Upon release, critics gave the PSP version scores averaging 65-70% (compared to 80-85% for PS3/Xbox 360).
Fan consensus today: A nostalgic curiosity. It is appreciated for being the last "traditional" SmackDown vs. Raw game on a Sony handheld (the series ended on PSP with WWE ’13 the following year, which was nearly identical). It is not the definitive way to play SVR 2012, but it is functional and enjoyable for short bursts.
| Game | Year | Roster Size | Modes | PSP Performance | |------|------|-------------|-------|------------------| | SVR 2006 | 2005 | ~50 | GM Mode (simplified) | Good | | SVR 2007 | 2006 | ~52 | GM Mode (better) | Good | | SVR 2008 | 2007 | ~55 | GM Mode (last) | Good | | SVR 2009 | 2008 | ~48 | Career only | Very good | | SVR 2010 | 2009 | ~45 | RTWM (4 stories) | Good | | SVR 2011 | 2010 | ~44 | RTWM, Universe (basic) | Good | | SVR 2012 | 2011 | ~45 | RTWM (3 stories), Universe (basic) | Decent | | WWE ‘13 | 2012 | ~40 | Attitude Era mode | Poor (laggy) |
SVR 2012 is often seen as the last “good” PSP WWE game before WWE ‘13 became nearly unplayable due to optimization issues. wwe smackdown vs raw 2012 psp
On the PS3/360, RTWM featured voice acting and intricate cinematic cutscenes. On the PSP, the voice work was removed due to UMD storage limitations, but the narrative skeleton remained intact. You could play through three distinct storylines:
These stories involved a surprising amount of backstage brawling, branching dialogue choices (text-based), and unlockable characters. For a handheld game you could play on a bus or airplane, having three distinct, multi-hour campaigns was a massive selling point.
| Feature | PS3 / Xbox 360 | PSP | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Graphics | HD (720p), detailed textures, dynamic lighting | SD (480x272), jagged edges, flat lighting | | Voice Acting | Full voice in RTWM & Universe | None (text-only dialogue) | | Royal Rumble | 40 participants | 6 participants | | Elimination Chamber | Yes | No (not available on PSP) | | Create Modes | Paint Tool, Story Designer, Advanced Arena | Basic Superstar, Finisher, Arena | | Online Play | Yes (PSN/Xbox Live) | No (PSP online shutdown, but originally none via Ad Hoc for this title) | | Weapon Physics | Fully interactive (ladders lean, tables break dynamically) | Pre-set animations (tables break in fixed ways) | Upon release, critics gave the PSP version scores
Absolutely—with one caveat.
If you are a retro gaming purist who owns a PSP-3000 or a PS Vita (with backwards compatibility), tracking down a copy of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2012 is a delight. It is the definitive way to play WWE on the original PSP hardware. The combination of Universe Mode and RTWM gives you dozens of hours of content.
However, if you just want to play a great wrestling game on a modern device, emulate it. On a PC or Android phone using PPSSPP, you can upscale the resolution to 1080p, apply texture filtering, and map the controls to an Xbox/PlayStation controller. At 4x native resolution, SvR 2012 looks like a competent PlayStation 2 game. Fan consensus today: A nostalgic curiosity
More importantly, this game represents the end of an era. It was the last time THQ (before the company folded) treated a portable WWE game with respect. Later entries on the 3DS were shallow and broken, and the PS Vita games were afterthoughts. SmackDown vs. Raw 2012 on PSP was a full-fledged console experience squeezed into a glossy plastic box. It had heart, guts, and—most importantly—it had wrestling that didn’t suck.
Final Score: 8.2/10
"A technical marvel for its time. Rough around the edges, but the last true handheld wrestling champion."
Where to find it today: Check eBay, local retro game stores, or the PlayStation Store on a PS3 (the PSP store is closed, but you can transfer from a PS3). Just make sure you have a Memory Stick Duo ready for those save files—you're going to need the space.
Do you have fond memories of wrestling on the PSP? Let us know in the comments below.