Amazon.com: WWE SmackDown! vs RAW 2006 (PSP): Sony PSP: Video Games

19 Reviews

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
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4.1 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)

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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PSP AT ITS FINEST, December 15, 2005

MRICH - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars

This review is from: WWE SmackDown! vs RAW 2006 (PSP) (Video Game)

Alright SDvRaw06 is a must have for any wrestling fan that owns a psp. Dont give it any thought just go buy it its that good. The game has so much depth just like the ps2 version. It has GM mode, Season mode, Mini Games, n a slew of create features like create a wrestler, entrence, title, ppv, stable, and so on. They did a really good job on the roster also. True they forgot alot of the newer superstars like lashley, MNM, The Mexicools, Boogyman, Ken Kennedy, etc. But they made up for it by including great legends and current superstars. Its kinda odd though that they included stars that havent been with the WWE in quite some time like spike dudley, n the Bashems, but im glad they didnt take out the stars that have recently departed for various reasons like hassan, y2j, christian, and eddie (RIP).
The psp version does however have a bunch of little things that get on your nerves. For instance load times are absolutly rediculous ranging from 1 to 2 min b4 a match. Also some of the superstars have really messed up entrences. For instance Batista doesnt have his piro n Rob Conway n Silvan both have there new enterence music n annimatons but still have there old La Resistance gimics. The last thing that drives me nuts is CAW, sure CAW is awsome but unlike the ps2 version u are seriously limited in your creation becasue besides the main base layers u can only add 6 more. So like if your guy has a tat,knee and elbow pads,n some kinda facial hair u only have room for 2 more layers n 1 of them is manditory shoes so pretty much u can create like Matt Hardy and Lashley but forget about making Boogyman or Road Warrior Animal and other complex individuals.
Overall this is a great game dispite its flaws. I feel that it is one of psp's few outstanding titles. If your a fan of the WWE then this game is perfect for you.

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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost identical to the PS2 version. If you can handle longer load times you'll like it., January 23, 2006

Miketheratguy (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars

This review is from: WWE SmackDown! vs RAW 2006 (PSP) (Video Game)

THE SHORT: It's amazing how similar this is to the PS2 version. Little changes are made- a much more basic Locker room, a less animated crowd, and a little less smooth wrestlers. Aside from that, this game is stuffed. It's got the same roster, same match types, same modes (even GM, season, and create modes) and even all the storyline voices and events are included. It's pretty amazing for such a tiny format, but the load times can be a drag.

THE LONG: I have an extremely detailed review here of the PS2 game, so if you haven't played either you should check it out to see how the game stacks up to others. I'm going to continue assuming you've played the PS2 version, because they're honestly so identical that I don't want to repeat that review here. If you'd rather not read that lengthy review, I'll just say that SDVR2K6 is a very robust wrestling game, full of customization and a good roster. If you're a fan of the Smackdown series, you'll probably like the new modes and customization offered in this entry. The only major changes to the Smackdown formula is the addition of more cool new stuff, though the AI could have been better.

Now onto the PSP version. In general, this is a fantastic portable wrestling package. Every wrestler and match type from the PS2 is here, and you can even fuss around for hours creating wrestlers, movesets, belts, and entrances. The storyline, or season mode, didn't suffer either since all the animations and voices are still included. Aside from those load times, the only thing greatly different between these two versions is the Locker room feature: In the PS2 version, you could walk around in it, color it and decorate it with items, and unlock little trinkets to place inside. In the PSP version, it's a lot more basic- different screens instead of movement, no little items to unlock and no coloring or customizing. You do however still get to come here to check the same statistics, alter loading screens, and so on. While I liked the extra stuff here in the PS2 version, the rest of this game is so solid that if the Locker room had to be minimized to make the game as a whole run so well, I'm satisfied.

As for gameplay itself, it's totally the same. I mean, exactly. The menus, screens, text, options, music, it's all just like it is on the PS2 game. Matches themselves are surprisingly smooth- every move you're used to (and more importantly, the control scheme) is the same. You still move with the control pad instead of the stick, and the graphics look basically the same- the camera still goes into nifty angles and intentional slo-mo for the finishers, etc. The only difference is that the actual polygon count on everything is a bit smaller, meaning slightly less smooth shoulders and ring ropes and so forth. Seriously, check out photos of the game, the graphics are quite acceptable.

