WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006, subtitled Exciting Pro Wrestling 7 in Japan, is a professional wrestling video game and developed by Yuke's that was released on the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable by THQ in 2005. It is part of the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw video game series based on the professional wrestling promotion World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and is the successor to the 2004 game of the same name. SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 was also the first game in the series to be released on PlayStation Portable and the last game in the SmackDown!/SmackDown! vs. Raw series that was PlayStation exclusive.
The main focus of 2006 is to bring more realism and authenticity to the series with many new features, breaking away from the arcade-like gameplay of earlier installments. The game sees the additions of the new Buried Alive and Fulfill Your Fantasy matches, and the inclusion of two new modes in General Manager and Create-An-Entrance.
SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 went on to become best selling game for the PlayStation 2 console out of the entire series. A steelbook version of the game was released exclusively in Australia. The game was succeeded by WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 in 2006.
Gameplay
Match gameplay
A new momentum bar was introduced to determine the flow of the match, replacing the old clean/dirty and SmackDown! meters. If the player chooses their wrestler to fight clean, he/she will be portrayed as a face. If they choose to fight dirty, he/she will be portrayed as a heel. The player also has to keep an eye on their stamina bar, which drains as the wrestler fights; the more elaborate the offense, the more tired the wrestler will be. The player must regenerate their stamina bar to prevent becoming completely exhausted and unable to perform. However, this is an optional feature and can be easily removed in the game's options menu. Each character also has a new stamina attribute, meaning those with a low stamina rating will tire out more easily. Also included is a new Hardcore attribute, allowing those rated high to inflict more damage to their opponent with weapons.
Grapples have been vastly improved, with each character having more specialized grapple types than the previous game's unchangeable group of four grapples. Each character has choice of three out of seven grapples: Power, Speed, Technical, Brawler, Martial Arts, Luchadore, and Old School. Each character also has a Clean/Dirty grapple category and a Submission grapple category, bringing the total number of grapples to five. A new powerful version of the Irish whip has been included, giving more offense to the opponent, but at the price of draining more stamina.
The game includes the SummerSlam (2004), Backlash (2005), ECW One Night Stand (2005), Royal Rumble (2005), No Mercy (2004), No Way Out (2005), Judgment Day (2005), Unforgiven (2004), New Year's Revolution (2005), Vengeance (2004), The Great American Bash (2004), Taboo Tuesday (2004), Survivor Series (2004), Armageddon (2004) and WrestleMania 21 PPV arenas, as well as the WrestleMania IX arena. There are also arenas based on each WWE television show (Raw, SmackDown!, Heat, and Velocity).
The arena crowd has also been graphically improved, with fully 3D characters replacing the mixture of 3D and 2D characters seen in the previous games.
Roster
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 features the video game debuts of 20 superstars, as well as the returns of Hulk Hogan (in his 1980s, nWo "Hollywood", and 2000s versions) and Stone Cold Steve Austin; both men had been left out from the previous game (and in Hogan's case, WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain) due to their respective sabbaticals from the company.
Match types
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 includes an improved steel cage match, now allowing the player to escape through the cage's door. The Bra and Panties match has been replaced by a Fulfill Your Fantasy match, which is based on the costume-based diva match that occurred at the Taboo Tuesday pay-per-view event. Unlike the real event which is more battle royal–based, this version involves divas stripping their opponents to their bra and panties, spanking each other and hitting each other with pillows instead. In addition, in Exhibition and in General Manager mode, this match can only take place in the SummerSlam arena.