Smackdown vs Raw 2011 is set to be released on October 28, 2010 on the (count with me), PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii, PSP, iPhone & iPad.
Now, is it a good thing that a single game, only one year in development, is being released on such an (impressive) amount of consoles?
If you ask me, I think it's a bit too much and I fear the game might end up being rushed. There is, of course, an amazing deal of new tweaks and updates for this year's release, and the SvR franchise has been around for a long time, ever since 2006, and it's being released on a steady pace every October.
That alone is a sign that the game is doing something right and that it has a big fan base. Personally, I didn't buy a SvR title since 2007. Trying the 2008 version on my friend's console proved that THQ didn't even try to release a new game, and no, changing the superstar on the cover doesn't count!
There is no denying the appeal in playing this franchise, maybe because the storyline of "Road of Wrestlmania" (the WWE version of a single player campaign) is much more interesting than the storyline that we see in the real WWE today, or maybe people just like to get into the virtual ring and kick some digital ass. And yes, the Create A Wrestler feature along with everything that follows it, such as Create a Finisher and Create an Entrance are good and deep enough, but there was something that always felt missing.
What's Good: Free Roam!
One of the biggest and most promising adds that THQ bestowed upon us is backstage free roam. Yes, you read that right. You can actually walk backstage, talk to other wrestlers, even start a fight with them. You are totally free to do whatever you want, and yes, everything can be used as a weapon.
This is a major release because it really puts you in the shoes of your favorite wrestler. After all, WWE has always been more about the storyline that happens outside the ring, the feuds, the backstage brawling... and this is what SvR 2011 is all about. Pick your wrestler (or create your own) and just run free throughout the arena and pick a fight with whoever you want.
How much freedom you really get is not yet known, but just the idea is worth you spending your 60$ on this. I mean, just imagine the possibilities:
You walking around, angry because you just lost a match, and you just take out your frustrations on Hornswoggle. How amazing is that?
Another major reason to be hyped for this game is the new engine that they are using which affects the objects surrounding you. Chairs, Tables, even Ladders don't break into pre-deisgned manners anymore, but they are in free roam as well. You can Chokeslam someone onto the side of a table, and only the corner will break. Fall down from a ladder, and the table will shatter into pieces.
All these elements as well as a superb roster from both Smackdown! and Raw (and some Nexus members) are shaping up to make an amazing SvR installement.
What's Bad: THQ!
If you bought any game from THQ before, whether it would be a previous SvR game or the relatively new MMA game, UFC Undisputed, you would know that THQ tend to hype up their game while never actually meeting those hypes. UFC Undisputed 2010 was a great package, with an amazing roster and even better presentation. It even had a ground-breaking commentary system that follows your career, your moves in the Octagon, and even the way you choose your opponents.
While that was amazing in theory, players soon realized that it gets old after the very first match. What was over-hyped turned out to be a feature that is very limited, gets old and it failed horribly.
Don't even get me started on the Online feature of the game, which was even more hyped, as far as "training camps" go. We were lucky to even get online in the first place. In an era where online gaming is almost becoming a house-hold name, "errors" coming from the developer's server are not to be forgiven.
With all those mis-shapes in mind, one has to be skeptical when it comes to a video game released by THQ. The folks have really great ideas and their games are A-listers, however, every title they release seems to be rushed towards the end. Its either because they always have a tight deadline, or because they get bored towards the end and just want a finished product.
I am leaning towards the first option, which is the deadline. Every year, THQ must release a new SvR game, and it seems, a UFC Undisputed game. And this is where the product is getting hurt. The first draft is great on paper, but the final product ends up being rushed and not polished enough.
Hopefully, this year will be different and the package will be whole and can stand on it's own, without being felt as a DLC of the previous installment. The good news is that everything we are seeing and hearing about are good stuff, and the free roam is a great new feature that is sure to get WWE fans hyped. THQ, no more disappointments please!
There is no denying the appeal in playing this franchise, maybe because the storyline of "Road of Wrestlmania" (the WWE version of a single player campaign) is much more interesting than the storyline that we see in the real WWE today, or maybe people just like to get into the virtual ring and kick some digital ass. And yes, the Create A Wrestler feature along with everything that follows it, such as Create a Finisher and Create an Entrance are good and deep enough, but there was something that always felt missing.
One of the biggest and most promising adds that THQ bestowed upon us is backstage free roam. Yes, you read that right. You can actually walk backstage, talk to other wrestlers, even start a fight with them. You are totally free to do whatever you want, and yes, everything can be used as a weapon.
This is a major release because it really puts you in the shoes of your favorite wrestler. After all, WWE has always been more about the storyline that happens outside the ring, the feuds, the backstage brawling... and this is what SvR 2011 is all about. Pick your wrestler (or create your own) and just run free throughout the arena and pick a fight with whoever you want.
How much freedom you really get is not yet known, but just the idea is worth you spending your 60$ on this. I mean, just imagine the possibilities:
You walking around, angry because you just lost a match, and you just take out your frustrations on Hornswoggle. How amazing is that?
Another major reason to be hyped for this game is the new engine that they are using which affects the objects surrounding you. Chairs, Tables, even Ladders don't break into pre-deisgned manners anymore, but they are in free roam as well. You can Chokeslam someone onto the side of a table, and only the corner will break. Fall down from a ladder, and the table will shatter into pieces.
All these elements as well as a superb roster from both Smackdown! and Raw (and some Nexus members) are shaping up to make an amazing SvR installement.
What's Bad: THQ!
If you bought any game from THQ before, whether it would be a previous SvR game or the relatively new MMA game, UFC Undisputed, you would know that THQ tend to hype up their game while never actually meeting those hypes. UFC Undisputed 2010 was a great package, with an amazing roster and even better presentation. It even had a ground-breaking commentary system that follows your career, your moves in the Octagon, and even the way you choose your opponents.
While that was amazing in theory, players soon realized that it gets old after the very first match. What was over-hyped turned out to be a feature that is very limited, gets old and it failed horribly.
Don't even get me started on the Online feature of the game, which was even more hyped, as far as "training camps" go. We were lucky to even get online in the first place. In an era where online gaming is almost becoming a house-hold name, "errors" coming from the developer's server are not to be forgiven.
With all those mis-shapes in mind, one has to be skeptical when it comes to a video game released by THQ. The folks have really great ideas and their games are A-listers, however, every title they release seems to be rushed towards the end. Its either because they always have a tight deadline, or because they get bored towards the end and just want a finished product.
I am leaning towards the first option, which is the deadline. Every year, THQ must release a new SvR game, and it seems, a UFC Undisputed game. And this is where the product is getting hurt. The first draft is great on paper, but the final product ends up being rushed and not polished enough.
Hopefully, this year will be different and the package will be whole and can stand on it's own, without being felt as a DLC of the previous installment. The good news is that everything we are seeing and hearing about are good stuff, and the free roam is a great new feature that is sure to get WWE fans hyped. THQ, no more disappointments please!
Now let's see where the game ranks on our Hyp-O-Meter:
