The previous two SmackDown Vs Raw games are very good, but at the same time they're a bit too complex. I love how sophisticated they are, yet at times they're quite intimidating, which is why I prefer the much older version, Here Comes the Pain. It lacks the depth of its younger brothers, but it's extremely accessible for all ages, and its pick up and play nature is what really puts it over the top. Now with that being said, it appears that THQ and developer Yukes are going back to the basics with the newest iteration, WWE SmackDown Vs Raw 2007. It's going to allow us to string together plenty of complex maneuvers, but we won't have to study the manual in order to become WWE champion.

Before diving into the gameplay, it's important to note that this is not only the first next generation SmackDown, but also the first to be made available for four different platforms. You'll still be able to play the game on a PS2 and PSP, but you'll also see it on Xbox 360 and more importantly, the PlayStation 3, where the game is being positioned as a launch title for Sony's new console. That is of course not guaranteed just yet, but THQ is certainly shooting for it, and although there hasn't been an official confirmation, there may be PS3 exclusive features.

Of course, with next gen technology comes improved graphics and sound. There's no doubt in my mind that the PS2 and PSP ports will look outstanding, but it's the 360 and PS3 versions that are going to be the most appealing thanks to 20,000 more polygons per character. The added boost in power has allowed THQ and Yukes to create some truly incredible looking character models, and as you can see by the screens, John Cena and company are amazingly detailed, as their physiques and facial expressions have been almost perfectly captured.

Wrestlers will also sweat over time, and the effect is a lot more impressive than in NBA 2K6 and NBA Live 06, as the strange "glitter" effect in those games (NBA 2K6 especially) is a bit scary. But here it's extremely realistic looking.

Even the crowd has been given a huge face lift. They're still not as fantastically detailed as Kurt Angle, John Cena, and Rey Mysterio, but just seeing over 1,000 nutty fans going wild as the wrestlers do their thing is a wonderful thing to see. And there's going to be lots of sweet little touches that are going to make us smile. If you're a fan of this series, then you probably noticed that, in last year's game, opponents will remain in the ring or the ringside area as other wrestlers come down the aisle. That'll return in SmackDown Vs Raw 2007, but THQ has informed me that there will be other things that'll catch our eyes, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they are.

All right, so the game looks amazing. I'm impressed, but I was expecting it to look good, so I'm more concerned about the gameplay, and right now, I must admit that, while I'm intrigued, I'm also a bit concerned. The developers have decided to map all of the grapple moves to the right analog stick, so to initiate a lock up, instead of pushing a button, you're going to tilt the analog. From there, you'll have a wealth of options at your disposal, so, for example, you can put an opponent into a suplex position, and then you can decide exactly how long you want to hold him up as well as how you want to slam him. Also, the game has a Risk/Reward system where attempting high risk moves will drain stamina depending on the duration of the move but will boost your momentum for successfully showboating.

There are also 20 different environmental hot spots in the game, areas that'll trigger interactive cut scenes where you'll get a close up view of the action. So if you bring your opponent over to one of the ring posts (THQ hasn't revealed exactly how to trigger hot spots) you'll be able to ram his/her head into it for as many times as the game allows. Similarly, you can actually take the fight into the crowd this year! You can clothes line your opponent over the guard rail and into the fans, and as they pat him or her on the back you can jump over and continue kicking ass. You can grab weapons from the crowd such as bottles, and there's also a cool area where you can Irish whip a wrestler into a large electrical box (which electrocutes them) and set them up for high impact moves such as death defying leaps of faith. Just set up a table, lay your opponent onto it, climb up to the top of this very high structure, and dive off. But that's not the only way that you can use the environment to your advantage. There will also be a plethora of weapons such as crutches, bottles, chairs, fluorescent light bulbs, fire extinguishers, and trash cans, among other toys, and THQ has gone on record as saying that there are two backstage arenas, though I'm not sure whether you'll be able to transition from the ring to the backstage area. More than likely, you'll begin a match backstage and be unable to leave.

In addition to all of this stuff there's also a ridiculous amount of modes. General Manager Mode is back with plenty of new and undisclosed options, and there's also a brand new Season mode that'll feature superstar voiceovers and branching paths. Plus, there's online play (match types have yet to be announced) and you'll be able to trash talk via voice chat. And of course, Create-A-Superstar will be featured in SmackDown Vs Raw 2007, and there will be 250 new parts.

Now while this all looks and sounds great, I'm still a bit wary about this game. I like being able to fight in the crowd, but I'm not sure how I'll feel about that if there's only a handful of places to go. Furthermore, the analog grappling system, while innovative and exciting, may not work out. THQ insists that it does, but that's something that I'll have to mess around with. But the game is still several months from its release and I haven't had the opportunity to actually play it, so it's a bit too early to pass any sort of judgment, though I have good feeling that this game is going to be amazing.

Of course, the best thing about SmackDown Vs Raw 2007 is that it'll be available for multiple platforms. It's about time that THQ brought the series over to another system besides Sony's hardware. I've been burned by those atrocious WWE Xbox games, so it's comforting to know that the 360 will host a quality brand. And if this game is in fact a PS3 launch title it'll do nothing but boost sales. So yeah, SmackDown Vs Raw 2007 looks extremely promising and I can't wait to get my hands on it at this year's E3!