WWE SmackDown Vs Raw 2006

It might only begin to sink in when you start playing, but the distinct possibility exists that WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 will be the last Yuke's-developed wrestler for the PlayStation 2. With the PlayStation 3 somewhere on the horizon and the PlayStation 2's life expectancy dwindling, it probably would have been easy for longtime wrestling game developer Yuke's to ease off the gas pedal when working on SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006. However, this latest and possibly last PS2 game in the series turns out to be much, much more than just a typical yearly update. Rather, SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 cobbles together a veritable smorgasbord of new features and concepts for wrestling fans to smack their collective lips at. Without a doubt, this is the deepest that a SmackDown! game has ever been, and while not every single thing that this game tries works completely, the sheer breadth of content makes it an easy choice for any wrestling enthusiast, and quite possibly the best wrestling game available for the system.

WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2006

WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 is very much a Yuke's PlayStation 2 wrestling game. That is to say, if you played any of the developer's earlier games, this one isn't going to throw you for a loop. What it will do is show you a number of key refinements to the gameplay that help it emulate real-life wrestling (we use the term loosely, of course) better than any game before. For one thing, SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 introduces a measure of ring psychology to the proceedings. Don't worry; you don't have to plan your spots or your finishes or anything. What's been introduced here is a pair of systems that track your wrestler's stamina, as well as his or her momentum, in the match. Stamina drains a number of ways, though mostly through pulling off and being on the butt end of big moves. Momentum is built by playing a more interesting match, one that will get the crowd thoroughly behind your wrestler.

SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 also manages to differentiate the unique styles (or lack thereof, in some cases) of the many WWE superstars. Whereas in the past, grappling attacks were relegated to the same four categories for every single wrestler, now each wrestler is assigned four of seven available categories. From within the game's move editor, you can assign them power, speed, technical, luchadore, brawler, martial arts, and old school categories. The one constant for all wrestlers is submission grapples, which is always assigned no matter what. But the remaining three categories can be divvied up however you like. There's also a fifth grapple category that determines what kind of wrestler you are, a heel or a face (in lay terms, a bad guy or a good guy). The moves are appropriately different, with the heel moves involving a lot of cheating and cheap shots, and the heroic moves staying well within the rules. Apart from the categorical changes though, this is very much the same type of grapple system the series has used over the last couple of games--so while things like trying to figure out who has what types of moves might take a bit of getting used to, fundamentally it should be familiar to you.

While all these fantastic additions might make SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006's gameplay sound like the most mind-blowing thing ever, it's ultimately what hasn't changed about the game that keeps it from perfection. For starters, the hit detection is still spotty. It's a far cry from the days when strikes would inexplicably miss and aerial moves would hit from bizarre distances, but it's still not quite right. You'll sometimes whiff on ground strikes while a guy is in transition between his getting-up animation and actually standing up, and it's not overly hard to miss a running strike if you don't have your opponent lined up just perfect. Aerial moves sometimes register oddly, too, missing at random times and, occasionally, hitting when it looks like you've missed. Again, the frequency of these hiccups is far less than it's been in the past, but when it happens, it definitely comes off as a problem.

Of course, it wouldn't be much of a wrestling game if SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 didn't offer up plenty of things to do other than just wrestling. As in past years, you'll likely spend much of your initial time with the game playing through the season mode. The season mode is a lot like last year's game, with a more structured storyline that doesn't involve many branching paths or choices, but features the voice talent of the WWE superstars. The good news is that unlike last year's game, the voice talent isn't completely horrible. The recording quality of the dialogue sounds right, and the vast majority of the wrestlers pull off their lines just as well as they would on TV. Sure, there are a few dead reads among the bunch, but this year they're in the vast minority. The writing is also really solid, with angles that play out as you'd expect a TV storyline to.

