Review: Smackdown vs. Raw 2010

Time to lay the Smackdown with Smackdown vs. Raw 2010! The Smackdown series has been around since the Playstation era, and has always been an alright series of games. I have put in quite a fair bit of time with SVR 2010 and have found some flaws, but these get buried by the games depth.

Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way first. I absolutely hate the targeting system in this game. It is almost like somebody intentionally decided to piss people off by making it impossible to target your foe. You will have no problems if you are playing one-on-one though as the real trouble starts the second you play with 3 players, or even worse, a 4 player match. As an example, in a handicap match I knocked one character down and then attempted to whip the other out of the ring, but ended up picking up the computer character I just knocked down, which then lead to the other computer booting me in the face and allowing both of the computers to simultaneously pummel me while I lay defenselessly on the mat. Not a pretty sight for sure.

The roster in Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 is pretty solid. There are 67 total playable superstars that ship with the game, ranging from modern day superstars like Randy Orton and John Cena to WWE legends like The Million Dollar Man and The Rock. The roster is great and all, but it feels like it’s lacking more classic characters. You really shouldn’t have to reserve the game to get Stone Cold Steve Austin (which is what I did) – he should be included in the game.

Where is Mick Foley? Hulk Hogan? Rick Flair? Oh yah, they all went to TNA! Awesome legends like those 3 are surely missed. However, the lack of Brett Hart and Eddie Guerrero in this game is beyond lame. Instead, you can be the red and green guys who demo moves for you when building a moveset, what pointless character additions. Listen THQ, we want real wrestlers, not characters you have made up for the game.

The Road to WrestleMania mode in Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 is very well done. The voice over work is great, as it should be since it is done by the actual wrestlers. Each story line plays out differently depending on which actions you choose to take during certain events, and some decisions result in a chance to unlock alternate costumes, matches, and even superstars. Every match you have feels like an authentic WWE experience, with the logo at the end of a segment popping up making it feel like you just lived an episode of Raw. The only thing I disliked about The Road to WrestleMania was that there is only a certain number of characters to go through  it with, but this is understandable given that they only have a year to create a new game.

Now for the Create-a-whatever-the-hell you want modes. There is not much to say about these modes except… wow. There are literally thousands of different characters you can create in this game. You can create your character to look like a famous celebrity, or your step dad and release some of that pent up rage you’ve been building. It’s a lot of fun and the possibilities are endless. The create-a-finisher has been improved with the ability to create diving finishers. You can craft some pretty crazy stuff on that thing. My guy started out with a drop kick and then did a front flip, followed by a splash. The best part is that the moves flow together so your guy doesn’t look like a retarded giraffe while flying through the air.

The newest addition to this year’s game is the ability to create your own story. You can pit any superstars you want against each other, and make it very personal at the same time! Finally, you can create your own drama without having to be in highschool! There are many different scenarios to run through and it’s all extremely easy to use. It really breathes new life into a series that needed something new and fun to make it feel fresh again.

All-in-all, Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 is a great game. Sure the targeting system can piss you off, but you get use to it over time. The game’s formula remains the same, but adds needed flavor in the the form of Create-a-story mode. The game’s roster feels deflated, but it has all the popular wrestlers of today. Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 is a game that every wrestling fan, be them hardcore or softcore, should own. The depth of the game is nice and it is the bulkiest Smackdown game since Here Comes The Pain. Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 certainly does satisfy the customer and is worth a look, if not a purchase, AND THAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE BECAUSE GAMERANT SAID SO!

What are you thoughts about SVR 2010?