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**Dark-Slicer Diago** · 07-27-2004, 12:35 AM

IGN Overload

WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW is getting ready to hit the PS2 like a ton of bricks this fall. Easily one of the most, if not the most, anticipated sports game to come out this year, SmackDown! vs. RAW could very well have sales in the same unbelievable range as the previous entries in the series. With new wrestlers, new moves, new voices, deeper storylines, more customization, and the possibility of online play (which is already in beta testing), this game is going to be frickin' massive.

To help you make sense of it all, we've decided to compile tons of information about SmackDown! vs. RAW into one place. All the big questions about the game are answered with info about several different aspects of the gameplay. Sure, this isn't all of the info available about the game so far, but it covers the bases enough that extra searching will be only for the hardest of the hardcore out there who are going to be on the constant lookout anyway. If you just want to know everything there is to know of interest, check this out. Even if you're a diehard fan of the series, check this out anyway -- it's a great source of new information, too.
So for all you fans of the game who want to know just what the hell is going on with the latest in this insanely popular series, just sit back, relax, and take a deep breath before diving into the information. Special thanks to PSM and THQ for helping us to make this happen.

What superstars can we expect to see and how many are there?
Contrary to other reports, the final roster has not yet been determined. Furthermore, the number of superstars on the lineup is still up in the air. Though, it has been confirmed that where will be in excess of 50 current wrestlers, with additional characters available in the legends bracket. Here are the confirmed wrestlers so far:

Current Wrestlers

A-Train
D-Von Dudley
Ric Flair
Batista
Eddie Guerrero
Rikishi
The Big Show
Garrison Cade
Rob Van Dam
Booker T
John Cena
Scotty 2 Hotty
Bubba Ray Dudley
Kane
Shawn Michaels
Charlie Haas
Kurt Angle
Shelton Benjamin
Chavo Guerrero
Mark Jindrak
Stacy Kiebler
Chris Benoit
Matt Hardy
Tajiri
Chris Jericho
Randy Orton
Torrie Wilson
Christian
Rey Mysterio
Triple H
Chuck Palumbo
Rhyno
Trish Stratus

Legends

Andre the Giant
Old-School Kane
Old-School Undertaker

Keep in mind, the roster above is incomplete and is definitely subject to change (we're looking your way Rikishi and Scotty!)

Are any of the legends from last year's games back for this year?
As you can see by the answer above, only three legends have been confirmed up to this point, but with several more on the way, it's certainly possible. Unlike last year, however, legends cannot be used during season mode.

Is the grappling system any different?
Though the changes to the grappling system won't be as dramatic as last year, there are still a number of significant changes for this version. The first and most important alteration, for instance, is that signature and quick grapples are harder to counter than power and submission moves. Additionally, players can now partake in grapples while sitting on the mat, perform new halfway-standing grapples, and even participate in back and forth chopping matches like the ones that Ric Flair and Sting made famous back in their NWA days.

Another big feature this year is the inclusion of face and heel special maneuvers. Tailored to each wrestler's personality, these moves allow for temporary invincibility for heels that let them cheat without getting caught, while faces can do, uh, whatever it is faces do. Of course, the ladies are getting a slight grappling addition themselves, with the spank meter -- the more accurate a player is with their meter, the more accurate the spank. And depending on the spank, the woman's reaction could either be painful or pleasurable; with special animations dedicated to both responses.

Is it true that submission holds have been refined?
Yes, it's true. A new time-based meter has been added to the tug-of-war grappling system that allows players to add more intensity to their holds so that they can be applied longer and do more damage. On the flipside, other players can reverse the submission holds from within this animation based on their own performance, and can finally break subs while in tag team matches.

Are there any new attributes or character abilities?
Indeed there are. The old attributes of Strength, Submission, Stamina, Technique, and Speed are back, but have now been joined by charisma. It's a pretty important addition too, as it's used to determine how much of SmackDown move bonus you receive when taunting.
Speaking of taunting, players can also argue with the referee following close two-counts or put their foot on the ropes when pinning. They run the risk of getting disqualified if they push things over the edge, but can gain an extra advantage or two if it pays off for them.

