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(Note: Before getting this review underway, I must note that this review is based on the Playstation 3 version of the game, which was also released on the X-Box 360, Playstation 2, Nintendo Wii, Sony PSP and Nintendo DS.)
Before there was a WWE Legends Of Wrestlemania video game, before there was a TNA Impact video game, there was the WWE Smackdown vs. Raw video game series. Unlike the previously reviewed WWE Legends Of Wrestlemania video game, button mashing is thrown out of the window in favor of a more strategic type of video game playing. While this game can be hard and challenging at times, the rewards, unlock able stuff and downloadable items make it worth your time.
-Gameplay-
Unlike the WWE Legends Of Wrestlemania game I reviewed last time, button mashing is put on the wayside for a more strategic type of gaming. When you move the right analog stick on the controller, the wrestlers will perform certain maneuvers based on the direction you push the analog stick. You can also use the square button to strike (punch/kick/weapon attack), while the left analog stick will move your wrestler during the match. The circle button is used to Irish whip your opponent, while the x button will be used to grab objects to use against your opponent.
The combination of the L1 and triangle buttons will perform your special move, which is different for each wrestler. For you button mashing fans out there, you do use the button mashing technique in order to help your wrestler get up after an attack. Finally, your L2 and R2 buttons reverse certain holds, while your directional pad will have your wrestler perform taunts based on which directional button you press.
-Graphics-
The characters in this game look close to their real life counterparts, take CM Punk for example, as all of his tattoos all visible during game play. Unlike the WWE Legends Of Wrestlemania video game, the wrestlers are overly muscular, but their body types more resemble those of their real life counterparts you see on TV every week.
The arena’s that you compete in have a similar set up to their actual set ups you see every week and month on television and pay-per-view. A truly amazing thing that goes unnoticed in the games lengthy run is how realistic the crowd looks, which continues this year as the crowd looks just amazing with each match you play.
-Sound-
The sound quality from this game is top notch, whether it’s the entrance themes, sounds of the wrestlers hitting each others or the sound of weapons connecting of their targets. For example, when you hit a wrestler with the kendo stick, it sounds just as close as it sounds when the wrestlers do it to themselves each week on television.
The theme music for each particular wrestlers is top notch, with one glaring miscue that occurs whenever you download a wrestler. For some odd reason, there is no theme music at all for some of the second set of downloadable wrestlers (Doink The Clown & The Bushwhackers). The voice quality of each wrestler is a little lackluster, but that only comes into play in the Road To Wrestlemania game mode, while the color commentary is decent, but it gets annoying after the announcers repeat the same lines over and over a bunch of times.
-Roster-
As of this writing, the current roster for WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 features Shelton Benjamin, Triple H, Umaga, The Undertaker, The Great Khali, MVP, Victoria, Carlito, Big Show, The Brian Kendrick, Jesse, Festus, Maria, Michelle McCool, Jeff Hardy, Ken Kennedy, Edge, Jimmy Wang Yang, Batista, Beth Phoenix, Candice Michelle, Chris Jericho, CM Punk, John Cena, JTG, Kane, Kofi Kingston, Mickie James, Rey Mysterio, Santino, Kelly Kelly, Ashley, Melina, Trevor Murdoch, Lance Cade, Chuck Palumbo, William Regal, Cody Rhodes, Hardcore Holly, Paul London, John “Bradshaw” Layfield, Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton, Finlay, Mark Henry, Tommy Dreamer, Big Daddy V, Chavo Guerrero, John Morrison, The Miz, Matt Hardy, Elijah Burke, Evan Bourne (Downloadable), Super Crazy (Downloadable), Charlie Haas (Downloadable), Ted Dibiase (Downloadable), Doink The Clown (Downloadable), The Bushwhackers (Downloadable), Vader (Downloadable), Earthquake (Downloadable), The Boogeyman (Unlockable), Masked Man (Unlockable), Layla (Unlockable), Tazz (Unlockable), Ric Flair (Unlockable), Jillian Hall (Unlockable), Zombie Santino (Unlockable), Zombie Finlay (Unlockable), Hornswoggle (Unlockable), Snit sky (Unlockable), Tony (Unlockable), Zack Ryder (Unlockable) and Curt Hawkins (Unlockable).
There is always the possibility of more wrestlers to be downloaded in the future, especially since wrestlers like Christian, Jack Swagger and others aren’t currently in the game.
-Game Modes-
There are plenty of different game modes to play through and I’ll start with the Road To Wrestlemania mode, which replaces the story mode of past games. In this mode, you choose between CM Punk, The Undertaker, John Cena, Triple H, Batista/Rey Mysterio (as a tag team) and Chris Jericho. Each wrestler has a separate storyline heading into WWE Wrestlemania 24 and you must complete challenges along the way to get to Wrestlemania and unlock various goodies.
Up next is career mode, where you can choose any of the WWE Superstars and work your way up the rankings to challenge for various WWE championships. The only way you can earn a title opportunity is by having top quality matches with various contenders and each match earns you a certain amount of points you can add up to get your title opportunity.
The final mode is the exhibition mode, where you can play the computer or your friends in matches like a singles match, tag team match, six man tag match (normal and elimination) fatal four way match, battle royal (4-5-6 participants), inferno match, first blood match, hell in a cell match (2-3-4-5-6 participants or tag teams), iron man match (10-20-30 minutes), ladder match (2-3-4 participants or tag teams), last man standing match, submission match, table match (singles or tag team), TLC match (2-3-4-6 participants or tag teams), steel cage (2-3-4 participants or tag team), backstage brawl, extreme rules match (2-3-4 participants or tag team), falls count anywhere match, hardcore match, tornado tag match, elimination chamber match (normal or war games style match), money in the bank ladder match, handicapped match (1 vs. 2, 1 vs. 3 & 2 vs. 3) and royal rumble match (10-20-30 participants).
-Final Word-
Before getting into my final thoughts, on the Playstation 3 version of the game, there is a bonus match in the game from WWE Wrestlemania 24 as The Undertaker takes on Edge. There is also a highlight reel mode where you can create your own highlight videos featuring highlights from your matches you play on the game each time. The WWE Smackdown vs. Raw video game series is turning into what the Madden NFL video game series is for football, a must play every year for wrestling fans.
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
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