WWE SmackDown vs. Raw is back with an expanded arsenal of customization features, a wide selection of matches and a vast roster of 67-in game wrestlers. These improvements are welcomed but fans of the series will be expecting tweaks in gameplay and controls, which THQ has failed to provide. Instead fans are stuck with the same formula that has been successful over the years but now requires an overhaul.

Right off the bat, THQ sends you to wrestling school with a tutorial, here you can revisit the controls that SmackDown vs. Raw fans know all too well. A checklist appears for every move you perform, so you won't keep repeating the same fisherrman suplex over and over again.

The gameplay and controls are seemingly untouched and have the exact feel of previous SmackDown vs. Raw installments but the added features and full-customization make this year's edition worthy of a separate purchase for hardcore fans.

There is a lot of depth in this year’s version which includes “writing” your own storyline. Players now have to option to book their own matches against who you think are your bitter rivals. Direct your very own backstage promo and trash talk whoever wrestler you feel has done you wrong. In addition you can return a championship belt to Vince McMahon but if you change your mind you can take it back from Vince without even fighting a match. Everything you've seen from the SmackDown and Raw shows you can do it in the game. Full control over your own storyline doesn't stop there though; added to the features of creating your own promo is the full control of camera angles. I guess it’s safe to say that after creating a few backstage cuts I’m ready to receive an Alfred Hitchcock award.

To compliment the create-a-storyline feature you can fully customize the move set and costume of your wrestler, entrance music and style, titantron movie and most importantly finishing moves. You can even create your own graphics logo and tattoo.

Presentation is top-notch and is the closest thing to watching the WWE on TV. The graphics aren't a giant step from last year's version but it’s still the best to date. Finishers’ provide for great cinematics with the crowd going out of their minds and cameras flashing like crazy in every direction.

When you keep smashing on someone's face a little red blot appears. At first, I thought that was the extent of the blood being shown in the game. as the match got longer and the more I whaled on the blood spot, the blood spread all over his face. Heck, I could even see my fist and chest dabbed in my opponent's blood.

The collision detection is still a little iffy. For example, Jericho goes for an elbow drop on a downed opponent but as he enters the motion of the elbow drop the guy standing next to him reacts as if he gets hit by the elbow. This has been a problem of the past installments and is still apparent today. Boy, you would think that THQ has fixed this problem after so many tries. As for switching among multiply enemies, it is advisable to do this manually instead of automatically.

The chants of the crowd are accurate to the action happening in the ring. Obviously, they jeer for a heel wrestler and cheer wildly for a favorite. The voice-acting of the actual wrestlers in the storyline mode is what you'd expect; mediocre voice acting which adds realism to the game. Let's be real guys if the voice actors were Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz this game wouldn't be a WWE game. Once the action finds itself backstage or in the parking lot the sound suffers. You can't hear crowd chants in these areas, all you hear are punches landing and the occasional grunts.

The load times are still nagged by the same load issues that have plagued this series. The game features a ton of exhibition matches that are sure to keep gamers busy. Things do tend to get boring after whaling on one wrestler so be sure to make most of your time in triple threat matches, handicap matches, ladder matches and backstage matches. The Royal Rumble has been revamped with new ways to throw opposing wrestlers out the ring which is a fun new edition. There are also some issues with the camera angels when wrestlers are whaling on each other outside the ring. Sometimes you can't clearly see if your WWE superstar is receiving or doling out the beating.

The Road to Wrestlemania has one of the best wrestling storylines ever and that’s a good thing. You can choose which story you'd like to participate in. You can either take the role of an existing superstar or use your created wrestler. The storyline includes climatic ladder matches and cage matches that are sure to keep you entertained for hours. The types of matches are well-positioned in the storyline in turn emphasizes exciting and entertaining results. Winning championship belts will most likely include having your superstar bleed in a match or end up beating the odds by winning in a handicap match.

Players will be sucked in the storyline of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010. If they need a break from all the gimmicks and feel the need to become the next Steven Spielberg, proceed and create your own storyline, backstage promos and wrestlers. If you find yourself bored with that create your own tattoos, turnbuckle dives and finishers.

However, enjoying WWE SmackDown vs. Raw online is close to impossible. It’s difficult to match latency with other players online and if you do finally match-up with a respectable connection, the lag prohibits you from enjoying this entertaining game. However, you can upload your personal stories online and you can also download stories from other WWE fans around the world.

This game will force the creative bug out of your system. But for those not looking to waste your time tinkering with the create-a-storyline, stick to last year's game. Gameplay and controls remain virtually unchanged this year and it keeps you wondering when THQ is going to realize that wrestling fans have enough brains to realize that they’re being fed the same crap every year.

SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 is very similar to NBA 2K10 because both still use the same gameplay formula from five years ago. They’re both enjoyable titles but they have to overhaul it sometime in the near future, hopefully sooner rather than later.