Perhaps the coolest new addition, though, is the inclusion of pre-match staredowns and test of strength competitions. You can even get into shoving matches and get an early advantage on your opponent of you play your cards right.

How about the weight detection system? Is it better?
Is sure is. The game boasts much smarter weight detection and finally plays into finishers too. For you abusers out there, this means that you can forget about pressing The Big Show up in the air with a powerslam just because it's your special.

What arenas are confirmed so far?
Barely any. But after a phone call and some research, we've confirmed that the last arenas used for SummerSlam, Backlash, and Armageddon are already in the game.

Can we create our own belts?
Yes! Through the season mode you'll be able to earn money which you can use to Create-A-Belt by buying and configuring a variety of belt parts.

What new modes are there?
Create-A-PPV lets player finally create their own pay-per-view events of three to eight matches complete with new matches of their own devise, legendary matches of days past, and current matches seen on television. With the user created belts, players can even allow combatants to vie for the grand prize. Imagine creating your own wrestlers and belts and then having them compete against one another. Incredible. The best part is this doesn't affect the season, so people won't be afraid of partaking in the festivities.

Also being added to the table are Challenges. According to PSM, these are matches that can only be won by meeting certain criteria, such as pulling off two finishers in one match or beating four legendary wrestlers with a specific character.

Can we add our own music into the game via the HDD?
Nope. We will not be able to add our own customized music into the game. In fact, there is no hard drive support whatsoever.

What has been added to Season Mode?
First, the storylines have been revamped so that they're now more engaging and more believable (within the sports entertainment context of wrestling, anyway). There are now also mini-games that not only help build a character's attributes (perhaps somewhat analogous to how mini-games in Rocky and Fight Night build characters), but there are also mini-games that alter a wrestler's heel or face status (whether or not he is a bad or good guy). Storylines are now also completely voiced by the wrestlers themselves and include taunts, signature attacks, and a variety of other dialogue being classified as "respect actions," of which we still know little about.
Will women have their own season mode this year?
Nope. Still no season mode for women.

How has create-a-wrestler improved?
Off-the-bat, expect new, higher resolution textures and a streamlined interface. Also, given the advanced state of the engine, character models now have double the amount of polygons to work with. Higher polygon counts and higher resolution textures can make for some pretty startling characters. That's all we know for sure at this point, but we can also expect a greater diversity of customization, including more colors, accessories, and otherwise configurable settings.

Can you edit existing wrestlers?
You cannot edit existing wrestlers.

Will Smackdown vs. Raw be on any other platforms?
Nope. This one is PS2 exclusive.

Is there a Buried Alive match?
There is not a Buried Alive match, but there is a Parking Lot Brawl, which you can find further details about by browsing through a news article we published on July 16, 2004.

Will there be voiceovers for announcers or superstars?
Yes. There are real voiceovers for every wrestler in the game, except for those legend wrestlers who are not a part of season mode. Even the announcers from both Smackdown and Raw are in the game (no Heat team, however). Players will also be able to choose which announce team they'd prefer to listen to. The game is very comprehensive when it comes to voiceover work. The only limitation is that when you create-a-wrestler you cannot assign a voice to him. In this respect, the game is more like Knights of the Old Republic, in that your character doesn't actually speak. In conversations, player made characters will have dialogue trees, but will say nothing aloud.

Can we create a manager?
You're always able to create any character and assign him / her as your manager. If you'd like, you can even assign any existing character to be your manager.

Any graphical improvements?
Yes. There are approximately 25% more polygons per wrestler and enhanced texture detail for existing and created grapplers. Additionally, stadiums have more detail, characters have added animations, and facial likenesses are far more accurate.

When is SmackDown vs. RAW coming out?
As of this writing, SvR is scheduled for release on November 15, 2004. Keep in mind, however, that this date is one that has been established by retailers and not THQ, which means it can (and likely will) change before the game is finished.
Is it online or not?
This is a tricky subject, but the official answer is "maybe." While it's true that Sony Computer Entertainment has opened an online beta test to try SmackDown! vs. RAW's various capabilities, the results of that test is what determines whether or not that feature will make it into the final build. Furthermore, it is unknown what kind of online play these betas will offer -- be it head-to-head, scoreboards, downloads, or whatever. Only time will tell what becomes of this.

