WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2006

The Basics:
Platform: PS2
Developer: Jakks Pacific
Price: $49.99
ESRB rating: T (Teen)

Summary: Faithful replication of TV's wrestling entertainment. Teens+.

Note: Parents will want to know that WWE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2006 faithfully replicates the raucous antics and violence of the WWE TV shows. Players attempt to achieve a takedown by any means possible, including using chairs, 2x4s and other weapons. Scantily clad female wrestlers and some mildly explicit language are used to overcharge the cheesy drama. The game is online enabled, but doesn't use voice, so the game play is going to be similar to the single player modes.

Families who buy this game may want to discuss the way games can tie in with TV shows, movies and other forms of entertainment. Does playing a game like SmackDown vs Raw make you more interested in watching the shows? Do you think it is better for a game to be upfront about its marketing influence or subtler?

Further Breakdown:
Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Best for ages: 15+
Playability: Medium. A lot of controls make it complicated.
Graphics: High. Stars are instantly recognizable.
Reading Level: Light. Lots of voice-overs make the game playable without reading.
KidScore Rating

Ages 3-7: Red
Ages 8-12: Red
Ages 13-17: Yellow
Violence Amount: Yellow
Fear: Green
Illegal/harmful: Green
Language: Yellow
Nudity: Yellow
Sex: Yellow

Review:
The partnership between professional wrestling and video games has been a long one, with dozens of games attempting to recreate the high-flying action in the ring. WWE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2006 does just that, plus adds in the over-the-top drama that World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE) is known for.

The game excels at offering many modes of play in order to replicate the TV shows. An exhibition mode lets players try out the variety of different matches, such as tag-team, cage matches, Royal Rumbles, etc. The drama comes out during season play, where a player takes WWE Superstars like Hulk Hogan and Triple H, or their own created wrestler through an entire season. Cut scenes reveal a variety of plots and rivalries as the season progresses. A manager mode takes a different approach, as players control a stable of wrestlers, setup the appropriate matches and attempt to become the general manager with the highest TV ratings. Finally, an online mode allows players to take each other on, using many of the exhibition mode games.

The graphics are beautiful, and the superstars are immediately recognizable, with trademark moves and entrances faithfully replicated. However, the game occasionally gets annoying during the actual matches. The controls are complicated, and casual players may especially be frustrated by the times they seem defenseless to their opponent's attacks.

A combination of elements in the game will make parents want to be cautious about letting tweens or even younger teens play this game. Without a doubt the game contains ample amounts of violence, but some of it can be especially graphic. For example, players can beat opponents with chairs or two-by-fours laced with barbed wire, and bleeding ensues after sustained beatings.

In addition, female wrestlers are often presented in a fairly degrading light-either as eye-candy or sex objects. For example, the Fulfill your Fantasy mode is pure titillation, with the female wrestlers dressed in French maid, nurse or schoolgirl outfits trying to strip each other to their underwear or spank each other on a bed.

Overall, WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2006 has its flaws, but older teens and adults will find plenty of entertainment.