Today, my/our review of WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw went up. While I enjoyed the game overall, it's hard for me not to be disappointed with some of the highly-touted new features in this year's game. The new online mode is just downright pathetic as far as features go (No voice chat? Only two match types and two arenas? No win/loss tracking? What?!?), and the use of the WWE's voice talent is all over the map in terms of quality. Ultimately, this has proved to be a transition year for the SmackDown! franchise, which is doubly disappointing since it came on the heels of last year's stellar Here Comes the Pain, THQ's latest, and much-improved GameCube grappler WWE Day of Reckoning, and EA's steller hip-hop grappler sequel, Def Jam: Fight for NY. With all that competition and such an esteemed predecessor, it's hard not to be a little disheartened by what SD vs. Raw ends up offering.

　　But, then, every sports franchise has their transitional periods, and it's actually all too often that they come on the heels of the figurative peaking of the franchise. Whether it be Madden, ESPN or any other sports series, usually after a phenomenal high point comes at least something of a low point. It isn't necessarily a given, but it does tend to be the way of things.

　　So, what do you think? Is this just an off year for Yuke's? Have they lost their touch? Will there even be another Yuke's/THQ produced WWE game thanks to this upcoming lawsuit by the WWE against Jakks and THQ? Feel free to discuss.