hulk Hogan, he's one of if not my favorite wrestler ever, but I wasn't going to buy that crappy looking Legends of Wrestling thing to play as him - but good to see him, as well as Stone Cold added to the roster.
A complaint with the roster though, to unlock Jake The Snake Roberts, you need a PSP apparently, I ain't buying a PSP, yet alone the same game for PSP just to unlock him - I hope theres an alternative method of unlocking him as I definately don't wanna waste my money on a PSP plus the same damned game to get him, and I would if there isn't - I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to completing my wrestling games. In conclusion, SvR2006 is a worthy update to an already stellar wrestling experiance.