Graphically, this game is amazing. The superstars' body types and faces are dead on. I was amazed when I played my first match as one of my personal favorite wrestlers, John Bradshaw Layfield, and looked at him. It was as if I was watching an actual WWE show - the face animations and base are perfect. Also, this time around more superstars likenesses were licensed giving you the chance to play your favorites, unlike Day of Reckoning - something I felt was sorely missed.

The gameplay is very similar the previous Smackdown! game, Here Comes the Pain, which I enjoyed a lot. I found playing the game it to be very easy to get used to. There are 4 different types of grapples - Power, Submission, Quick, and Signature) and 4 moves of each type. And of course, the WWE finishing maneuvers are always fun to watch and perform: from Eddie Guerrero's Frog Splash to Randy Orton's RKO and Triple H's Pedigree to JBL's Clothesline from Hell - all of them are here and are easy to perform. After building up your Smackdown! meter, just get your opponent into a daze, and press the L1 button and BAM - your opponent is knocked out on the mat for the 1..2..3! One of my favorite features of the game is that you can choose what type of selection screen you want: either a RAW-based one, featuring WWE Divas Trish Stratus and Stacy Keibler, or a Smackdown! theme, featuring WWE Diva Torrie Wilson and former WWE Diva Sable (which I found rather off, due to her firing a long time before that.

The Season Mode isn't as in depth as in previous games. Before, the story would branch off in other directions, and while there is some variation in SD vs. RAW, it doesn't vary as much as previous games. This can make it rather repetitive. I still found it very fun. And, playing through the season earns you money, which you can eventually use to purchase things in Shopzone. Of course, you'll find yourself buying the WWE Legends first, featuring Bret Hart, Andre the Giant, Brutus the Barber Beefcake, Mankind, The Rock, The Legion of Doom, the Original Undertaker, and Kane w/ Mask. Along with this, you can unlock extra PPV arenas to wrestle in, Wrestlers alternate attire, and loading screens.

Another neat feature is the Create a Pay- Per-View mode. In this you name your own Pay-Pe- View, create the matches, pick any superstars or match you want, and either participate in it or just sit back and watch. It also allows you to create your own WWE Belt, but, it costs money, so you'll be playing a lot of the Season Mode before you can do this.

The background music is awesome. In previous games, the music often annoyed me. But, the new songs that have been added to the game are a refreshing change. I usually end up singing along with them, which seems kind of odd, but they are that catchy. Also, they have all your favorite theme songs of the WWE Superstars.

The level design is wicked. Of course, they aren't actually level but arenas. The Smackdown!, Raw and PPV are exactly what you see on TV. Unfortunately, there is only one backstage area, unlike other WWE games in which there are many backstage areas in which you can go to.

Ever wanted to play a friend in a Smackdown! game, but was unable to because of time or location? No longer will this be an issue. What we've been clambering for - online play - is now included. I love this feature. Sometimes, playing a computer opponent can become pretty boring, but playing others is always fun and challenging. I found a little lag, but never enough to interrupt my game. I do not suggest playing online if you have a 56k connection, but both DSL and Cable connections work very well. It would have been good if there was someway the game would keep your Win/Loss record, but unfortunately, there isn't. There are 4 different types of difficulty rooms, from Rookie to Legend, the less skilled people obviously going to the lower rooms, and the good players obviously going to the higher. Overall, an online mode was definitely a good addition.

This game, like all wrestling games, is very replayable. Whether it be with friends or just by yourself, Exhibition mode always provides plenty of fun, with tons of different match types, and even the new Parking Lot Brawl match.

It is easy to see that I loved this game, and if you're a WWE fan, I'm sure you will too. From Exhibition Mode, to Season Mode, to Online Mode, this game is both entertaining and challenging. Even if you're not a big WWE fan, or not a WWE fan at all, this game is fun. It is worth every cent, and if you do decide to rent it, you will soon find yourself buying it. A definite must have.