WWE Smackdown! vs. RAW 2007

First unveiled on the weekend of WrestleMania 22, SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2007 is the next instalment in the series from THQ and the development house of Yuke's. Over the years the series has built itself upon solid gameplay, combined with stunning graphics and a pick-up-and-play feel to the games, as well as adding something new to the mix with every near-annual release.

The most important change to the game are the new interactive grapples. No longer are grapple moves controlled by the button combinations, but instead you'll control practically every move your wrestler pulls off with a combination of the right analog stick. By pressing the stick in one of four directions when positioned close to your opponent, you'll grab him or her and pull off the move, provided your foe doesn't counter it in the process. By using the right analog stick in tandem with the right bumper on the Xbox 360 controller, it will allow you to mix in stronger attacks on your opponent.

The final attack type added to this year’s title is the user interactive moves, which are essentially grappling moves that give the user unprecedented control. By wrapping up a foe and then pressing down on the right analog stick, you can initiate a user-controlled grapple such as an airplane spin, a military press, or a suplex. By keeping the R3 button held, you can walk around with your opponent in midair; with an airplane spin, you'll be able to spin your opponent around in the air by manually tracing a circle with the right analog, and in a military press, you can lift your opponent up and down by pressing left and right. To finish off the move, you simply push the control stick down and slam your opponent to the mat.

How long you can keep your opponent in the hold is dependent on your stamina meter, which will show up immediately, so you'll always have an idea of how long you can keep a move going.

Of course, counter moves will play a big role in SVR 07's gameplay, as it has for the last few years. This time around, the developers are focusing on creating more complex strings of strike and grapple reverses that can result in strike grapples being reversed into holds and vice verse; the goal of this being to create in the game the kind of quick fire back-and-forth turns of the tide that can send wrestling fans to their feet in matches.

Another big change in the gameplay is the additional number of hotspots surrounding the ring and the interactive crowds. If you've ever wanted to rip off the top of the announcing table and strangle your opponent with the monitor cord, you'll be able to do just that, thanks to the announcer's table hotspot. You’ll also be able to continue pounding your foe with all things on the table, right from the television monitor to even a bottle of the announcer’s water!

In terms of match types, one brand-new match style has been confirmed to make its way to the game: money in the bank ladder match. For those who aren't familiar, the money-in-the-bank match is basically a six-man ladder match that has competitors attempting to snag a briefcase that is hoisted above the centre of the ring. Inside the briefcase is a contract for a match against the current WWE title holder, which the winner can choose to "spend" at any time.

To make this even more interesting is the fact that the ladder match has received a sort of make-over, meaning you can do more with the ladders than ever before, such as stack them in different configurations, run up them to take out opponents near the top rung or stack them sideways in the corner and toss your opponents into them.

The game will also include online play, as well as all of last year’s offline modes, though no details have been announced of the online version yet. For those WWE nuts who are waiting for a full announcement on the game's roster, here are the names we have confirmed are in the game so far: John Cena, Rey Mysterio Jr., Triple H, Kurt Angle, Shelton Benjamin, Chris Benoit, Booker T, The Undertaker, and Johnny Nitro, with more to be announced at a future date.

SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2007 is certainly looking to be one of the hottest titles to hit the Xbox 360 so far. Fear not Ps2 console owners, as it will also be releasing on your system and the PSP. NZG will be sure to bring you a full review when the game releases, which should be sometime in November.