HarryMonogenis
11-23-2010, 07:06 AM
Another year, another WWE game. If you’re a fan of the popular Episodic TV show, you’ve most probably already bought the game – as you would of with previous instalments. Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 hopes to refresh itself with all new features including the return of backstage roaming, improved physics and an all new mode called WWE Universe. But how does this edition to the franchise hold up?
Graphics
Taking a look back at SVR 2010, it becomes obvious that this year’s instalment has had a slight make-over in the graphics department. Faces have had several adjustments, removing the “clay-face” look that was evident in 2010, as well as adding shine effects to wrestlers’ bodies – ultimately giving them that sweaty look.
Now, that doesn’t mean the graphics are great, because let me assure you that they’re not something to get excited over. Members of the crowd have had very little work done on their faces, some have – what appear to be – black smudges for eyes and it just takes away a bit of the fun knowing you have a crowd that repeats their movements every 3-6 seconds – although they hold pretty funny posters every now and again.
During a match, wrestlers who aren’t wearing anything on their upper body can have blood, or at least slap marks, shown on their chest, but that’s as much injury as you’ll see – apart from First Blood mode where they’ll get a little splodge of blood on their fore head.
Backstage isn’t much of an excitement either. Every single backstage area you enter will be identical, right down to the posters shown.
Overall, the graphics have that “low-budget” feeling to it… 6.0
Gameplay
THQ really know how to cater to wrestling fans. With the introduction of WWE Universe, players now have more control over their favourite wrestlers than ever before. In WWE Universe, players are given a schedule that show upcoming events such as Championship matches, regular Raw matches, Smackdown matches etc.. You’ll be presented with a list of events for that specific time period – and from then on out, the player has the ultimate decision. Not only can you control these wrestlers – thus ensuring your favourite wrestlers climbs to the top – but you can also choose their allies & rivals, which will create cinematic occurrences. For example, if I choose one of John Cena’s rivals to be The Undertaker; during one of John Cena’s matches, The Undertaker might make an unexpected visit and even attack John Cena – it’s what fans of wrestling will enjoy; creating storylines for wrestlers.
There’s also another edition of Wrestlemania. This time around, the wrestlers you get to choose from are: John Cena, Christian, Ray Mysterio, Chris Jericho and a “vs. Undertaker” option that allows you to choose from several wrestlers to go up against The Undertaker.
Each wrestler’s campaign isn’t as long as I had hoped, Vs. Undertaker took the longest to complete, but only by approximately half an hour more than the rest – with the rest lasting around 1 and a half hours. I found the mode to be extremely limited; while there were options to pick from -- such as having to make choices -- these options only appear once or twice in each campaign, and they don’t have significant effects.
And of course, you have the option to fight in one-off matches. Most of the modes from previous editions can be found, as well as re-furbished ones and all new match types.
Hit detection can be completely off .At times when I use a “Hard Strike” while my opponent isn’t in harms way, he’ll get knocked off of his feet anyway – and when picking up opponents, I haven’t seen once instance where my character will actually touch the person with his hands, it’s like there’s some sort of barrier & my character’s acting like a mime.
At other times, I could be getting back up and all of a sudden it turns into an instance where my face is flat on the ground while my opponent jumps on me – things like these become annoying… quick.
As mentioned above, backstage roaming has made a return. While backstage, you can pick fights with other wrestlers waiting around – all you need to do is press X on them (which will push them) until they lose there cool and a fight will begin. Backstage fights are exactly the same as any other fight on the ring, apart from being able to throw your opponents onto any object that flashes. There are several rooms available for players to venture into, including a “Training Room” – it’s actually a medial room, the GM’s Office and several locker rooms. Apart from picking fights, there’s not much going on. Every now and again you’ll hear wrestlers in the middle of conversations, but they’ll eventually repeat themselves.
You can also create Finisher moves, as well as your own Superstar – and on top of that you can create your own match types, complete with your own match rules… 8.5
Replay Value
As explained above, the all new WWE Universe will be what players get addicted to; with so much customisation and player control – you will control the fate of every Superstar in the WWE, and what wrestling fan wouldn’t like that? On top of that, you can actually enter your created Superstar into the Universe, adding even more potential hours lost in this in-depth Universe…. 7.5
Audio
Wrestlers sound like they’re bored, there’s literally no voice-syncing to be found, commentators repeat there lines constantly and the crowd doesn’t react to what’s going on in the ring – these are just a few issues I encountered during my play through.
What I’m amazed at personally is the syncing. What was THQ thinking when they decided to leave something like that out? Every wrestler constantly moves their mouths in a “blah blah blah” style, even when they’re not talking. The only time I saw syncing was during the cinematic cuts, but even then it was all over the place.
Hearing a commentator shout “that one hurt his hand!” was humorous at first, but after I had heard it around 7 times during a single minute (not over-exaggerating) it becomes extremely annoying…. 5.0
Bottom Line
WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 is a game that nearly all wrestling fans will enjoy. With so much customisation available, as well as a highly enjoyable WWE Universe mode, players will find themselves sucked into the world of WWE – although the many issues found in the game disappointed me, I’m sure true wrestling fans will be too distracted deciding the fates of their beloved/hated Superstars.
