ZX's Review of SD vs Raw 2007

[ZX]

Graphics: 5 out 5 for 360, 4 out of 5 for PS2

THQ really brings the WWE to life more and more each year with their attention to detail on all of the WWE Superstars and Divas. Those with a Xbox 360 are really in for a treat with new sweat effects this year.

Sound: 5

FINALLY THQ got rid of the music that sounds like you're in a barnyard or ho-down, even though I did like 2 songs top in 06 (Miss Machine, my fav). There's a mix of urban hip hop (Scrappy's Money in the Bank is in) along with some rock songs. THQ did a well variety of music for this game. So at least I don't have to mute the TV when making CAWs this year lol. In matches, Superstars and Divas grunt off key moves, which is a new feature this year. But the audience is muted now during finishers. My guess it that they are taking a page from EA's Def Jam Vendetta games with that for you can hear the degree of damage your finisher is dealing to an opponent.

Gameplay (split into sections)

Season Mode: 4.7

It's not as free roaming as HTCP and SD!2 as you're always set into situations that last til the next PPV. I would give this mode a 5 but being champion isn't fun as you miss out on most of the good storylines as a contender. Still, you can tell THQ really put some thought into the storylines this year.

GM Mode: 2 (for me) or 4 (if you're crazy about all this scheduling)

It was only the same mode from last year but with the ability that you can now turn injuries on/off. THQ loses cool points for that as it made this mode too easy to beat. Plus recycling the same top card over and over yeilds the same results for you can win easily. It was not fair that you were forced to play this mode if you wanted the Unlimited EXP for your CAWs and Superstars. Oh yea you can edit the default rosters' OVRs in GM Mode.

Create Modes: 2.6

Instead of carrying over everything from the past years, THQ decides to add in restrictions to your CAWs now. Divas can't wear the same as guys and vice versa.There is a new Stylish feature for certain parts but it doesn't help the fact that most CAWs will really look alike now even more so than last year.

At least 3/4 of the hair models from 06 are gone There are 228 moves for CAM gone/removed compared with 06, such as old time favorites as the Death Valley Driver and new addition from last year, Remember That.

While most people don't realize this but THQ has gone backwards in the moveset department. With the return of quick grapples, the SD series is back down to the JBI level. CAWs, especially on 360 look TOO detailed (yes, it can be a bad thing if those who played JBI remember that problem of the monsters that came out JBI's CAW mode).

On the plus side, CAE has a new layout with your Entrance playing in the background as you edit it. Create A Stable is back with a new feature that you either make stables to be Alliances or Tag Teams (Tags are part of the Power 25 in GM Mode and get a EXP bonus).

Exhibition/Match Types: 3

THQ made me almost about to sell this game back immediately after I realized my favorite match is gone (Ladder Triple Threat Tornado Tag). Well MitB is a nice addition but they should have worked on the AI in that a bit more. The new Crowd area is nice but it should have been like in JBI that it was available in ALL match types. Overall, gameplay is quicker and it's near impossible to make matches drag out as long as ones were in some of the older games.

Controls: 4 (if you keep the default) or 5 (if you're using Type D like me)

The new controls are a nice idea but I have better uses for my analog sticks - namely Devil May Cry and buffering combos in Soul Calibur 2 and 3. They get kudos for the effort though. Just not for me. The Ultimate Control Moves are an excellent touch though but too abusable.

Overall Score: 7.9 out of 10

Why? B/c this game feels like 2006 but with a few more people to the roster. Maybe this is what 2006 should have been. I'm sorry but this is a sad excuse for SD's last outting on the PS2. I'm just hoping there will be Codebreaker codes for fixing some of the crap in this game (Big Show weighing less that Khali!!??). Those looking for an updated roster this is a must buy, but CAW makers I suggest you stick with 06.

[carremarie30]

Well since your review reads exactly how I feel, I think I'll only slightly modify your review with my own.



Graphics: 5 out of 5 for PS2

Well I really enjoyed the graphics upgrade. The solid profile pics and the crisp new look in the arena's made me happy. I think this was the best thing about SVR2007

Sound: 3

I try to be patient with music as it's key to happiness, but this music grates on my nerves after about an hour of listening. I wish they give you an option of what songs you want to play and which ones don't. Also, the commentary this year is horrible, I exclusivly play Diva's and don't enjoy being called him, or then suddenly for no reason being called HBK. The commentary was bugged as hell and I'm quite upset about it.

Gameplay (split into sections)

Season Mode: 4.0 (5.0 if they gave Diva's one too)

I love the story mode, it's a great job done by THQ, but why the hell don't they let Diva's have their own Storymode? We are out there wrestling our butts off too! I know THQ thinks of Diva's as simply eye candy, but I bet ya most of the diva's could kick the guys who produce the game's asses!

GM Mode: 1

Probably the most boring aspect of this game. Not only that, but your created superstars start with a reputation rating of 20 which goes up like 1 point if you win. It's terrible. I enjoy watching the real stars on tv, and making my own on my tv!

