The Smackdown Vs. Raw series has been a soulless experience for me as of late. Devoid of any emotion and intensity, the series failed to capture my attention like the utterly brutal UFC: Undisputed and other wrestling games. Instead, what we got each year was the same engine with more tweaks and additions thrown in. And so I picked up the controller with pretty low expectations.

Right off the bat, I was surprised by the inclusion of a training facility, where one can get used to the controls or just goof about ? with you only needing to hit the start button to access the main menu. It's a great inclusion, allowing for any newbie to get to grips with the controls.

And the controls are easy enough to get into, with an analogue configuration being utilised. The configuration can get a bit confusing at times though. I often found myself going through many moves before I could find the one move I really wanted to use. Other than that, the controls get the job done well.

The series prides itself on being the go-to title for those wanting to display their creative side, with create-a-superstar, create-a-finisher and create-an-entrance being staples since at least the last title. New create modes include the option to create your own logo to place on your created grappler, the ability to create an aerial finisher and a much-vaunted create-a-storyline mode.

The latter is an outstanding addition to the series, allowing you to create your own stories, complete with a script, the ability to insert your own created characters as well as the option to share your creation with others online. It adds heaps of replayability to the game if you're into that sort of thing. There is even support for USB keyboards for those wanting to create a storyline of epic proportions.

On the create-a-finisher front, there are now up to 30% more parts in the create-a-finisher mode, but the end result still looks like a move hack thanks to the erratic animations ? even with all the tweaks and settings at your disposal. Still, it's nice to know that the feature is there if you saw something insane on YouTube and would like to recreate it.

The game itself still feels like classic SVR, with some great animations to be had in places and a relatively easy learning curve. The individual superstar abilities do a good job of differentiating each wrestler from the other, such as high-flier Evan Bourne's ability to do springboard attacks and Batista's powerhouse ability.

The game looks pretty great for the most part, with little details like facial expressions during matches making for a nice touch. Another awesome detail is the way blood stains the mat and even the opponent as the match goes on (as gruesome as that sounds).

Buy this game: PS3 | Xbox 360 | Wii | PSP | PS2 | DS