Finally got around to getting the new SD vs RAW today, so this post is mainly for MB's benefit I suppose. As I have nothing else to do on this new year's eve I've spent most of my evening so far playing it.
Overall impressions are pretty good. The high points are great, and the low points are annoying, and there are several bits in between which are frustrating as well, but overall it's a decent game I think. The collision detection as with other games in the series is buggy as hell, but the match engine and the new physics for ladders etc... is really good. My only gripe with it is that on the default difficulty setting it is far too easy, but increasing the difficulty one notch makes it incredibly hard, as then it seems your opponent reverses just about all of your moves, even when they are really on their last legs (though I think there is the option in the settings to tone down the frequency the computer counters you, so I'll have a play around with that).
The Road to Wrestlemania modes are alright once again, but a bit same old. I don't much care for the way they have introduced the big backstage areas again. Sure it's nice to be able to roam around as you please and talk to people, but more often than not the conversations consist of you being told to "beat it", and then you ending up in a load of pointless and time consuming fights. Doesn't really add much to the game, so I would rather they just had cut scenes and matches, would be much better.
I really like the WWE universe mode, but it's such a shame that it has one or two flaws which let it down quite badly and stop it from being truly awesome. In particular in this regard I am thinking of how you cannot make a title match whenever you please, and how when you get title matches at PPVs you aren't allowed to pick the stipulation. The way you can't play a normal exhibition match without it affecting the storyline of the universe mode is also a bit annoying, but not a fatal flaw by any means. The rest of the way it works makes up for it in a bit way though. The way you get enemies running in before, during and after matches as well as coming out to join the commentary team is really cool and fun.
My best moment whilst playing so far came in the Universe mode actually, after simming through a week or two, I decided to book a ladder match on RAW between Rey and CM Punk. It was a pretty awesome match, back and forth with lots of cool spots using the ladders. Both guys were really beaten down by the end of it, and after Rey had pushed me off the ladder so that I fell to the outside of the ring, he set up the ladder and climbed to the top whilst I watched on helplessly. Jack Swagger who had been feuding with Rey for the last few weeks then ran in just as he was about to grab the title, hauled him down from the ladder and then gut wrench power bombed him onto another ladder which had been propped up in the corner, breaking it in half. With Rey sprawled out and unable to move, I was able to drag myself painstakingly slowly up the ladder to win the match. WAG.