The longest running wrestling game series returns once again, as WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 is scheduled to smack its way into retail stores next month. The former PlayStation exclusive made its Xbox 360 debut last year with the 2007 edition.
Now WWE SVR 2008 looks to push things further with a refined control scheme, updated roster which now includes ECW Superstars alongside those from Raw and SmackDown.
THQ and Yukes’ latest grappler recently hit the Xbox Live Marketplace, which gives fans of the series a good taster of the improvements, and what to expect from the full game come its release next month.
The playable demo gives a few options and more importantly a chance to get used to the refined control system. Control wise, the game seems identical to last year's release but with a few changes. Most noticeable is that the finishing moves are now performed with the Y button instead of RB, you can now also free run around the area instead of in a straight line, like all the previous releases. There are several more controller differences, which for SmackDown veterans may take some getting used to at first, for good or bad these differences are here.
No longer can you just tap the strike button to perform a combination of attacks; you now have to hit the strikes while moving the left stick in a different direction each time to perform a string of attacks, which should stop some of the button mashers in online play.
Everything remains intact from last year’s game, at least from what we see in the demo. You can still battle on the announcers table and use a finisher to hit an elbow drop from the top turnbuckle to an opponent that may be laying on the announcers table, after you’ve dished out a good beating. You are still able to go into the crowd area and use the familiar hot spots from last year’s game, which enables you to dish out pain in some rather unique ways.
The demo also supports 4-player locally, unfortunately there is no Fatal 4 Way match for 4 players to participate in. You can however do the typical one on one match, with each of the wrestlers having their own manager, so you could have a buddy causing some chaos or dishing weapons out, distracting the referee etc.
Playable game modes under Exhibition include Normal Match and Hardcore. These pretty much speak for themselves. Normal Match is just that, a 1 fall to finish the match, where victory can be obtained by either pin fall or making your opponent submit. Hardcore is the same but with no disqualification and no ring out count, so feel free to throw your opponent out of the ring and lay the SmackDown with all the weapons and enviroments at your disposal. There are a total of four playable wrestlers in the demo build of the game; these include The Undertaker, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio and Bobby Lashley. The demo build features the Superstar’s full entrance videos too, which are certainly well done and give a closer look at the detail gone into the Superstars. More impressive is the facial features, it is incredible how accurate these are to their real life counterparts.
There are a total of three arenas for you to compete in; these are Raw, SmackDown and ECW – the full game will include much more, with most of, if not all of the year’s PPV arenas included. Each of these arenas brings with it different commentators, which is accurate with those in the WWE today. The problem here is that the commentary is clearly rehashed from last year’s game. The newly added commentators are John “Bradshaw” Layfield, who replaces Tazz and is now commentating alongside Michael Cole on SmackDown. Tazz however has gone back to his roots and is instead commentating under the ECW flag, along side Joey Styles. Good old Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler return to their announce table under the Raw brand. There are a few new comments amongst them. If you’ve played last year’s version then you will notice that the newly added commentators of JBL and Joey Styles, often duplicate what the others commentators said in the previous game, they just have their own catchphrases thrown in for good measure. It’s not all bad though, as the commentators recognise who is participating in the ring and occasionally comment on the performer’s previous accomplishments during the match.
The commentary occasionally goes out of sync in the demo too, with a comment suggesting that you have just countered a move, when in fact you just got knocked on your ass. The ring announcers for SmackDown and ECW do an admirable and convincing job, though the same can’t be said for Raw ring announcer, Lillian Garcia, who in real life does a fine job, however in the game she sounds like she’s just read it off of a piece of paper with no sense of enthusiasm.
Depending on how old or new this demo build is, it’s possible some of these things such as the commentary and the announcing may be fixed.
The crowd looks marginally better than last year's, however this is an aspect that is still not up to scratch. Clearly visible in front row are copies of the same crowd members, wearing exactly the same clothes and using the same animations, stood or sat several feet apart. The WWE Superstar’s themselves appear much more improved from last year’s game and are certainly much more detailed and life-like.
While WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 is scheduled to be unleashed in November, hot on its heels and releasing early next year is Midway’s upcoming grappler, TNA Impact!. Given that TNA has some of the most insane performers ever seen, and has acquired some of WWE’s most recognisable performers, such as Olympic Gold medallist Kurt Angle and several icons from the WCW days of old, including the current TNA Heavyweight Champion, Sting. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling also has some of the most talented high flyers, including the phenomenal AJ Styles. TNA is also known to have some rather bizarre and quite frankly, outrageous match types, it will be interesting to see if and how these get incorporated into the TNA Impact! game.
With what looks like two decent wrestling titles on the horizon, both are certainly worth a look. If however you’ve been playing the SmackDown series for years and are finding it lacking anything new in terms of real ground breaking features, then TNA Impact! may be worth hanging on for. Either way, the demo of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 is available on the Marketplace now, so grab the demo, lay the SmackDown and decide for yourself.
Preview By: Wayne Julian
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