Oh, before you go -- What new match types are there?
There is only one new match type, the Parking Lot Brawl. For reference, all of the match types in the game are:

Single

Single vs. Single

Single with Manager vs. Single with Manager Single vs. Single with Manager
Tag

Tag vs. Tag

Tornado Tag Tag vs. Tag with Manager
Tag with Manager vs. Tag with Manager

6-Man Tag

Normal 6-Man Tag
Tornado 6-Man Tag

Handicap

One on Two
One on Tag
One on Three

Hardcore

Single
Tornado Tag
Tornado 6-Man Tag
Triple Threat Tornado Tag
Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
Time Limit

Royal Rumble

Survival

Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
4-Man Battal Royal
5-Man Battle Royal
6-Man Battle Royal

3 Stages Of Hell

Bra & Panties

Cage

Single
Tornado Tag Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
Single Pin and Give Up Triple Threat Pin and Give Up
Fatal 4-Way Pin and Give Up

Elimination Chamber

Elimination Tag

Normal Tag
Tornado Tag Captain Fall Tornado 6-Man Tag
Normal 6-Man Tag
Tornado 6-Man Tag Table Tornado Tag
Table Tornado 6-Man Tag

First Blood

Hell in a Cell

Single
Tornado Tag Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
Tornado Tag Armageddon
Ironman

Ladder

Single
Tornado Tag
Triple Threat Tornado Tag
Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way

Last Man Standing

Lumber Jack

Slobber Knocker

Time Limit
No Limit Anywhere

Special Referee

One Referee Single
One Referee Normal Tag
One Referee Ironman
Two Referees Single
Two Referees Normal Tag
Two Referees Ironman
Submission

Single
Ultimate Submission
Table

Single
Tornado Tag
Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
Tornado 6-Man Tag
TLC

Single
Tornado Tag
Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
Title Title Tornado Tag
Title Triple Threat
Title Fatal 4-Way
Parking Lot Brawl

Single
Tornado Tag
Tornado 6-Man Tag
Triple Threat Tornado Tag
Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
Time Limit

