WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009

Gameplay still offers a solid wrestling experience

THQ's WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW wrestling game franchise may have taken one chair shot too many. As much as this series has always been about piling new features on top of existing features, the pile is starting to teeter and is in danger of falling over entirely. Once again, this year's game adds several new components to the existing game engine that's been piled upon since the series was a PS2 exclusive, but the difference this year is that few, if any, of the changes really feel like they impact the overall experience for the better. In fact, some of the changes impact the game negatively. The gameplay is still basically fun, but all the various little problems that have built up over the years remain unaddressable, and some of the surrounding components of the game are really starting to show their age.












Still lots of different stuff to do

Whether you think WWE wrestling is fake or not, it’s hard to argue with it being quite entertaining. And, whether you love or loathe the man behind the WWE, you have to hand it to Mr. McMahon for successfully taking over the spectacle-creating duties of his father’s empire.The new fighting styles do a decent job of differentiating different wrestler types

The WWE is one of the most successful franchises in entertainment history. Not only did it pioneer the art of live “sports entertainment,” but it is also a powerhouse on television and is on nearly every night. Recently, the WWE has been branching out into the wide world of video gaming. As a result, ever since the last generation the WWE series of games have been steadily improving. From the Legends of Wrestling to the Wrestlemania series, the market has literally been flooded with games based on the sports entertainment powerhouse.












New 24/7 mode is severely disappointing

THQ has thoroughly realized that gamer and WWE wrestling fan have been one-in-the-same for quite some time now. Three console generations and ten games later, Japanese developer Yukes and THQ are in the midst of their most ambitious and gaming/wrestling fan friendly grappler to date– WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009.

THQ have been listening to the fans and are making some serious changes to the multiplatform release of Smackdown! vs. Raw. One of the biggest flaws across the console versions last year were the below average character animations and the poor A.I. The wrestlers felt clunky in the ring, and opponents were either insanely difficult or entirely too easy to beat. However, THQ is promising this time the A.I. will be a truer reflection of a given wrestler’s actions in the ring. For example, Ric Flair will not move around in the same manner as John Cena (as was often the case in the previous iteration). Characters will also sport a larger amount of detail in the console versions and will look a lot more like real wrestlers instead of models with faces and muscle definition painted on.




Old problems like clipping issues and AI shoddiness are still a big problem in this sequel


The gameplay hasn't seen much alteration from last year's game. The same right analog stick-based grappling system is on offer, though the number of buttons you have to press to pull off a total-control grapple move has been lessened. The submissions system has seen a slight change, where both players use the right analog stick to respectively apply pressure or escape, but this doesn't add much dynamism to that particular component. This year's game does also add ECW into the mix, along with all the various hardcore-isms that go along with that. The ECW extreme rules match is available in all its glory, and weapons have been given a bit of an overhaul, specifically how you go about getting them from under the ring. There's a nifty little weapon wheel that pops up, letting you select among several different weapons, like tables, chairs, 2x4s wrapped in barbed wire--you know, the usual stuff. Also, you can set weapons on fire now, which is undeniably awesom




Fantastic wrestler models.

Still, apart from this ECW-centric stuff, there's not much else to marvel at with the gameplay this year, especially considering all the holdover problems from previous games that plague this sequel. The artificial intelligence continues its downward spiral into utter boobdom, especially in any kind of gimmick match where weapons are prevalent. They'll constantly stand around, periodically flailing at another wrestler with a weapon and hoping for the best. Any match that has a ladder involved but nothing hanging above the ring to collect still results in a number of wrestlers constantly scaling ladders in the middle of the ring over and over again. Tag partners still sometimes forget that they're supposed to help you when you're in trouble, too. And now, with this new fighting style system, the AI has taken to relying on these various special moves to an almost irritating degree.




