WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 Review (X360)

It has been a long time in coming, but a decent wrestling game has finally landed on an Xbox system. The SmackDown series has been the best wrestling game for the last 4-5 years, and the 2007 edition is every bit as good as the previous entries in the series. Great gameplay, tons of customization options, and decent graphics all make WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 a very solid grappler.

Gameplay

One of the nicest features about SvsR07 is that you can tweak and controls and gameplay so the game plays as easily or as complicated as you like. The game introduces a new grappling system that uses the right analog stick to initiate moves, and it can be pretty good once you get used to it, but you can also switch back to the traditional button controls if you like. Running, striking, grappling, picking up weapons, and Irish whipping your opponent all over the place is easy and works just like it always has. If you have ever played a SmackDown game before, you’ll be able to pick up SvsR07 and jump right in. If you aren’t already familiar with the series, there are some very nice training movies that will ease you into the new controls.

A gameplay element that was introduced in 2006 that didn’t really thrill us was the stamina system that required you to hold a button to regain your energy. That feature is present in this game, but you can turn it off completely if you want, which we are very grateful for. You can also adjust a ton of different aspects of the AI (think 2K Sports’ slider system) so you can stop the computer from using too many reversals or spamming the same moves over and over again. I’m a big fan of being able to customize my gameplay experience, particularly in something like a wrestling game where the whole feel of a game can change thanks to one new feature or change. This game addresses that and lets you play the way you want and still get an excellent experience out of it.

Why it All Works

When it all comes together, I would have to say that this is probably the best gameplay the SmackDown series has ever seen. The matches actually play out just like they do on TV with dramatic momentum shifts, finishing moves out of nowhere, taunts, and all of that good stuff wrestling fans eat up. All of the various match types you would expect to see are included, such as Hell in a Cell, TLC, table, ladder, Elimination Chamber, cage, buried alive, Royal Rumble, and more. Up to six characters can be in the ring at once, which is just the right amount to keep the game from getting too crowded. All of the match types work amazingly well, but I want to specifically touch on a couple of them. The ladder match has been reworked so that there are now two ladders available, which makes a huge difference in what you can do. On top of the ladder, you have to reach up with the analog sticks to grab the belt, but if you are too aggressive, you’ll fall off the ladder and give someone else a chance to win. Once you grab it, you rotate the sticks until you find the sweet spots (sort of like picking locks in Splinter Cell) and a “belt meter” slowly drains. You are helpless at this point and your opponents can pull the ladder out from under you or knock you down. What all of this does is make for a very, very exciting and dramatic ladder match that is amazingly fun. I also really like the Royal Rumble where different sized characters have different strengths and weaknesses in the context of the Rumble. If you are Rey and you see Big Show coming down the ramp, run!

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