WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw merges the two WWE divisions. Doubled roster, richer solo modes and solid gameplay. A good gateway to THQ's modern franchise on PS2.
Your verdict
Category
Sports2 players16+
Description
A Yuke's and THQ sports game released in 2004, the first Vs. Raw franchise entry (rebranding of WWE SmackDown!). Now includes wrestlers from both WWE shows (SmackDown! and Raw), massive roster of 65+ wrestlers (John Cena, Triple H, Eddie Guerrero) and new Clean/Dirty ethics system for face/heel wrestlers. Refined wrestling mechanics, even more developed Season mode. Birth of the Vs. Raw sub-franchise.
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
The entry's novelty reads in its ethics system. The game distinguishes fair fighting from villain's play: using a weapon, striking below the belt, taunting the referee feeds a gauge that tips a wrestler toward heroes or cheaters. The art direction stages this moral choice, each low blow shown as an owned transgression, and makes the manner of winning, clean or dirty, a visible part of the wrestler's identity.
The game's sound recreates the audio atmosphere of a live broadcast. In the foreground, the crowd lives every instant: it chants slogans, boos the cheaters, cheers the favorites, and its rumble fluctuates with the match. Over it, the commentary duo narrates the action continuously, as on television.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Ushering in the shift to the Raw and SmackDown rosters unfolds a wrestling game of numerous modes and a generous wrestler creator. Building a career, scripting your rivalries and unlocking it all fills countless hours, revived by multiplayer. That founding richness founds a longevity dear to wrestling fans.
The Korean run of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw, markedly rarer than the Western versions of this first entry of the relaunched brand. This local release appeals to collectors of the confidential Korean outings of a worldwide-hit wrestling game. Its desirability rests above all on this geographic scarcity.
Better with friends
Theatrical wrestling where rivalry is staged across spectacular matches, several in clashes where anything goes. The competition blends move execution, momentum management and showstopping flair under the spotlights, every wrung-out pin blowing the room up. Accessible and heady, it turns a simple evening into a saga of vendettas where you build nemeses with finishers and reversals.
Is WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2004 on PS2, Yuke's project relaunches the series by pitting WWE's two flagship shows against each other and introducing a morality system, good or bad, that steers the career mode. The addition of online play, innovative for console wrestling at the time, and a recorded voice system flesh out the immersion. The massive roster and the very complete editor keep the generosity of the line. A few divisive game design choices and the shutdown of the online servers weigh. A solid milestone of wrestling video games, recommended for fans of the discipline and for fans of a story driven career.
