WWE returns to deliver another heavy dose of Wrestling to current--Gen and Next-Gen.
One huge change is the actual control scheme; now you initiate grapples via the right analogue stick, and strikes with the SQUARE button. Regaining stamina is pressing the circle button and moving is done with the left analogue stick. Grapples are much better and worse; the new system is fine but the old was fine too, basically THQ have changed something that really didn't need changing. Strong grapples are done by holding the R1 button and flicking the right stick in any direction, and then flick the stick again to perform the move. Press in on the stick to unleash a Ultimate Control Grapple; what this is, is that you now have a list of options, flick or rotate the right stick in the acquired direction or degree to pull off the move. If it's a suplex position, you can get to the ropes and push UP on the right stick to hang your opponent onto the ropes, click the R3 button to perform a normal suplex and DOWN to start showing off and doing push ups with your opponent. It's also possible to move around when in these positions, it all works quite well but your stamina takes a big hit when performing these moves.
Another big change is using the environment, cracking skulls against steel steps, strangling your opponent with a monitor cable and so on, all used via the right stick. To trigger one of these hotspots, you need to grab your enemy in a strong grapple move, then drag him to one of them i.e. turnbuckle or ring ropes. Then you can do whatever is needed to be done in order to use the hotspot. These are a nice touch and defiantly add variety and flavour to the squared circle. There are also numerous hotspots outside the ring, steel steps announcers table or even the ring posts. As before, do whatever is instructed to dish out a can of whoop ass on your opponent.
In addition to hotspots, there's an all new Out Of The Ring Area or The Crowd Area. By the far right hand corner of the arena from the ring, you'll see an area for use; this can only be used for matches involving two participants. You can either clothesline your opponent over or throw him over the barricade. Now you have a whole shmorgus board of things to do, pick up a trash can (all new weapon) and use it, throw your opponent over the barricade into the actual crowd, take weapons from the crowd like title belts and crutches, or set up a table, climb up the platform and jump off for some sweet air and damage. There are also plenty of hotspots, crowd, barricade wall or even an electric speaker. This is awesome for hardcore matches alike.
As far as new match types, only the Money In The Bank Ladder Match is new, and the ladder and table matches have been improved which they were awful in 2006. Players won't go for the ladders as frequently as much as they did in 2006, you climb it abit faster or very slowly depending on your stamina and health. Actually obtaining the briefcase/championship belt are much harder, this time you have to push both right and left sticks up to reach for the prize, once hooked onto it, you have to move the sticks around until you find the covenant "sweet spot" the controller will begin to vibrate, now you have to hold that position until the prize is yours. It's a nice system but ladder matches up to six players can last until thirty minutes, but it's a great setup. Table matches are better, you now have to throw your opponent onto the table, they'll slant next to it and you can use your finishing move on them or smash them against it or rest them on top of it. Then you jump from the top rope to crush them through, it's much better and tables have better damage modelling, depending where you or the opponent landed on it, it'll snap back that way if you can picture it. But if you’re playing on the Xbox 360, you'll see splinters of wood crack out, not the Ps2 version.
General Manager Mode is still a working project in my opinion, you can make new and more anticipating rivalries by hiring writers, you have more ways to manage your WWE Brand, send lower talent to Velocity or Heat to up their popularity, but this still isn't enough to really get you going, but it's a good distraction from the rumble and tumble of the squared circle, and if you really sit down and work at it, General Manager Mode may just be your thing.
Create Modes are the same, superstar, stable and championships all return, but the real best thing is Create-A-Entrance. Now, you see the entrance in the background so you don't have to constantly sit through dozens of load times to see how your entrance pans out. Overall they’re distractions at best.
Graphically, the WWE Series has been some of the best lookers on the Ps2, character models look superb but on the 360 they looks amazing added with sweat effects too. Menu options are better; on the left you have the options like Exhibition, Game Modes etc. On the right you have Raw and Smackdown intro themes without the intro music.
As Smackdown! Sounds, the voice acting is pretty good, Chris Benoit's voice is mediocre, last year, Benoit's voice was excellent but now it's just not as good. Triple H, John Cena and the Undertaker voices sound perfect. The soundtrack is also mediocre, featuring songs from Nonpoint, and the SummerSlam '06 theme song The Enemy from Godsmack makes an appearance but soon enough you'll hear the same songs again and again, even through loading times. The crowd noises get bigger when you pull off a spectacle like jumping off turnbuckles and whacking someone over the security barricade, it just sounds perfect.
So, additions to the Season make it so much better, grappling system is better but there's certainly a learning curve to be had here, hence why THQ left you watch the Video Tutorials before playing, soundtrack is OK, but WWE Smackdown! Vs Raw 2007 in a nut shell, is a great game added with new modes like fighting in the crowd and better Season Mode make this worth your while if your a fan of the long going WWE Smackdown! Vs Raw series.