SmackDown Vs Raw Gains Momentum

The Spandex-clad WWE bunch are back for another go. First screens.

The designers of WWE: SmackDown Vs Raw 2006 don't want you to feel like you're playing a game, they want you to feel like you're in command of an interactive WWE broadcast.

The title of the latest PlayStation 2 WWE game is reflective of the new, more sports-driven attitude of the developers, and as such the game builds on the strong foundation of last year's 2-million-selling instalment and brings in a few new concepts.

The most important of these is a new momentum system, which allows wrestlers to pick up steam as they barrel through matches, allowing you to pull off special movies or even super special moves. On the other hand, it will be more challenging to claw your way back in to matches.

There's renewed emphasis on stamina this year, meaning that you'll have to pace yourself if you expect a long match, otherwise you might just find yourself being manhandled in your fatigued state.

Another new stat this year is Hardcore, which determines how effective characters are in dishing out creamy justice using the chairs, bells and other paraphernalia that litter the out-of-ring spaces.

Online play is set for a major revamp, but the developers are mum on the subject right now. The press release for the game says we can expect "a virtual WWE community where fans can face-off in intense wrestling competition", but we'll have to see exactly what that encompasses.

WWE: SmackDown Vs Raw 2006 will be out only on PlayStation 2 this autumn.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games