Create Modes: 1.5

Probably the saddest thing I discovered when I got the game. I'm so angry about this. Took aways like over a thousand options with this new caw mode. Sure they got rid of the blur, the only plus to this, but got RID OF EVERYTHING that was good about SVR 2006. The gameplay, the tons of new wrestlers, don't make up for this in my book at all. I was frantically reading about to see if they were just being cute and put them as a hidden feature you unlock. Nope, they ruined the major fun part of SVR for me.

Exhibition/Match Types: 2

Is THQ afraid of success? I'm not a big fan of the Fantasy matches but I think taking those out will probably disappoint the pre-pubescent crowd. The killer for me though is the insult that Diva's simply cant' climb a ladder, or be hardcore or do a goddamn thing except submit...most men's dreams I guess..

Controls: 3
New content, don't need new controls, the old ones worked fine. The little extra thing is stupid and useless. (Yes I'm in a super negative mood thanks to this damn game. I don't make much money and I scrimped and saved to get this joke of a damn game)

Overall Score: 4.4 out of 10

The upgraded rosters, the newly updated rings are the only two redeeming things in this game. Everything else, is horrible beyond anything I could of imagined. I was so excited about getting this game that I didn't read reviews before buying it. I was thinking there was going to be a lot more options for Diva's and CAW's, and boy, was I disappointed. Stay far away from this stinker if you enjoy making your own wrestlers.

[Justice]

Actually, I was realy harshing on it when I first got it. but now that I've spent a fair amount of time with the game, I'm liking it more and more.

Sound: Don't even get me started! ALL the music this year is lame-assed nobodies (except Godsmack but they just suck). Last year I shut the music off for cawing. Now I just shut it off. And who's bright idea was it to create a game that taxes the limits of the ps2 hardware then decide "Hey! Lets have music during loading!" As if the loading time doesn't suck as is.....

Graphics: 5/5 overall. My biggest beef here is that they got lazy on some of the renders. Finlay and Mickie James were notables where they barely resemble their reallife counterparts. Other than that, no gripes here!

Season Mode: Gotta love this! The stories here are better than the crap on tv these days. And the inclusion of multiplayer capabilities totally rox! But I do agree that Divas need something to do. On tv, it's ok to look good. If that's all you have to do in a video game.........

GM Mode: Always a perennial fave in my house Me and my buddees use it as an rpg. Not much to say here other than it still plays the same as last year's pretty much and the Story writers were interesting. I do like the ability of having up to 4 peepos in a feud now.

Create Modes: This was the biggest back and forth for me. I was tweaked at first because there was nothing there! Then I started unlocking things and it wasn't so bad. All the options are there once you have everything unlocked you just gotta look for them because they streamlined the menus a bit so not everything is in the same place. The biggest concern for me here is the lack of ability to stack underwear layers. I may still need to do something or who knows whith THQ, but no matter what I've tried so far, every thime I try to add a new bra or underwear layer, it just edit's what's there instead of adding a new layer >< So I couldn't re-create Justice's '06 attire even if I wanted to, for example The other concern is that if you do the face morphing then decide to edit the eyebrows, the face morphing turns your face into one that resembles Darkness in the movie "Legend". The removal of blur from the majority of designs is definitely an added bonus tho

Exhibition: The loss of the "Fulfill your Fantasy" and the "Slobberknocker" match types really annoyed me. I hadn't even noticed the loss of the Triple threat tag Ladder math type. That was another fave over here too. While I do appreciate the addition of a 5-man Battle Royal for the women's title, everything else is pretty much the same.
It should be noted however, that the divas did get a little love in this category. Any match type that allows managers does allow divas to be the manager. Also, they have FINALLY fixed the enterances to include the managers (I.E. the 3 person DX entrance works with a tag and a manager now . Divas can still special referee the same matches as before however.

Controls: A most welcome addition here! I'll admit that when I first started, I used option C. but in an effort to try to figure out why I paid real money for the game, I tried them out. In only a couple of matches I got used to them very quickly. Biggest beef here is the placement of the targetting button requires you to move your thumb off the direction pad or stick to press the "Select" button.
Overall, the new controls rock but aren't as streamlined as previously done. Running ground strikes are a little more laborious to do but not restrictively so. A warning to those of you who use the old school controls that there is no button for targetting in those configurations. Play anything with more than 2 people (including singles matches as they have a referee) with extreme caution. Most of my beginning frustrations with the game stemmed from the fact that I couldn't target who I wanted without getting my ass whupped first.

Overall Gameplay: Same as before. It does feel a little more immersive until the commentary glitches. The old gameplay glitches are still there with the addition of a new one. Now that we have the ability to whap buttons to get up faster, it makes it near impossible to time counters from the ground because you see the tap buttons bar and either barely or not at all see the counter indicators.

Artificial Intelligence: Woot! This game has some!!! The CPU still makes some odd choices in certain match types, but overall is much more realistic than '06.

Overall: A really good game, and once everything is unlocked it more closely resembles '06. Definitely worth it but time will have to be spent with it. You can't play 1 singles match and take it back. Like I said earlier, when I first played it, there wasn't enough bile I could spew at my ps2. Now, I'm sooo glad I kept it

[Kirsten]

I don't even have SD vs Raw 2007 yet but from what I've heard its not as good as last years anyway....apart from the updated roster and graphics