WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2010

WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2010

Never say never again. The newest WWE bouts are more compelling than ever, in no small thanks to the expanded and improved ‘Create’ modes.

As any follower of the real World Wrestling Entertainment will tell you, the greatest dramas often take place outside the ring. Fans become glued to behind-the-scenes tussles every bit as much as the professional bouts – tit for tat exchanges that top anything seen in Albert Square or The Street. THQ has rightly assumed that many WWE aficionados would love to create their own story lines, and this is arguably the major new addition for WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010.

After the introduction of twin analogue control a few years back, guaranteeing in-depth strategy and moves, WWE fans have since been focused on personalisation as much as the importance of key athletes featured in the game. Create-a-Superstar has become so extraordinarily detailed, right down to the design of tattoos this year. Create-a-Finisher now allows for diving off the turnbuckle. Entrances now feature edited highlights to be displayed on the big screen. Where else could THQ possibly take this? Story lines… and how!

As with Create-a-Superstar and Create-a-Finisher, your story line is idiot-proof to create, but it takes an ounce of genius to impress the average WWE guru. But now you can share all of it with fellow fans across Xbox LIVE or PlayStation Network. You can make a name for yourself as the guy that creates brilliant character development in addition to artful characters per se. Trust us when we tell you that this feature will be huge within the WWE community.

The icing on the cake is really the level of detail and visual subtleties enabled by the new physics technology. Blood drips realistically and gets smeared everywhere (hence the PEGI 16), ropes stretch under the weight of entangled wrestlers. Physics also enable more realistic bouts, in which moves and counter moves benefit from improved timing. Mashing is no longer satisfying.

THQ’s commitment to this franchise is now almost as legendary as the sport it represents. Though it would be easy and traditionally expected for such a series to begin resting on its laurels, nothing could be further from the truth.

Until 2011…

5 out of 5