WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW (often shortened to WWE SvR and known as Exciting Pro Wrestling 6: SmackDown! vs. RAW in Japan), is a professional wrestling video game released on the PlayStation 2 console by THQ and developed by YUKE's Future Media Creators. It is part of the WWE SmackDown series and is based on the professional wrestling promotion World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). This game is the sequel to 2003's WWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain and was succeeded in 2005 by WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006.

Gameplay

The game is largely similar to its predecessor, but adds some key features. The most heavily marketed ones were the game's improved graphics with an increased polygon count and the game's addition of voice overs in Season mode provided by actual WWE performers (previous WWE games had used sampled wrestler voices sparingly). The latter feature was somewhat controversial for several reasons. The voice overs supplied are only for wrestlers that are not being controlled - the player's controlled wrestler spoke through subtitles. The addition of voice overs was also linked to the Season Mode being more linear than Here Comes the Pain. The story lines encountered are generally the same for each wrestler, with the only differences being the difference in opponents encountered, depending on which wrestler is chosen. Several new gameplay features are introduced, including pre-match and in-match mini-games. The pre-match mini games are randomly chosen before every singles match:

• Test of strength - a certain button shows up on the screen and the first player to press the button overpowers the other one. Best two out of three wins.
• Stare down - the wrestlers talk trash to each other before the match and after a while, an "X" button picture appears. The first wrestler to press the button after that hits the other wrestler. Pressing the button too early will cause the wrestler to lose the stare down.
• Shoving match - a wrestler initiates the match by pressing the X button when prompted, causing the wrestler to gently shove his opponent. A semi-circular meter appears and the player must stop the arrow at certain points of the meter to shove again with full power. If the player doesn't time the first shove correctly, the other player gets a turn to shove. Best of three shoves wins.

Several in-game minigames were also introduced:

• Chop battle - initiated by pressing down and the "O" button simultaneously while the opponent is in the corner. The mechanics are similar to the shoving match mini-game, with chops replacing the shoves. The addition of this mini-game replaced one grapple in each wrestler's corner position move set.
• Spanking mini-game - in bra and panties matchups, a female wrestler could enter a "spanking" mini-game. The meter mechanic from the chop battles are retained, but the player must perfectly time the button press three consecutive times to win. If the player does so, a cut scene of the two female wrestlers kissing is played.

Also added to the game was the Clean/Dirty system, which influenced each wrestlers tactics. Players can choose if the wrestler is clean, dirty or neutral. A clean or dirty wrestler has a meter that can be filled up by performing special clean/dirty actions or moves. Clean wrestlers with a full meter can enable a temporary rush of invincibility while dirty wrestlers can perform an illegal move. The ability to sustain a submission till the count of 5 once a rope break had been reached was also implemented.

The game features several arenas that WWE held events at in 2003 and 2004; there are also arenas based on each WWE television show.

Features

WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW also includes a redone WWE PPV (Pay-Per-View) mode from its past games where the player can play sample PPV's from 2004, or create a PPV of their own.

Also, the game featured an all-new Create a Championship mode where the player can create and defend the title in their created PPV.

Roster

RAW A-Train Batista Chris Benoit Chris Jericho Christian Chuck Palumbo Edge Garrison Cade Kane Matt Hardy Molly Holly Randy Orton Rhyno Ric Flair Shawn Michaels Shelton Benjamin Stacy Keibler Tajiri Triple H Trish Stratus Victoria

SmackDown! Big Show Booker T Bubba-Ray Dudley Charlie Haas Chavo Guerrero D-Von Dudley Eddie Guerrero Hardcore Holly JBL John Cena Kurt Angle Mark Jindrak René Duprée Rey Mysterio Rico Rob Van Dam Sable Scotty 2 Hotty The Undertaker Torrie Wilson

Legends André the Giant Bret Hart Brutus Beefcake Jimmy Snuka Legend Undertaker Mankind Masked Kane Road Warrior Animal Road Warrior Hawk Roddy Piper The Rock

Non-Playable Characters Earl Hebner Eric Bischoff Jerry Lawler Jim Ross Jonathan Coachman Michael Cole Mike Chioda Mr. McMahon Paul Heyman Tazz ((Wild Dog))

Soundtrack

• "Bring the Noise" (Public Enemy & Anthrax)
• "Firefly" (Breaking Benjamin)
• "Polyamorous" (Breaking Benjamin)
• "The Angle" (Core)
• "Last Night on Earth" (Powerman 5000)
• "Riot Time" (Powerman 5000)
• "The Way It Is" (Powerman 5000)
• "When Worlds Collide (also theme for game)(Powerman 5000)
• "Bonecracker" (Shocore)
• "Superstars" (Styles of Beyond)
• "Bottom Line" (Swollen Members)
• "Chasing After" (Tantric)
• "Can't Stop" (PreThing)
• "Alone" (Zebrahead)
• "Falling Apart" (Zebrahead)

*All songs are also featured in WWE WrestleMania 21 for the Xbox.
*All Songs except for those provided by the group Powerman 5000 are also featured in WWE Day of Reckoning on the GameCube.

External links

Official

• WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw Official Site
• THQ.com: WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw Mini Site
• THQ.de: WWE SmackDown! vs. RawCommunity
• WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw at IGN
• WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw (PS2) at GameSpot