WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw
Sorti le 2 novembre 2004 sur PlayStation 2, WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw est un jeu de sport et de combat développé et édité par Yuke's, avec la participation de THQ. Le titre réunit deux séries populaires de jeux de catch sur la console de Sony et reconstitue les programmes de la WWE à travers un mode saison incluant doublages et commentaires. Les combats proposent de nouvelles mécaniques comme les stare-downs, les chop battles et les reversals de soumission, tandis que le jeu offre des défis situationnels, la création d'un championnat et la possibilité d'incarner des catcheurs favoris, des légendes et des Divas.
L'accueil critique a été globalement positif, avec une note moyenne agrégée de 71,47. TotalGames.net a salué la capacité du jeu à capturer l'essence de la WWE tout en proposant un beat-'em-up technique et exigeant, et Next Level Gaming a jugé qu'il s'agissait de la meilleure version de la série et même du meilleur jeu de catch disponible à l'époque. Du côté des joueurs, certains ont trouvé le titre correct mais moins rejouable que les opus précédents, tandis que d'autres l'ont comparé favorablement à Here Comes the Pain pour ses graphismes et animations, regrettant toutefois l'impossibilité de modifier les commentaires.
Médias
Avis des critiques et joueurs
Critiques de la Presse (Metacritic)
« The fact that Smackdown! Vs RAW manages to both encapsulate the essence of the WWE while also delivering a highly skill-based and technical beat-'em-up means that even those without a taste for wrestling will be able to enjoy at least most of what the game has to offer. »
« This is indeed the best version of WWE Smackdown there has been yet. To be honest, it's really the best wrestling game out there right now. »
« Some of the changes are hits, others are misses, but the bottom line is that this is another quality effort from Yuke's and THQ. [Dec 2004, p.102] »
« Even with all the minor and major issues I have with this game that aren't fixed for the umpteenth time, the core gameplay is very, very good and improves on the Here Comes The Pain engine in every way, bringing back all the match types (some with modifications) and the all new and great Parking Lot Brawl. »
« A wonderful new edition to the SmackDown! family, serving up slick graphics, vastly enhanced gameplay, and lots of other bells and whistles that make the whole package shine. Online play is a bit of a disappointment, but better than not having any online play at all. »
« The best wrestling game on the market, period, exclamation point. »
« It’s a very good game, but there’s just not enough improvement, and the big new features like online play and wrestlers’ voices couldn’t have been done any worse than they were. »
« A very good game that any WWE fan should play. However, those looking for a leap as huge as "Here Comes The Pain" introduced will be disappointed. The much vaunted online mode isn’t nearly as great as it could have been. »
Avis des Joueurs (Metacritic)
« It’s alright but compared to SYM and its later versions lack of repplayability »
« This is practically HERE COMES TO PAIN but with better graphics and animations, for this game to be worth 10, it just lacked the possibility to change the commands because I wanted to leave it the same as in SVR 2011. There was also a cutscene at the end of the fight showing the fighter celebrating. »
« Soundtrack 10/10 Gameplay 8/10 Season Mode 6.5/10 Roster 8/10 If you love the SmackDown! series then you will love this game. »
« WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ. »
« One of the best wrestling games ever made!!!! 10/10 GREAT!!!! Awesome!!! Awesome!!! Awesome!!!! »
« No doubt one of the best WWE video games of all time. Really enjoyable game and definitely my favorite wrestling game along with "Here Comes The Pain" »
« It's an average wrestling game. No more no less. Not that big of a wrestling fan either. But it has it moments of fun (usually when I'm playing with friends) »
« This is the best wrestling game ever made. And it has a lot of things that are more realistic than the new wrestlings. The best characters are included right here in this game. It's feking epic!! »