One important difference during the matches is what you hear: In the PSP version, you hear music but no commentary. This is a complete reversal of the console version, which had no music whatsoever but constant dialogue between the commentators. Take this as you will, some people hate the commentary. I for one like the music during the matches; now backstage brawls are no longer as silent as a tomb.

One other small detail in the matches is an occasional hiccup. Don't be alarmed, it's nothing major. Just sometimes when you're five or seven minutes into a match, or occasionally when you go for a pin, there's a quick freeze of maybe one second and then the action continues normally. Some might argue that this sucks, and no, it isn't really a GOOD thing. But honestly, it doesn't really affect me. I'm noting it here so buyers will be aware, but it's seriously not annoying to me since it's only happened once per match, and sometimes not at all. It doesn't really affect the gameplay, it's just the occasional data load.

Which brings me to the one major fault I find with the game, and that's load times. Clearly, it's noticeable enough for all the other reviewers to mention, so I'll add my two cents. In reality, you have to get used to PSP games being longer to load. I have Star Wars Battlefront 2, which also takes noticeably longer than the console version. It's something to be expected of the system.

That being said, there's good and bad: In singles matches, menu selecting, and similar basic selections the loading isn't too bad. Maybe half a minute between a match that I play for 8 straight minutes is no big deal to me. It does get to be kind of a drag when you have matches like Hell in a Cell or those with more than a few wrestlers. Again, it's not too major but it's a bit of a pain to wait an extra 10-15 seconds to load the special winning scene where your wrestler is climbing the cell and stuff like that. Basic rule is, the more you add, the more you'll wait, but loading usually isn't more than maybe a minute. Ease things up by turning off entrances.

Created wrestlers are a different story. It's still pretty fun to create them on a PSP (with all the same options and items), and if you have the PS2 version and a basic USB cable you can link your two systems and send all your CAWs over within seconds. In fact, if you have both then I'd advise creating them on the PS2 and then sending them over. They look the same on your PSP as they do on the console, which is cool. It's just that creating them takes a little longer. The little blips of loading different clothing and appearance options on the PS2 take a second or two here, which isn't bad but noticeable. So you can still create the same insanely detailed wrestler as before, and the PSP version doesn't force seperate loading screens or anything, it's just that changing items takes a bit more than before. Playing them is another story though. When you pick a created wrestler to use, the game actually warns you that it's going to take longer, which it does. Expect at least an extra 15-25 seconds of pre-match loading for each created wrestler you put in a match (same goes for entrances and end-match scenes, so be warned). Yes, it sucks, but once you're in the match itself things are perfectly fine.

Honestly, I look at it this way: They left the option to use created wrestlers up to you. You can either use them and suffer the load times, or not use them at all. I'm just glad they left the feature in for us to choose, instead of deciding that it's inconvenient and cutting the feature altogether. So yeah, loading is a drag, most apparent with CAWs. But I like that they're there, and I do use them. I like having the option.

Really though, that's it. I was shocked by how exact this game stacks up to its console brother. As previously mentioned, I have Battlefront 2, which is fun but is missing at least half a dozen stages of the console versions. Here, Smackdown has everything except the extra locker room stuff. Season mode voices and animation are full and clear, meaning entire five minute sections of full dialogue and animation setting up feuds and so forth. GM mode is still robust and addicting, and all the wrestlers and match types are in. It's honestly as if they hit a button to compact the PS2 game, scraping off just enough of the outside to fit it onto the PSP, and the result in my opinion is very successful.

Bottom line? Loading times suck, yeah. But that's about it. The other things like less smooth characters and less animated crowds is honestly so negligible that you won't pay any attention once you feel how normal the rest of the game is. All the options, the stamina meter, the custom sliders, the roster, the move sets, etc etc etc, are what you're used to. The best way I can sum it up is with this sentence: If you wanna play a portable version of Smackdown V Raw 2006 and can handle longer load times, then you'll be happy because that's exactly what you'll get.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Game ..... Really !!!, March 8, 2006

Raymond A. Lang "Timothy Lang" (RSA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

= Durability:2.0 out of 5 stars = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars = Educational:2.0 out of 5 stars

This review is from: WWE SmackDown! vs RAW 2006 (PSP) (Video Game)

This Is A Really Excellant Game ..... The Only Negative With This Game is The Really Poor Load Times. Everything else Really Runs Well .... The Graphics are great and there are many cool tunes the enterances which take a long time to load are Very Realistic ..... Overall a 4 Star is in order.

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