WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2008

"Read this THQ: You had it right with HCTP and 2006. What the hell happened?"

[Introduction]

Let me start off by saying that I've been a huge fan of the series since HCTP way back in 2003. That game was reeked of awesomeness, to quote E&C. It had tons of moves, an incredible roster, the introduction of WWE Legends (albeit, not all of them the greatest), the Elimination Chamber, HUGE hardcore arenas to fight in such as backstage areas, parking lots, training rooms, outside the arena, a park with fountains and lots of detail, and Times Square. Thats right, you could go to Times Square and jump off of a three story building onto a car and make it explode. That, my friends, is entertainment. That, my friends, is FUN. But what do we have in this new game? Well, I'll get to that in a minute. My point is, HCTP was nearly perfect. A few issues aside, it was the greatest wrestling title of all time, and it holds a special place in the fans' hearts. But moving on, lets get to the review...

[Graphics]

As a guy who thoroughly enjoys Fire Pro Wrestling Returns on the PS2, I can tell you graphics don't mean a ton to me. However, it is a nice plus. This game has beautiful graphics. Everything looks and animates excellently. The frame rate usually stays at a constant buttery smooth 60fps, which is beautiful. The CAWs this year look excellent, as well. The best they have ever looked, actually. Its a shame other Create-A-Options weren't so blessed... but I'll get to that. The arenas looks great, and the crowd is very well detailed for something that you don't pay attention to (or at least I don't). One complaint, however, is how sometimes the cinema animations look... awkward. Why does Ashley Massaro's face look like a horse whenever she talks? That just ain't right. Other than that, graphics are awesome.

[Sound]

I'll sum this up in two categories: SFX and Music. The SFX are great. Everything sounds like it should, and the grunts, bumps, and hits all sound wonderfully rich and deep. However, the music can go straight to hell. I don't know why they do this, but every year they seem to find the worst bands in the world, get them all together, and make them record songs for the next SD! game. I'd rather have the themes for each show playing in the background at the very least... Remember HCTP and SYM? Or how about the generic background noise that was, ya know, background noise? Get rid of this crap, please. Its amazingly annoying. But hey, atleast its not "Money in the Bank" again. *Shudders* But hey... atleast we got custom entrance music!

As for voice overs, they're decent, but JBL's commentary just sucks. Was he sick that day or something? I'm not a fan of voices in the game, btw... aside from the announcers/commentators there shouldn't be any, and I'll get to that at the end.

[Control]

The controls in the game are incredibly solid... how ****ing ever... I have a few large complaints. Number one: Why in the HELL did they remove manual targeting? Tag matches and matches with multiple superstars are almost unplayable at times. It was in the demo, why ain't it in here?

[Gameplay]

I honestly found nothing wrong with the core of the game. Having said that, its incredibly mediocre. It feels amazingly bland and like you're being cheated out of a real experience. This, however, is STILL not the main problem in the game, and I will get to that momentarily. Anyways, the core of the game is very solid. You have a wrestling ti- err, sports entertainment title that delivers in all the ways it promises, and thats not a bad thing. However... the fighting styles have got to go. I know Mr. Ledesma, creative director of the series, it makes each character feel "unique". If by unique you mean all the damn same except for how they handle weapons, sure. But that will be discussed more in my next section...

[Creativity]

And here, ladies and gentlemen, is the problem I have this this game. In every title after HCTP, there have been more and more restrictions on our creativity. For one thing, we cannot use logos on CAWs online. I don't care about people drawing random obscenities, I want to be able to play as my freakin CAW of myself with all my crazy designs. Feel me? Another thing, and this is the biggest, biggest, single most important thing in the game to me, and they messed it up... The moves. They have cut out literally 75% that made up HCTP. They took some out in SVR, then some out in 06, and a few more in 07. But in 08, not only did they take tings out, no... they restricted the moves you could do to each fighting style. This is absolutely unacceptable. So you're telling me I have to play the way THQ/YUKES wants me to play and not how I want to play? You're telling me The Undertaker can't have his damn flying clothesline running move unless he's a high flyer? What in the unholy hell is this crap? I want to be able to make a moveset EXACTLY as I want it to be, not how THQ/YUKES restricts it to be. I want to be able to give my characters the moves they actually do and not some filler crap just because THQ/YUKES got lazy.

To sum that previous wall of text up: they got lazy. They put out a decent "sports entertainment" title, but when it comes to wrestling, you'll want a game like Fire Pro Wrestling Returns on the PS2. A game that isn't pretty, isn't high def, isn't 16:9, and isn't even on a current generation console. That game beats this one in almost every way thats important.

[Fun Factor]

The game just isn't that fun. HCTP, SVR06, and even SVR07 were fun. This game just isn't very fun at all. HCTP had the wild brawls all over the arenas and outside of the arenas. It took no prisoners and just went crazy. SVR06 was the pure wrestling title and it made major strides. SVR07 fell a bit, but hey, it wasn't as bad as 2008.

[What THQ/YUKES Needs to do...]

- Put in more moves and STOP taking them out.
- Make submission moves... SUBMISSION moves. The Rock's Sharpshooter should NOT be a normal move, nor should the Edgecator... And where in the hell was the Walls of Jericho?!
- Remove voice overs. This severely limits season mode and who can be in the game. If you don't have to record anyone, you don't have to cut anyone from the game.
- Put back in the crazy indy/Japanese moves that we all know and love. This is a WRESTLING game. I know its the WWE product, but it doesn't mean you have to shun other forms of the same art.
- Let us have more control of what a match's rules are: 10 count? Hell, lets have a 20 count! Escaping the cage? Let us turn that off or on as we please.
- Small gripe, but for the love of God make the Hell in a Cell bigger. And add steel steps... and weapons underneath, damn it!
- Get rid of fighting styles. Let the PLAYERS determine what moves someone has, not you. What about OUR creative freedom?
- Add the backstage areas back. Let us go from ringside to backstage again. How about outside? Times Square? Hell, create an arena wouldn't be a bad option, either. And REAL fighting in the crowd. As in they disperse and move around you, not just leave.

Theres too many things for me to list that need to happen for me to even CONSIDER getting the next SmackDown! game. I think most people will agree with me on these points, however. Make it SmackDown! for the fans again, not SmackDown! for the hell of making a game.

-Jeffrey "Pizza Buddy"

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 01/04/08

Game Release: WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2008 (US, 11/13/07)