07-27-2004, 12:35 AM	#255
Dark-Slicer Diago The Darkness Has Awoken Posts: 2,619	IGN Overload WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW is getting ready to hit the PS2 like a ton of bricks this fall. Easily one of the most, if not the most, anticipated sports game to come out this year, SmackDown! vs. RAW could very well have sales in the same unbelievable range as the previous entries in the series. With new wrestlers, new moves, new voices, deeper storylines, more customization, and the possibility of online play (which is already in beta testing), this game is going to be frickin' massive. To help you make sense of it all, we've decided to compile tons of information about SmackDown! vs. RAW into one place. All the big questions about the game are answered with info about several different aspects of the gameplay. Sure, this isn't all of the info available about the game so far, but it covers the bases enough that extra searching will be only for the hardest of the hardcore out there who are going to be on the constant lookout anyway. If you just want to know everything there is to know of interest, check this out. Even if you're a diehard fan of the series, check this out anyway -- it's a great source of new information, too. So for all you fans of the game who want to know just what the hell is going on with the latest in this insanely popular series, just sit back, relax, and take a deep breath before diving into the information. Special thanks to PSM and THQ for helping us to make this happen. What superstars can we expect to see and how many are there? Contrary to other reports, the final roster has not yet been determined. Furthermore, the number of superstars on the lineup is still up in the air. Though, it has been confirmed that where will be in excess of 50 current wrestlers, with additional characters available in the legends bracket. Here are the confirmed wrestlers so far: Current Wrestlers A-Train D-Von Dudley Ric Flair Batista Eddie Guerrero Rikishi The Big Show Garrison Cade Rob Van Dam Booker T John Cena Scotty 2 Hotty Bubba Ray Dudley Kane Shawn Michaels Charlie Haas Kurt Angle Shelton Benjamin Chavo Guerrero Mark Jindrak Stacy Kiebler Chris Benoit Matt Hardy Tajiri Chris Jericho Randy Orton Torrie Wilson Christian Rey Mysterio Triple H Chuck Palumbo Rhyno Trish Stratus Legends Andre the Giant Old-School Kane Old-School Undertaker Keep in mind, the roster above is incomplete and is definitely subject to change (we're looking your way Rikishi and Scotty!) Are any of the legends from last year's games back for this year? As you can see by the answer above, only three legends have been confirmed up to this point, but with several more on the way, it's certainly possible. Unlike last year, however, legends cannot be used during season mode. Is the grappling system any different? Though the changes to the grappling system won't be as dramatic as last year, there are still a number of significant changes for this version. The first and most important alteration, for instance, is that signature and quick grapples are harder to counter than power and submission moves. Additionally, players can now partake in grapples while sitting on the mat, perform new halfway-standing grapples, and even participate in back and forth chopping matches like the ones that Ric Flair and Sting made famous back in their NWA days. Another big feature this year is the inclusion of face and heel special maneuvers. Tailored to each wrestler's personality, these moves allow for temporary invincibility for heels that let them cheat without getting caught, while faces can do, uh, whatever it is faces do. Of course, the ladies are getting a slight grappling addition themselves, with the spank meter -- the more accurate a player is with their meter, the more accurate the spank. And depending on the spank, the woman's reaction could either be painful or pleasurable; with special animations dedicated to both responses. Is it true that submission holds have been refined? Yes, it's true. A new time-based meter has been added to the tug-of-war grappling system that allows players to add more intensity to their holds so that they can be applied longer and do more damage. On the flipside, other players can reverse the submission holds from within this animation based on their own performance, and can finally break subs while in tag team matches. Are there any new attributes or character abilities? Indeed there are. The old attributes of Strength, Submission, Stamina, Technique, and Speed are back, but have now been joined by charisma. It's a pretty important addition too, as it's used to determine how much of SmackDown move bonus you receive when taunting. Speaking of taunting, players can also argue with the referee following close two-counts or put their foot on the ropes when pinning. They run the risk of getting disqualified if they push things over the edge, but can gain an extra advantage or two if it pays off for them. Perhaps the coolest new addition, though, is the inclusion of pre-match staredowns and test of strength competitions. You can even get into shoving matches and get an early advantage on your opponent of you play your cards right. How about the weight detection system? Is it better? Is sure is. The game boasts much smarter weight detection and finally plays into finishers too. For you abusers out there, this means that you can forget about pressing The Big Show up in the air with a powerslam just because it's your special. What arenas are confirmed so far? Barely any. But after a phone call and some research, we've confirmed that the last arenas used for SummerSlam, Backlash, and Armageddon are already in the game. Can we create our own belts? Yes! Through the season mode you'll be able to earn money which you can use to Create-A-Belt by buying and configuring a variety of belt parts. What new modes are there? Create-A-PPV lets player finally create their own pay-per-view events of three to eight matches complete with new matches of their own devise, legendary matches of days past, and current matches seen