Smackdown versus RAW is dead, and from its ashes rises... WWE' 12!!!!!!

This was the earth shattering announcement THQ had been teasing for their long in the tooth series. Color me underwhelmed. There's a hands on preview linked below that lists some big changes in the engine. Sounds promising, but I feel like we've been promised that it's a whole new game for years now, only for it to fall well short every time.

I actually bought SvR 2011 and it's really just another coat of paint slapped on a shoddy product.

I read somebody's post on the Figure Four message board, summing up the IWC's attitude about any new wrestling game that comes out. He said: "Why don't they just use the AKI engine. It's not as good as Fire Pro or KOC II. They've all sucked since Here Comes The Pain. I'll just keep playing WWF No Mercy.

AKA, Every wrestling video games thread on the internet."

It's funny because it's true. Most discussions about wrestling video games do boil down to that on the Internet, but it's because these people are right. 

The No Mercy example is perfect. Never have I seen such resistance to popular opinion. AKI built this beautiful engine that instead of refining and bringing into the next generation, everyone is running away from it. I actually heard an interview with the SvR 2011 programmers last year where they buried No Mercy as being "good for its time" but not up to par now, while their new game was the best ever. And now here we are, seven months later and THQ is scrapping the whole thing in favor of starting from scratch. Telling.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on this? Time for a change? Happy with the series as it's been? Not giving up on the prospect of No Mercy for Xbox Live Arcade? Tell me about it!



Actually, realistically, I don't think anyone who reads this plays many wrestling games. Amanda and Lucas have both played SvR 2009 and Fire Pro Returns as far as I know. Megan has played only SVR 2011, and Lee may not have played anything since WWF Raw for the Super Nintendo. Pretty sure Kehn played WWF RAW for XBox with me a couple of times back in 2002. Keith has kept up to 2008. I think Franz's last wrestling game foray would be Fire Pro Wrestling D back in 2001. So yeah, sorry if I forgot anybody, blog nation, but basically, this is an entry for me to cry about wanting my wrestling game youth back!

E3 2011: WWE '12 Rises