WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 Review
A Review - By Gaetano Prestia
The WWE Smackdown vs. Raw series hasn’t changed much over the years. While it has always offered an entertaining and fulfilling experience for wrestling fans it’s been a while since it’s shaken things up with new modes. Aside from some roster updates and a few new features, the game has practically stayed the same over the past few iterations. Thankfully, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 mixes things up a bit. It may not be a completely unique experience for the franchise, but it at least gives us some new modes and tries to differ itself from its predecessors.
There’s plenty to do in SVR 2010. In fact, those new to the franchise may be overwhelmed by how much there actually is to do. All the original game modes from years past return, including the Inferno match and Money in the Bank. Developer Yuke don’t hold anything back, ensuring that everything we’ve come to love about wrestling is actually included in this title. This isn’t some barebones wrestling title – it’s the full WWE experience, complete with an amazing roster and every type of wrestling match you can think of.
The wrestling gameplay itself is relatively unchanged from years past. Whoever has played the games in the past will have no issue coming into this and understanding the main gameplay mechanics. However, it’s not without its problems. Wrestlers often feel a little too stiff and unresponsive, no matter what their rating. Great grappling animations and the overall accessibility of the gameplay can overshadow this. If you’ve never played a game in the franchise before, it might take you a few matches before you can the hang of things, but this isn’t a game that’s going to overly challenge you. It doesn’t want to, as the wrestling experience is mostly built around big finishing moves and getting a good reaction from the crowd. Using the right analog stick to grapple takes a bit of getting used to but isn’t a deal breaker by any means, and it depends on the quickness of your wrestler as to how well they respond to that.
The main career modes return in Road to WrestleMania and Career Mode, both of which offer an entertaining and lengthy experience. Road has six different paths and the option to play through it in co-op, which surprisingly makes the experience even more fun. Playing with a friend through the opera-like scenarios is an absolute treat and really adds a whole new level of worth to the experience. Road to WrestleMania is obviously more focused on a specific destination, whereas Career Mode has a strong direction on simply winning matches and building up a reputation. It’s less straightforward and doesn’t have as strong a focus, which may suit gamers looking for a less restrictive and free-flowing career mode.
The biggest focus in SVR 2010 is on community. The creative aspects of the title are quite superb, giving you the chance to create your own wrestler with countless options, but also write your own unique storyline. Everything you create can be uploaded online to be shared with your friends, giving you the opportunity to have your created content reviewed by your peers.
Creating a Superstar has been improved dramatically, giving you more options than ever before. This is without a doubt one of the most robust create-a-player modes in any sports game ever. That is to be expected though, considering the amount of different wrestling styles and personalities the real-life wrestlers have in the WWE. It’s great to be able to create a wrestler with so much detail and then lead it through an intense storyline. Furthermore, putting so much effort into a wrestler and then having it reviewed by people online gives you extra incentive to be even more creative than usual, which is fantastic, as it adds new value to the title down the track.
Yet the Create a Superstar mode has nothing on the WWE Story Designer. This is the biggest (and best) new feature of SVR 2010, allowing you to create your own WWE experience, all the way through from the dialogue, to the cut-scenes, to the match types and the rivalries. There’s no voice acting, but having real WWE characters lip-sync to your own typed words is a lot of fun. There’s a hell of a lot to do with this feature and you can literally spend days making up your own WWE drama. While typing out every single word can be a bit of a chore (a keyboard might be a good investment), it’s worth it in the long run if you have the patience to play it out and experience your own WWE story.
The cut-scene editor is incredibly deep, offering you an amazing amount of typical cliché WWE scenes, like wrestlers stepping out of a limo, or someone being attacked backstage from behind. Just like with Create a Superstar, your WWE story can be shared online and reviewed, so you’ll have the chance to share your creative juices with your friends and see if they can handle your own opera stylings of the WWE world.
The Final Verdict
WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 is without a doubt the most robust and entertaining title in the franchise for years. While the gameplay isn’t overly deep and it can’t compete with the likes of Fight Night, this is definitely a wrestling fan’s dream. Yuke have taken the step beyond just wrestling gameplay and brought in the WWE opera that fans want. Now you can create your own outrageous story, full with hilarious and cheesy dialogue and silly cut-scenes. The community aspect is fantastic, allowing you to upload content online and have it reviewed and shared. This is a lengthy experience, one that every single wrestling fan should have.
Gameplay
8.5/10
It’s the same as always. Stiff in some areas, but still a lot of fun. Nowhere near as complex and solid as a genuine boxing/fighting games, but it’s enjoyable and accessible. That’s what matters.
Graphics
8.2/10
It’s a nice presentation with great character designs and animations. It’s an improvement on previous years.
Sound
8.0/10
A decent soundtrack that fits the style, with OK commentary that changes depending on the mode.
Value
10/10
Quite spectacular. The Create a Superstar and WWE Story Designer can have you playing this game for a long, long time.
Overall
8.7/10