One Step Short of Greatness
User Rating: 9.1 | WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw PS2
One step short of greatness. That is the phrase I believe best applies to Smackdown vs. Raw. It is a game that does pretty much everything well, but everything also seems to be one step away from being great or fully realized. At its core, SVR plays the same as HCTP with a few tweaks and improvements to the submission system. Match Types are basicallly the same, and only minor improvements have been made to each. Only the Royal Rumble has recieved a hefty and needed upgrade. Season mode is great... the first time around. After that events repeat themselves and problems remain. Stories don't connect (you'll team up with Cena a day after feuding with him). Voiceovers are mostly good, with the exception of a few *cough*Rene Dupree*cough*. Standouts include Kurt Angle (who is the SD GM and can't be played with in Season, but is a better GM in the game than he was in real life), Kane, and the always entertaining Matt Hardy Version One. Commentary is significantly improved from the last outing (Shut Your Mouth) and manges to mix intentional and unintentional humor. It is still only mediocre at best. The commentary during Season mode cut scenes fares better and is very reminiscent of the real shows. However, the repetive and, at times, ridiculous stories (You chosen wrestler seems to be a tramp of the backstage if played correctly. Also, having Undertaker vie for the affections of Sable is ludicrous... of course WWE could stand to listen to that piece of advice regarding Kane) and the lack of Tag Titles, Cruiserweight, stat tracking, and ability to affect the outcome of other matches keep it one (or more) step(s) short of greatness. The Create modes follow suit. Create-a-Pay Per View and Create-a-belt are great features, but seem a step short of being fully realized. A rating system like in Smackdown 2 is nowhere to be seen, cheapening this mode. You can go through your PPVs asmany times as you like, but it only really serves as a glorified exhibition mode. Create-a-Belt is a terrific addition that adds alot to the game. However, it too falls... One step short of greatness. The inability to create Tag Titles, defend titles in multi-wrestler matches, or even assign titles to individual wrestlers makes this mode feel under realized. Create-a Wrestler is back and... it has taken a significant step backwwards. Your CAWs look absolutely horrible compared to the actual roster, but it also takes a master of the system to make them look human (something I have failed to do). It seems that much of the body morphing options from HCTP have been removed in favor of a simpler approach, and the results are not good. Now, it seems like I am being overly harsh in this review, but don't get me wrong. I absolutely love this game. Graphically, the game improves on HCTP's near perfection. The AI has made stride forward, as it puts up a much more significant fight. Challenges are a nice addition, adding more to the game. Legends (barring the Undertaker and Kane ones) are given good treatment this time around, with better movestes and heavily imprved entrances. Most wrestlers have their correct themes (even Randy Orton gets his new theme). The addition of licensed music is a blessing to the ears (gone is the junk from previous games). However, this game carries just has a nagging feeling about it that it could have, and should have been better, it just feels one step short of being a truly great game. 
