WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW 2006 Preview

The best in the biz, the coolest of the cool, the rawest of raw. Undertaker, Bret Hart, Christy Hemme, Trish Stratus. These guys and gals mean business, and that's why they're a part of THQ's hit franchises.

THQ's latest entry gathers dozens of superstars for some in-your-face action. The up-close camera system and intensely detailed wrestlers enable you to feel the pain of every hit. Ouch, did you just see that!? He hit him below the belt! The referees say nothing; the announcers make a joke, and the world of wrestling goes on as it always has.

At least these are just polygons!

Wrestling games haven't changed their control style much over the years, and right now it doesn't appear that WWE SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2006 intends to change that. Character movement is still slow and almost narrow. You can go wherever you want, in or out of the ring, but the degree of movement doesn't feel as open as other current generation games. Approach the ring and your wrestler will change position to slingshot off it or to climb out. Wrestlers won't change position for opponents. Turn your back for a second and you'll get a new bruise on the back of your head.

Moves are entered similarly to the way they were before, which follows the rules of fighting games. Alone the X button hits your opponent. Mix it with the D-pad (down + X) and you'll jump in the air and send two feet flying forward. Grapples require the same attention. Once you have your opponent locked up, you've got to hit the right button or button sequence to keep them from escaping. It's also a way to inflict a ton of pain. Prior to the match you're asked to choose whether or not your wrestler likes to fight dirty. Say yes and expect to hear more groans from the audience.

On-screen commands are used to build muscle and timing skills. If your right thumb isn't in good shape now, it will be by the time you're done playing this game. Get stuck in your opponent's arms and a box will appear with a bar and two colors. The thin red strips on the side are for reversals; the larger blue strip lets you escape. Your goal is to study the white bar as it slides back and forth press the X button when it's inside one of the colors. Only the luckiest or most skilled players will be able to land multiple reversals. You have less than one second to press the X button as the bar crosses the reversal's path.

Stamina is another thing players will have to be aware of. No one can fight at full strength forever. When your wrestler starts to feel the burn, hold the select button to regain stamina and to get your butt kicked by your opponent when he/she notices that you’re recover stamina. Recovery isn’t possible unless your opponent is distracted (or nearly unconscious. Either works). Taking the fight outside the ring is a wrestling tradition. There's a chance you'll get disqualified if you stay outside the ring too long, but the risk is worth it. Outside you have more freedom. Throw The Rock into rubber rails and he'll bounce back. He might be a little stunned, but he'll be Ok. Throw him into a wall outside the ring and he'll feel the difference, as will his opponent as he comes in for another attack.

SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2006's challenge mode rivals the comparable modes in EA's sports games. Four difficulties, several dozen challenges, and all of them are different. Picked at random, here are the requirements for four of them:

Steal an opponent's taunt
Perform dive attacks
Break two commentator tables
Reverse a finisher

These features keep the player busy and build skill at the same time.

The creation modes are back in full force with four returning favorites: Create a Superstar, Create a Stable, Create a Move Set, and Create a Championship. New to the game is the Create an Entrance mode, which allows you to edit the way your wrestlers are featured as they enter the ring. Choose a color effect (green, monochrome, orange sepia, etc.) to filter the screen. Alter the camera so that it cuts to different angles. Add fireworks or take them away - pick specific room lights, and decide which music will play. The Create an Entrance mode also lets you decide the motion your wrestlers present as they enter the ring (aerobics, body builder, cowboy, rapper, etc.).

Putting the smack down on its competitors, WWE Smack Down! Vs. Raw 2006 could be the must-own wrestling game when it's released. The bold, bronzed appearance of the wrestlers and close proximity of the camera really add to how the game looks and feels. Gamers who love to customize will have a second to be bored once they discover the five different creation modes. Six players can jump into the game for crowded multiplayer battles, the way a WWE game should be.