One of the most Dissapointing games of the Smackdown! series, here is why...
For those who dont already know, I am a huge wrestling fan. I love Professional wrestling, I go to wrestling events all around the United States (most recently, TNA Bound For Glory in Atlanta), and I watch all types of wrestling that is available on TV. I used to be a huge fan of the WWE but a few years ago I noticed that the WWE product was going down the drain, so I became a loyal watcher of TNA Wrestling. I feel that TNA is the best Wrestling promotion currently on TV, it may not be as good as it was in 2005, but it is still leaps and bounds over the current WWE product. With that said, I still enjoy playing the WWE videogames, but this year's WWE Smackdown vs RAW is probably one of the most dissapointing games of the series, this is why:
I'll start by talking about the good parts of the game. I think gameplay has improved greatly. It is alot more fluid and the new controls are alot better, and make the game more realistic. This is the type of game that can be enjoyed at a party with a group of friends because of all the match types that are available. From Hell in a Cell to tag matches to Singles matches to Buried Alive matches to my personal favorite, the Ladder match. All of these matches really make the game a very fun and exciting experiance for not only 1 person, but everyone playing and can culminate in hours and hours of fun. The graphics are also top notch, you can even see the sweat comming from the Wrestlers which I think is a good addition and adds that realism that is needed in wrestling games.
Now I'll talk about the bad parts of the game. First off, 24/7 mode seemed like it was going to be revolutionary at first, but it is a big dissapointment. You can only use like 24 wrestlers out of the 50 that are included in the terrible roster. And the cut scenes repeat themselves over and over again. Also, if you get injured, their is no option to take time off so you end up wrestling even if you are injured, which means that if you have a leg injury your leg will be red when you do the match, and that is very annoying. The option to do autograph signings and movie roles are all good but get annoying after a while. The GM Part of 24/7 mode is decent but still the same as last year's game. The roster this year is terrible. Their are basically no tag teams, and as said before, you can only use 24 wrestlers out of the 50 in the game. The legends are ok, Sabu was a nice addition. Other than that, nothing is really special to the roster this year, in fact, I think it is a major step backwards.
Overall, if you are a big fan of the Smackdown series and you really want to try this game just because you love the series that much, I guess you can go ahead and rent it. But for everyone else who just wants a good wrestling game, trust me, this game is NOT for you. All in all, WWE Smackdown vs RAW 2008 is a major dissapointment, just wait for the TNA iMPACT! game, because this year's Smackdown game is NOT worth the 60 dollar price tag
_asswarrior