7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Superstars of World Wrestling Entertainment do battle in elaborate, long running rivalries in a weekly two-hour showdown.
Starring: Mark Calaway, Rey Mysterio, Jake Hager, Phil Brooks, Adam CopelandSport | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
HD. New video game. Woohoo! Best of SmackDown vs. RAW is an exclusive Blu-ray disc bundled with a video game for the PlayStation 3 entitled, not so dissimilarly, SmackDown vs. RAW 2009. The two come bundled together in a somewhat gaudy but nevertheless collectible "steel cage" housing with the game's logo emblazoned on the cage which slides into a golden base with a large circular WWE logo in the middle. The game? Eh, no great shakes (and it doesn't even have trophies, which weren't implemented until the 2010 iteration), but bigger and better things are here and a-coming now that 2K sports has taken over the franchise from the now-defunct THQ (WWE 2K15 looks like it has potential). But the important thing here is the Blu-ray. As little more than an add-in to a video game bundle, it can't be all that, can it? Read on...
Flex.
Best of SmackDown vs. RAW looks quite good considering its status as early WWE HD material. The 1.78:1, 1080i presentation isn't quite as sharp and well defined as the newest WWE Blu-ray releases, but viewers will be pleased with the level of crisp, accurate detailing and rich coloring evident throughout. Wrestler skin and attire alike reveal sufficiently complex details under the high definition microscope. The sharp, clear image reveals crowd signs and the individuals holding them with ease. The Grisham segments are a little fuzzy, however. Colors are stable and bright. Things kick off with Finlay's loud, yet accurate, green outfit and move on to reveal SmackDown blue, RAW red, and all sorts of other colors with general ease. Black levels satisfy, and skin tones appear accurate. Some compression issues are evident in the background, and there's a bit of banding to be seen on the JBL video that plays early on during the Finlay-Mr. Kennedy match. Overall, however, this is a solid effort from WWE.
Best of SmackDown vs. RAW's Dolby Digital 5.1 presentation isn't particularly aggressive, but neither is it overly shallow. The dueling theme music that plays over the opening titles never feels fully energized, but it is nicely spaced and sufficiently defined throughout the range. Spacing across the front isn't an issue, and listeners will enjoy a minor surround support structure. Wrestler intro music, however, proves a little more viable and stable, spreading easily throughout the entire stage. Crowd ambience is strong, too. Dialogue is clear and well-defined, whether coming from ringside or elsewhere in the arena, such as when JBL rudely addresses Finlay early in the proceedings. Like the video, this is nothing to brag on, but it gets the job done.
All that's included is Creating 'SmackDown vs. RAW 2009' (1080i, 17:46), a fun and rather thorough piece that looks at the processes involved in making the video game, including actor motion capture, wrestler facial scans and audio recordings, new features for the 2009 edition of the game, and more. Stars like John Cena and Santino Marella share their thoughts on working on the game.
Even with so much WWE content on Blu-ray, there can never be enough, and Best of SmackDown vs. RAW fills a void not so much in terms of content but in terms of novelty. It's the fluffiest fluff piece the WWE has "released" so far, beating the full-on retail Greatest Superstars of the 21st Century as probably the most superfluous title on the market. But buying it does net a PS3 game and a collectible, though somewhat tacky, case. Plus, it rounds out any WWE Home Video Blu-ray collection. Featuring solid video and audio and a fairly interesting supplement, the release comes recommended to diehard WWE fans and wrestling Blu-ray collectors alike.
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2-Disc Collector's Edition
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