Adding more floors to a decrepit building doesn't fix the floors below, so why hasn't THQ/Yuke's learned that more isn't always better?
As assuredly as a new Madden game will rear its head every year, THQ forces three games a year on us that feature sweaty men in underwear grappling each other. Fortunately for the Playstation 2, the system receives what is easily the best version of WWE gaming but unfortunately for Playstation 2 gamers, they yet again receive an update instead of a whole new game. For those who bleed the red and white that is the WWE, this is probably a good thing as the fast-paced action will satisfy the chair-swinging urges true fans of the organization have come to expect. However, as a gamer, I continue to grow weary of the "been there, done that, but with different characters," trend these yearly games are continue to follow.
Out of the gate, I do have to say Smackdown! Vs. Raw 2006 (SvR 2006) is a much-needed improvement over its predecessor. The series' graphics have never been better on the Playstation 2, featuring improved wrestler models (both in-game and during pre-match entrances), new subtleties to the environment such as: announcers actually located at their table, and better animations for the wrestlers and the audience. Unfortunately, while the main meat of the game got a huge graphical nudge, the presentation suffers from lame, bare-bones menus and navigation. Most of the menus, outside of the locker room option, are pretty much only text surrounded by a frame - a major step down from last year's much flashier interface.
Not only has the appearance of the game stepped up for the better, the much improved online and match type options join that facet. THQ/Yuke's made amends for last year's pathetic online game play by offering what it should have in the first place - full choice from the game's match types (sans a few), support for up to four players in those matches and the online defense of a player's created title belt. The further addition of stat tracking not only enhances online game play but also makes the possibility of online leagues with your friends, (enemies?) as well as leads to some very prestigious created titles.
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