WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's Media Creations
Genre: Wrestling
Release: November 13, 2007
Platforms: Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Playstation Portable, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Wii, Wireless
Reviewer: Eric
Every year we have a new set of sports games that come out on
all the major consoles. This year WWE and THQ have done the same
thing, WWE Smackdown! Vs. Raw 2008 is the first wrestling game
to be featured on all the consoles, portable and home. Is this
years WWE title the same thing, like Madden 2008 was or are we
treated with a fresh game that is worth all your hard earned
pennies?
WWE Smackdown! Vs. Raw 2008 is great. This year we have fifty
wrestlers from Raw to Smackdown and even some new comers, ECW
has finally hit the stage. ECWs impact really isn’t anything
great, their roster is lacking any real star power, CM Punk
might be the one superstar that is worth while on both the game
and television.
That is another thing about the roster this year. If you watch
wrestling on a daily bases then you’ll see what I’m talking
about when you pick your favorite wrestler. Half of these guys
are gone; they’ve been gone for some time. I can’t complain
about Booker T or Chris Masters, but there are others that
shouldn’t be on here. Current tag champs aren’t here, half of
the entire tag division isn’t on here. And what is the deal with
the PSP version getting more legend characters? It does make me
want to play this version so we’ll talk about that game a little
later.
THQ has hinted at some exclusive Xbox 360 downloadable content
in the near future. Can it be roster changes or will they just
fix all the unblockable moves? Yes there are a set number of
unblockable moves in this game and if you can figure which ones
they are you’ll be pissing off the thousands of people online.
Even though this can be a problem, a hand full of people already
know this moves, playing online is a fun experience. You can’t
play the Elimination Chamber or the Royal Rumble online, but all
the other gimmick matches are available online. There is some
lag in matches, but if you check to see your opponent(s)
connection speed you should be fine.
Now that ECW is in the picture there are some ECW matches. What
is the difference between these matches from other ones? You get
to light certain weapons on fire, the crowd interacts with the
wrestlers and you can to pick which four weapons you want to
find under the ring. Power bombing people through fire tables is
very satisfying. Before you put them through the table make sure
to beat them to death with a barb wire that’s on fire. If these
kinds of matches aren’t your thing then you can try out the new
tournament mode. Nothing great, but if you have a few friends
over you can have some fun with your created belts.
There are no two Smackdown games that are the same. THQ is
always adding in new kinds of matches and enhancing the story
mode, but now we have a whole new control scheme. When you first
start playing this game you’ll hate it, for the first thirty
minutes I was wishing I would have purchased another game
instead. Getting use to these controls is tricky, when mastered
though it feels perfect. One major thing people will notice is
irish whips, there is one button for this, simple enough?
Smackdown! Vs. Raw 2008 has been simplified over last year’s
game. There are now weapon wheels when you go pick up a weapon,
certain matches only, submission moves are actually worth while
now, reversals seem perfect this time around and ultimate
controls are much better this year. Instead of taking all the
damage from the ultimate control moves you can use the right
thumb stick to reserves the move. This brings a lot more
challenge to the game, even though you have a few moves that are
unblockable this years product is a lot more realistic, game
play wise.
Another huge addition to this game, I think I got them all
now, are the wrestler types. Each wrestler has two types,
hardcore, show stopper, brawler and so on. Certain wrestlers can
do different things. Power house characters are the only ones
aloud to do strong irish whips, high flyers can do all the crazy
moves and hardcore wrestlers can get stronger when they see
blood.
Most of THQs time was put into the new 24/7 mode. General
Manager mode and story mode have been combined into one. You can
do something every day if you want with your wrestler, autograph
signings, train, star in movies, raise some hell on the other
shows and a whole lot more. This is the true WWE experience
here, 24/7 is a great addition this year, however there is a
problem I have with it. Why can’t I pick any of the wrestlers
from the roster? I don’t care if I can’t use some of the low
card wrestlers or the divas, but where is ECW? Didn’t THQ brag
about ECW making an impact this year? To me it seems like ECW
was added in for more sales, this is still a great game, just
disappointing I can’t use ECW Legend Sabu, whom in which you
have to unlock to use.
Oh the graphics, every year THQ amazes me with something new.
Last year we had the sweat on the wrestlers, this year
everything seems more polished. The crowd got the best make
over, it seems a little faded/blurry at times, but it gives the
audience a better look. There are times when the game has some
clipping, some systems more than others. I don’t know if THQ can
fix this, but every year we get a few minor clipping issues so
it isn’t out of the ordinary.
Any time I would play this game in front of my family or girl
friend they’ll always say the same thing, what is wrong with the
announcers? Since ECW is in the picture we get commentary from
them and it’s new and fresh. Now that JBL is an announcer he had
to go record some tracks…aren’t these the same lines from Tazz?
One or two new lines have been added, but everything else has
been recycled. The same thing can be said for the create a
wrestler; everything has been recycled, only a few new things
have been added. Like the commentary there is one good thing
with the create a wrestler, the 360 version can have a lot more
items on their wrestler than any other console. Did THQ leave
Sony in the dust? Yes, but at least the PSP version has
exclusive wrestlers, like I mentioned before.
Final Verdict
If you are looking for the best looking wrestling game then
WWE Smackdown! Vs. Raw 2008 is the way to go. THQ is going to
have some competition, Fire Pro Wrestling was released this week
and TNA has a wrestling game out next year. For now though this
is the best choice, the roster might not be as good but we did
get ECW. The animations are good, there is some minor clipping
here and there. Smackdowns 24/7 mode is the best part to the
game, seeing everything they added should make you glad that THQ
didn’t decide to release a separate game like EA did with the
NFL awhile ago. If you still have your old wrestling game then
trade it in for this game, you may not get as much as you’d
like, but this years game is defiantly an improvement.
Rating
8 out of 10
WWE Smackdown! Vs. Raw 2008 Trailer