Graphics
Taking a look back at SVR 2010, it becomes obvious that this year’s instalment has had a slight make-over in the graphics department. Faces have had several adjustments, removing the “clay-face” look that was evident in 2010, as well as adding shine effects to wrestlers’ bodies – ultimately giving them that sweaty look.
Now, that doesn’t mean the graphics are great, because let me assure you that they’re not something to get excited over. Members of the crowd have had very little work done on their faces, some have – what appear to be – black smudges for eyes and it just takes away a bit of the fun knowing you have a crowd that repeats their movements every 3-6 seconds – although they hold pretty funny posters every now and again.
During a match, wrestlers who aren’t wearing anything on their upper body can have blood, or at least slap marks, shown on their chest, but that’s as much injury as you’ll see – apart from First Blood mode where they’ll get a little splodge of blood on their fore head.
Backstage isn’t much of an excitement either. Every single backstage area you enter will be identical, right down to the posters shown.
Overall, the graphics have that “low-budget” feeling to it… 6.0
Gameplay
THQ really know how to cater to wrestling fans. With the introduction of WWE Universe, players now have more control over their favourite wrestlers than ever before. In WWE Universe, players are given a schedule that show upcoming events such as Championship matches, regular Raw matches, Smackdown matches etc.. You’ll be presented with a list of events for that specific time period – and from then on out, the player has the ultimate decision. Not only can you control these wrestlers – thus ensuring your favourite wrestlers climbs to the top – but you can also choose their allies & rivals, which will create cinematic occurrences. For example, if I choose one of John Cena’s rivals to be The Undertaker; during one of John Cena’s matches, The Undertaker might make an unexpected visit and even attack John Cena – it’s what fans of wrestling will enjoy; creating storylines for wrestlers.
There’s also another edition of Wrestlemania. This time around, the wrestlers you get to choose from are: John Cena, Christian, Ray Mysterio, Chris Jericho and a “vs. Undertaker” option that allows you to choose from several wrestlers to go up against The Undertaker.
Each wrestler’s campaign isn’t as long as I had hoped, Vs. Undertaker took the longest to complete, but only by approximately half an hour more than the rest – with the rest lasting around 1 and a half hours. I found the mode to be extremely limited; while there were options to pick from -- such as having to make choices -- these options only appear once or twice in each campaign, and they don’t have significant effects.
And of course, you have the option to fight in one-off matches. Most of the modes from previous editions can be found, as well as re-furbished ones and all new match types.
Hit detection can be completely off .At times when I use a “Hard Strike” while my opponent isn’t in harms way, he’ll get knocked off of his feet anyway – and when picking up opponents, I haven’t seen once instance where my character will actually touch the person with his hands, it’s like there’s some sort of barrier & my character’s acting like a mime.
At other times, I could be getting back up and all of a sudden it turns into an instance where my face is flat on the ground while my opponent jumps on me – things like these become annoying… quick.
As mentioned above, backstage roaming has made a return. While backstage, you can pick fights with other wrestlers waiting around – all you need to do is press X on them (which will push them) until they lose there cool and a fight will begin. Backstage fights are exactly the same as any other fight on the ring, apart from being able to throw your opponents onto any object that flashes. There are several rooms available for players to venture into, including a “Training Room” – it’s actually a medial room, the GM’s Office and several locker rooms. Apart from picking fights, there’s not much going on. Every now and again you’ll hear wrestlers in the middle of conversations, but they’ll eventually repeat themselves.
You can also create Finisher moves, as well as your own Superstar – and on top of that you can create your own match types, complete with your own match rules… 8.5
Replay Value
As explained above, the all new WWE Universe will be what players get addicted to; with so much customisation and player control – you will control the fate of every Superstar in the WWE, and what wrestling fan wouldn’t like that? On top of that, you can actually enter your created Superstar into the Universe, adding even more potential hours lost in this in-depth Universe…. 7.5
Audio
Wrestlers sound like they’re bored, there’s literally no voice-syncing to be found, commentators repeat there lines constantly and the crowd doesn’t react to what’s going on in the ring – these are just a few issues I encountered during my play through.
What I’m amazed at personally is the syncing. What was THQ thinking when they decided to leave something like that out? Every wrestler constantly moves their mouths in a “blah blah blah” style, even when they’re not talking. The only time I saw syncing was during the cinematic cuts, but even then it was all over the place.
Hearing a commentator shout “that one hurt his hand!” was humorous at first, but after I had heard it around 7 times during a single minute (not over-exaggerating) it becomes extremely annoying…. 5.0
Bottom Line
WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 is a game that nearly all wrestling fans will enjoy. With so much customisation available, as well as a highly enjoyable WWE Universe mode, players will find themselves sucked into the world of WWE – although the many issues found in the game disappointed me, I’m sure true wrestling fans will be too distracted deciding the fates of their beloved/hated Superstars.