WWE 12 Release: New Name Will Deliver Best Game in Franchise's History

THQ’s long-running WWE franchise, formerly WWE SmackDown vs. Raw, has been rebranded for this year as WWE ’12. The wrestling simulation (featuring Randy Orton, pictured, on the cover) is set to release on Tuesday, and the changes being made appear to be more than cosmetic.

As expected from any yearly sports release, THQ is touting new, even more realistic animations and presentation, but looking like a WWE broadcast hasn’t generally been a problem for this series. In the past, the TV-style presentation has (if anything) gotten in the way of the in-ring action with its emphasis on roster management and pre-match elements.

Instead, the biggest question for WWE ’12 will be how well the gameplay stands up to the (admittedly impressive) graphics. Fortunately, the early indications are that redesigned controls will make the actual matches easier to get into and more fun while you’re there.

A much-simplified control scheme should help flatten out the learning curve for new players while helping veterans get back to speed more easily. Tweaks to the mechanics for reversals, meanwhile, aim to provide more ebb and flow to the matches rather than having one wrestler dominate throughout.

The new mechanics will be supported by a huge roster that features 60-plus wrestlers even before the DLC character packs start arriving. That total includes both current WWE stars and past legends, though the DLC is expected to focus heavily on the latter category (including Mick Foley and Randy Savage).

The always-extensive customization options are also back, including a new create-an-arena feature. All told, if this game lives up to its potential, it’ll be the best sim in THQ’s already-strong history with the WWE property.