Finally...the Smackdown vs. Raw series...HAS COME BACK...to innovating wrestling video games.

OK, obligatory Rock reference aside, this game has really one main thing going for it: the WWE Universe. This new game mode brings something fresh to the table, while the rest of the game does what every other Smackdown vs. Raw game has done over the past five years (i.e. recycle gameplay and give users a very deep create-a-wrestler mode).

Keep in mind that these are impressions based on just a couple hours of goofing around with the game. A full review will be available within the week.

WWE Universe

This is the bread and butter of the most recent installment and should remain so for years to come. Essentially, the WWE Universe mode is an all-knowing booker (to borrow a wrestling term) who sees every move, decision and result made by the user in the game.

The "booker" generates and modifies rivalries, alliances, matches and situations based on what it sees the user do throughout the game experience (not including the Road to Wrestlemania or online modes.)

For instance, I initially logged on to the WWE Universe mode to find that the default settings were based around when the game was being developed (i.e. Rey Mysterio was the World Heavyweight Champion, Matt Hardy and Drew McIntyre were enemies).

From here there is a calendar that starts the Monday Night Raw after WrestleMania, and it is filled out with Superstars (the new Thursday night show that is similar to a Sunday Night Heat) and Friday Night Smackdown, with the appropriate PPV at the end of the month.

The first match on the docket was Chris Jericho and The Miz against D-Generation X in a no-disqualification tag match. Midway through the match, Edge shoots through the crowd, grabs a chair and hits my partner The Miz in the skull before spearing me, Y2J, into next Tuesday.

During the main event, a number one contender's match between Edge and Sheamus that the announcers had alluded to while other matches were playing out, more shenanigans unfolded. Sheamus was the first to come out. He looked to the ramp as Edge's music hit, but the Rated R Superstar entered through the crowd and decimated the Celtic Warrior.

The official gameplay part of the match began with Edge standing over Sheamus with a finishing move in tow. After the match (an Edge victory), Chris Jericho, who was previously assaulted by Edge, nailed the victor in the head with a lead pipe, ending the show.

Um, wow! Different things happened as I played through the week (rivalries intensified, stables were built, etc.) and each was noted in a "News" section.

Of course, anything that happened can be undone via a customization menu, while anything that has not happened can be forced. This includes factions, rivalries, alliances, show rosters and more.

Online

First, let me say I am not much of an online player when it comes to video games, unless I play with my friends. The general online community can be mind-numbingly annoying at times. Still, I had to fire up the new Royal Rumble feature online.

In the Rumble, the game's biggest online addition, up to 12 players can join and up to five can be in the ring (or six, but I was never in the ring long enough to find out). It took me about five minutes to find an open Rumble on the game's launch day.

The most enjoyable part for me was listening to the other guys give their "commentary" as a few competitors battled it out. Unfortunately, it's pretty easy to eliminate and be eliminated in this mode (a gameplay flaw in general), and it pretty much boils down to entering the ring, toss to ropes, button mash, repeat. This mode could use an overhaul.

The upside of the Rumble, and online play in general, is seeing some pretty sweet (and lame) created wrestlers. It was also pretty fun playing as CM Punk and teaming with someone who controlled Luke Gallows to briefly reform the Straight Edge Society and clean house -- until he turned on me with one guy left.

I have a very good internet connection, and in the Rumble there was only minimal choppiness. When I played a great triple-threat TLC match online, there was almost no lag at all.

I was looking forward to downloading some community Nexus created wrestlers, but that server was down at the time.

Gameplay

I have always thoroughly dominated what amounts to reversal-fests on Legendary throughout the Smackdown series. But during a couple of matches on the default sliders on Hard difficulty, the computer was pretty fun to go up against. A bump to Legendary and some slider-fiddling may prove to be a more competitive and fun experience.

The AI, while dumb as rocks as usual, actually got in position to pull off some character-specific moves. When I faced Tyson Kidd, and I was groggy in the middle of the ring, he went to the ring apron to perform a springboard clothesline, which I thought was pretty cool.

The pace and flow of the game is not any slower, but the movement and gameplay can become a little bogged down, especially after your player quickly tires.

There is no health gauge, but instead a momentum meter beneath your character that gains and loses momentum during the match. It makes for a bit less of a "fighting" game and a little more of a "wrestling" game, though not by much. When the meter reaches 75 percent you can hit a signature move, and when it is full you can hit your finisher. The meter can be made to fluctuate slowly or quickly depending on what you want.

The new environmental physics are pretty sweet, but the game still has its trademark awkward chunkiness when the smallest sign of chaos ensues. Still, it was cool being powerbombed off a ladder through a table. The tables getting caught between the ropes is probably the game's most hideous animation.

Random Thoughts

There are some interesting quirks in this game (one of which happens when you pick Hornswoggle as a manager) that I don't want to ruin for people.

During a submission match between Randy Orton and Ted DiBiase, I could not find a submission hold for either one, so my brother had to use steel steps and get disqualified to end the match -- even though there are no DQs in submission matches.

There are some new reversal animations that I definitely have yet to exhaust, and they flow pretty seamlessly out of a plethora of different moves. The Irish whip to belly-to-belly suplex was also a welcome sight to see instead of the ol' elbow reversal.

The graphics have not been substantially upgraded, but they keep pace with what they should be. Matt Hardy's massive gut seemed to be missing, however. And when did Randy Orton trade trap muscles with Brock Lesnar?

The commentary seriously kills this game. It's just a bunch of lines randomly thrown in, and this area needs to be evaluated.

The roster is pretty small upon launching the game, but the game has plenty of unlockable characters. I'm not sure how, but after three matches I unlocked Vladimir Kozlov.

A very cool feature is the ability to opt for a pin, mid-move. For instance, during a butterfly powerbomb, the screen told me to press "B" for a pin. I did, and the move ultimately finished in a pin.

Parting Words

I will have a full review on this game within a week, but for now, I think this game has improved by more of a margin than I am used to seeing from the series.

As always, the roster does suck -- but I'm very excited for the Nexus downloads -- and the gameplay can be awkward and repetitive, but the wrinkles added are more than just minor improvements. They genuinely make the game more enjoyable.

The game's highlight is the WWE Universe, and the replayability it adds could be limitless. The online play was also very smooth in limited play, and I had a blast with it, which is a bonus.

All in all, this is an improvement over previous installments. However, the game still needs some major reworking in some areas (commentary, roster updates, animations.) But as a legitimate wrestling fan and longtime consumer of these games -- as well as a very critical gamer -- I am very pleased with this year's effort. Hopefully when you read my review, those views will still hold up.