Most modes have seen little to no updating

One of the biggest upgrades across the consoles will be the revamped tag team mode. Any fan of wrestling will tell you tag team matchups are among the most exciting to watch, both live and on television. Now, the tag team matchup will be among the most exciting matches to play as well. Instead of tag team matches simply meaning two players will work cooperatively against opponents, players will now be able to interact and work as a team to conquer opponents. For instance, if you are out of the ring, you now have more options than just sitting and waiting for a tag. You can now help pump up the crowd to make your opponent’s concentration falter or distract the referee if your teammate is about to pull an illegal move. Of the new out-of ring moves, the most notable is the ability to do illegal assists. Yes, it is technically cheating, but anyone who watches WWE on television knows that those who cheats most, wins most.

As a tandem, both members of a tag team will share the same momentum meter, which means that if your partner is sucking it up in the ring and tags you in, you'll need to fight back to regain the momentum. There will also be plenty of team-specific moves and attacks that you'll be able to pull off on opponents; during the presentation, THQ showed footage of the Hardy Boys roughing up Randy Orton with tandem moves such as double slams and dual drop kicks, as well as more elaborate tag-team finishing moves.

Fighting styles sometimes feel imbalanced

In addition to the revamped tag team mode, there will be substantial improvements to the Create-a-Wrestler mode. You will now be able to create your own finishing move, using elements from existing ones. The story mode this time around has been redubbed the “Road to Wrestlemania” mode. It will feature unique storylines for each major character as they overcome personal and professional hurdles on the way to the big event.

This year's SmackDown! doesn't do an awful lot to improve the franchise in any meaningful way

Because Smackdown! vs. Raw 2009 will be a multiplatform release, there are many special features each specific console will feature. The Wii version of the title is probably getting the most significant feature upgrade with the inclusion of online gameplay. Although the Wii isn’t known for its online capabilities, it is great to see the online feature is being offered. The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game are also getting new online features in the form of downloadable content. The folks at THQ have largely kept mum on what exactly this downloadable content will entail, but my best guess is it will included expanded past and present rosters, story elements, and perhaps some vintage arenas.

Unfortunately THQ didn’t want to get too far into the exciting online features of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 quite yet, but it’s clear that some clever game modes and ways to play via Live will be included. We already know that the Create-a-Finisher and some form of DLC are guaranteed for those “connected” (oh, we can hear the smack-talking and see the gaudy silk robes already). THQ also kept a bit quiet about story mode for WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 known as Road to Wrestlemania, but the publisher promises multiple endings, branching, star-specific storylines and the chance to campaign as a tag-team throughout.

Commentary is still abysmal.

Although new features are always important for keeping any game fresh, one could argue that THQ has a lot to do in improving some aspects of the previous years' games that have become extremely tired; namely, long load times, crummy collision detection, and subpar animations. It seems that THQ is listening on all of those points and is promising improvements to each of these aspects of the game, as well as an improved AI that will see the virtual Undertaker acting in the ring as he would in real life. We're most curious to see how the hit detection and load times improve. Producers claim that the game already has 50 percent shorter load times than last year's game, with the overall goal of reducing load times completely (which sounds optimistic, if not necessarily realistic, to us).

SmackDown! vs. Raw 2009 will be the 10th version of the SmackDown! series (which sort of makes us feel old). As the series prepares to head into its second decade, it seems to be focusing on both the new features and modes that will keep fans coming back, while addressing the important issues that SmackDown! vets have been clamoring for.

General Features

• TAG TEAM EXPLOSION -- WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 unleashes a brand new tag team match. Build momentum and attributes as a team, destroy opponents with high-impact double teams, pull off new bone-crunching tag team finishers and get the 'hot tag' for the win. Players can also take their tag teams online by creating Online Tag Team stables and competing in tag team matches all across the country.
• CREATE-A-FINISHER -- Construct the most devastating moves ever unleashed in a WWE ring with this brand new interface. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 lets players customize all aspects of created Superstars ... even their very own finishing moves.
• ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA -- Pave the way to WWE's biggest event of the year through WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009's new story mode, which features the franchise's first-ever co-op storylines
• NEW ONLINE FUNCTIONALITY -- Extend the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 gameplay experience with downloadable content and much more