WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 Review

Buy WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2010 Now

Welcome back to the WWE ring with SmackDown vs. Raw 2010, the latest wrestling game to hit our consoles. With improved graphics highlighting an entirely new look, improved movements and animations as your taunt your enemies around the ring and even a new story creation mode, this looks set to be the best entry into the series to date. New creative additions and a multitude of smaller refinements help to make your experience more like that of what you would see on the TV. Some of the niggles associated with the WWE games may still cause a little irritation however, but on the whole this is a game sure to keep you occupied for several hours.

Loading up the game will introduce you to the vastly improved training ring. This section of the game will help you to understand exactly what moves work best from which locations within the ring. The developers have managed to do a good job of making this training element to the game fun in its own right, so you may find yourself returning to the ring to practice and develop your favourite moves. Especially because of the importance now placed on each individual wrestler’s specific passive and active abilities.

On the whole the controls for WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 aren’t too dissimilar from those within previous titles, so experienced players won’t take long to master this new game. And with the ability to move around the ring much more easily than in the game’s predecessors you’ll find yourself enjoying the brutal action all the more; taking advantage of the position of both your character and your opponent to bring the most damage into the ring.

Unfortunately bringing that damage to your AI opponent won’t be too much of a challenge. It’s not uncommon for the opposing player to knock you flying across the ring, only to wait patiently for you to get back up instead of capitalising on their impressive move. In fact, once you are used to the controls and the abilities of a selection of wrestlers you are likely to find that the only difficulty comes when facing multiple wrestlers at a time. The two on one handicap matches and tag team opportunities do provide some interest, but it’s against human opponents that you are more likely to face a real challenge.

The greatest addition to the game comes in the form of the customisation options available to you. As in previous titles you are still able to alter the look of wrestlers with the addition of tattoos and logos to their attire. However, in SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 you are also able to create your very own story. These stories can last for just a few weeks, or even up to ten years and allow you to command what matches happen, who fights within them, even who interferes in the process! What’s more, if you don’t have the patience or creativity to knock up your own detailed plotline, you can even download those that other people have created online.

Online play itself still suffers from a minor level of lag, usually just enough to mess up an impressive move that you’ve lined up perfectly. There are also a few issues with poor sound quality at certain points in the game. Despite these small flaws however, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 is certainly the best in the series yet. Fans of the franchise will certainly want to get their hands on a copy for the hours of entertainment sure to be found within.