Graphically, SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 features easily the most refined and attractive-looking character models ever put into a wrestling game. The detail in each and every character is phenomenal. Facial animations look realistic, skins and costumes are supremely detailed, and the various cutscenes presented throughout the game, be they during the season mode or simply a quick cut of a particularly devastating move during a match, are wonderful. Amazingly enough, the frame rate holds up extremely well, even during matches with the maximum number of wrestlers in the ring, and the only time you might notice a bit of slowdown is during some entrance sequences with particularly elaborate pyrotechnics. Even the created wrestlers look just about on par with the models that Yuke's itself designed, making their inclusion in a match all the more seamless. Were it not for the collision issues, this would be graphical perfection for a wrestling game on the PS2.

Not every single thing that WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 tries to do completely works, but the sheer amount of crazy new stuff in this game more than makes it worth the while of any wrestling fan. The gameplay is the best it's ever been, the presentation is top-notch, and the plethora of available modes is more than enough to keep any WWE enthusiast busy for hours and hours. Maybe Yuke's will surprise everyone and put together another SmackDown! vs. RAW game for the PlayStation 2 next year; but if this does turn out to be the last one for the system, then it will have gone out with a bang.

WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 introduced the General Manager mode and saw the start of the infamous Undertaker Curse; Eddie Guerrero died several days after the game was released, where the season mode featured a cutscene of casket match which the Latino Heat lost to 'Taker. It was also the last game in the series published by Yuke's under the Exciting Pro Wrestling banner in Japan, as that turned out to be a legal headache for all parties involved.

Smackdown vs. RAW 2006 includes a roster of over 60 current and legendary WWE superstars (three versions of Hulk Hogan!), enhanced season mode with storylines for both Smackdown and RAW brands, new matches such as the Buried Alive match and Bar Brawls, and the stamina meter, providing an additional strategic element to every battle in the squared circle.

Smackdown vs. RAW 2006 features all the classic match types as well as some new additions, such as the Buried Alive match--a staple of the legendary Undertaker. This section provides general strategies that apply to all matches as well as some tips on specific match types.

When you think of classic PS2 sports games the common list would be games such as Madden, Tony Hawk Pro Skater, NBA 2k, but what if I told you that the single greatest PS2 sports game of all time was the most forgotten. SmackDown vs Raw 2006 is not only an amazing game but out-performs most modern-day video games.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2006 is fondly remembered for one key reason: it was the game that introduced the fan-favorite General Manager mode. The game mode puts players in the shoes of a pro-wrestling booker and lets them sign wrestlers, book matches, and ultimately try to put on the best show possible.

Despite how much fans enjoyed the game mode, it was surprisingly shelved following WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008. However, after years of asking, fans have finally got their wish, as 2K Sports have confirmed that the mode will be returning in WWE 2K22. Regardless of the mode's comeback, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2006 is still an excellent candidate for a remake due to it being where the mode got its start, along with having one of the best story modes in the series' history. Suffice to say, revisiting the classic general manager mode and story modes with modern wrestlers would be a treat.

AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Nov. 10: THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI) and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (Nasdaq: JAKK) today announced that WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006 for the PSPTM (PlayStationPortable) is scheduled for worldwide release in December. Breaking new ground for the PSP system, WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006 joins the highly successful line of WWE licensed video games, including last year's WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, which shipped more than two million units worldwide.

"It's exciting for us to give PSP system owners the chance to experience authentic WWE game play on the go for the very first time," said Nelo Lucich, vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. "With the PSP system edition of SmackDown vs. RAW 2006, players will be able to enjoy all of the excitement, attitude and fast-paced action of the game wherever and whenever they want to go."

WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006 takes full advantage of the PSP system feature set, including wireless play for up to four players. The game also will sync up with the PlayStation 2 version to unlock exclusive content. In addition, WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006 players will enjoy a roster of over 50 playable WWE Superstars and dozens of match type variations, along with a full Season Mode that will include all of the drama of current WWE storylines and a quest for the Championship. The PSP system version also will give players the freedom to design their own wrestlers with a Create-A-Superstar Mode as well as utilize the Create-A-Championship Mode to defend their belts. 041b061a72