on television. With the user created belts, players can even allow combatants to vie for the grand prize. Imagine creating your own wrestlers and belts and then having them compete against one another. Incredible. The best part is this doesn't affect the season, so people won't be afraid of partaking in the festivities. Also being added to the table are Challenges. According to PSM, these are matches that can only be won by meeting certain criteria, such as pulling off two finishers in one match or beating four legendary wrestlers with a specific character. Can we add our own music into the game via the HDD? Nope. We will not be able to add our own customized music into the game. In fact, there is no hard drive support whatsoever. What has been added to Season Mode? First, the storylines have been revamped so that they're now more engaging and more believable (within the sports entertainment context of wrestling, anyway). There are now also mini-games that not only help build a character's attributes (perhaps somewhat analogous to how mini-games in Rocky and Fight Night build characters), but there are also mini-games that alter a wrestler's heel or face status (whether or not he is a bad or good guy). Storylines are now also completely voiced by the wrestlers themselves and include taunts, signature attacks, and a variety of other dialogue being classified as "respect actions," of which we still know little about. Will women have their own season mode this year? Nope. Still no season mode for women. How has create-a-wrestler improved? Off-the-bat, expect new, higher resolution textures and a streamlined interface. Also, given the advanced state of the engine, character models now have double the amount of polygons to work with. Higher polygon counts and higher resolution textures can make for some pretty startling characters. That's all we know for sure at this point, but we can also expect a greater diversity of customization, including more colors, accessories, and otherwise configurable settings. Can you edit existing wrestlers? You cannot edit existing wrestlers. Will Smackdown vs. Raw be on any other platforms? Nope. This one is PS2 exclusive. Is there a Buried Alive match? There is not a Buried Alive match, but there is a Parking Lot Brawl, which you can find further details about by browsing through a news article we published on July 16, 2004. Will there be voiceovers for announcers or superstars? Yes. There are real voiceovers for every wrestler in the game, except for those legend wrestlers who are not a part of season mode. Even the announcers from both Smackdown and Raw are in the game (no Heat team, however). Players will also be able to choose which announce team they'd prefer to listen to. The game is very comprehensive when it comes to voiceover work. The only limitation is that when you create-a-wrestler you cannot assign a voice to him. In this respect, the game is more like Knights of the Old Republic, in that your character doesn't actually speak. In conversations, player made characters will have dialogue trees, but will say nothing aloud. Can we create a manager? You're always able to create any character and assign him / her as your manager. If you'd like, you can even assign any existing character to be your manager. Any graphical improvements? Yes. There are approximately 25% more polygons per wrestler and enhanced texture detail for existing and created grapplers. Additionally, stadiums have more detail, characters have added animations, and facial likenesses are far more accurate. When is SmackDown vs. RAW coming out? As of this writing, SvR is scheduled for release on November 15, 2004. Keep in mind, however, that this date is one that has been established by retailers and not THQ, which means it can (and likely will) change before the game is finished. Is it online or not? This is a tricky subject, but the official answer is "maybe." While it's true that Sony Computer Entertainment has opened an online beta test to try SmackDown! vs. RAW's various capabilities, the results of that test is what determines whether or not that feature will make it into the final build. Furthermore, it is unknown what kind of online play these betas will offer -- be it head-to-head, scoreboards, downloads, or whatever. Only time will tell what becomes of this. Oh, before you go -- What new match types are there? There is only one new match type, the Parking Lot Brawl. For reference, all of the match types in the game are: Single Single vs. Single Single with Manager vs. Single with Manager Single vs. Single with Manager Tag Tag vs. Tag Tornado Tag Tag vs. Tag with Manager Tag with Manager vs. Tag with Manager 6-Man Tag Normal 6-Man Tag Tornado 6-Man Tag Handicap One on Two One on Tag One on Three Hardcore Single Tornado Tag Tornado 6-Man Tag Triple Threat Tornado Tag Triple Threat Fatal 4-Way Time Limit Royal Rumble Survival Triple Threat Fatal 4-Way 4-Man Battal Royal 5-Man Battle Royal 6-Man Battle Royal 3 Stages Of Hell Bra & Panties Cage Single Tornado Tag Triple Threat Fatal 4-Way Single Pin and Give Up Triple Threat Pin and Give Up Fatal 4-Way Pin and Give Up Elimination Chamber Elimination Tag Normal Tag Tornado Tag Captain Fall Tornado 6-Man Tag Normal 6-Man Tag Tornado 6-Man Tag Table Tornado Tag Table Tornado 6-Man Tag First Blood Hell in a Cell Single Tornado Tag Triple Threat Fatal 4-Way Tornado Tag Armageddon Ironman Ladder Single Tornado Tag Triple Threat Tornado Tag Triple Threat Fatal 4-Way Last Man Standing Lumber Jack Slobber Knocker Time Limit No Limit Anywhere Special Referee One Referee Single One Referee Normal Tag One Referee Ironman Two Referees Single Two Referees Normal Tag Two Referees Ironman Submission Single Ultimate Submission Table Single Tornado Tag Triple Threat Fatal 4-Way Tornado 6-Man Tag TLC Single Tornado Tag Triple Threat Fatal 4-Way Title Title Tornado Tag Title Triple Threat Title Fatal 4-Way Parking Lot Brawl Single Tornado Tag Tornado 6-Man Tag Triple Threat Tornado Tag Triple Threat Fatal 4-Way Time Limit Last edited by Dark-Slicer Diago; 07-27-2004 at 12:55 AM.