THQ has one again served it RAW and convicted it with a highly addictive dose of serious SMACKDOWN
Smackdown vs Raw 2009 is a step up from Smackdown vs Raw 2008 although differences are subtle, more match types are offered like the, wait for it, INFERNO MATCH, and the useless extra of specialties introduced in Smackdown vs Raw 2008 such as dirty, weapons and powerhouse have rightfully been tossed out the McMahon window. Instead replaced with a store bar for signiture moves that proves useful in competative online play.
The graphics are of slight improvement but is it worth being bombarded with all the match statistics for wrestlers, that's for you decide. Personally I find it a useless extra.
Everyone knows that recent wrestling games consist of three things for the single gamer. Exhibition mode, Career mode and GM mode. However THQ have decided to take out GM mode in Smackdown vs Raw 2009, personally I think that takes appeal away from the game but some critics thought that GM mode in 2008 was a waste of time and the acheivement not worth it. So whether it was a good choice is a 50/50.
The exhibition mode remains consistent with all the favourites like elimination chamber, extreme rules, (re-appearance from ECW by the way), Battle royal, Royal Rumble and the highly awaited INFERNO MATCH. With well over 50 match types there will definitely be something to keep you glued to the screen.
The career mode has been turned on its head and cracked in two. Now there is the, Career mode, and the Road to Wrestlemania mode. Career mode is much alike Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 which will keep the fans happy but to the 9 year old John Cena fans who begged their parents for this title there is a much shorter mode with a richer storyline which also proves to be a winner for the old fans and the new.
The multiplayer mode is great, I haven't dwelled too far into it but when you enter the abyss there is no going back, ladies and gentlemen there are some serious tough cookies so finesse your skill before entering the ring with some 9 year old with an anonymous gamertag who more than loves John Cena. I'm a fanatic for this franchise but he was "The Champ". A cheap joke for the Cena fans out there. Never thing you're "The Animal" because someone on the other line is a bigger one and will counter you silly and force you into an inevitable submission with the unpredictable but oh so charming new feature, Chris Jericho.
There are more positives like freedom of creation but that's nothing new. And a negative could be the occasional lag in online gaming, but that's expected if you're playing Über fans in the US and UK (most are)
This is my first review, it's really brief so be nice