In recent
years, Smackdown Vs. Raw has been the premier wrestling series. The annual
updates don’t always contain the proper content to differentiate each new title
from the last, but the core gameplay has kept the series going strong.
On the
mobile front, wrestling games – or any kind of fighting game, for that matter –
have not had what it takes to get the hardcore fans to notice. That will change
in the coming years, possibly sooner than expected as new game-dedicated mobile
technology is introduced.
Unfortunately, that leaves little room for success with the current wrestling
games. Such is the case with WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008. Overall it does more
than most, has decent visuals, and runs pretty smoothly. But it doesn’t have the
proper mechanics to make it feel like a wrestling game – consequently, it comes
off as an arcade button-masher.
Note: These
screens are much more pixelated than the game itself.
Victory…
If nothing
else, SVR 08 is a fair demonstration of 3D effects produced for the average
mobile phone. Character models are polygonal, three-dimensional, and are
distinctly different from each other when battling in the ring. Mobile gamers
will appreciate that the game features an actual movable camera (controlled
automatically) that adjusts as the player and his opponent moves around.
During
grapple moves, the camera leaps forward to give you a closer look at the action.
The wrestlers are less detailed from this view, but their bodies are
surprisingly free of the blocky look that pervaded most PSone and N64 games.
Why is that
significant? Right now, the handheld systems are a few years ahead of the 32-
and 64-bit technology of that era. PSP’s visuals are better than anything you
could have seen in 1996. Mobile phones, however, are a few years below the
graphics produced during the 32-bit era. If mobile developers are able to reduce
the blocky appearance of characters even when great detail isn’t possible (as
they have with SVR 08), just think of how amazing the games will look when our
phones are finally on par with PSone.
SVR 08’s
frame rate isn’t overly fast, but the game runs well. There aren’t many bouts of
slowdown. The animations are choppy though not as choppy as you might expect.
This improves with the closer grapple view. However, there is never a time in
the game when the wrestlers’ faces look good. You can choose from roughly 10
different faces in the player creation mode, but they’re all a bit muddled. And
as expected, you can’t tweak their appearance – only pre-sets are available. If
you’re fascinated by the selection of a wrestler’s pants, you’ll be happy to
know there’s a style feature that lets you choose between long, medium and short
length pants. I’m not one of those people, so let’s move onto what really
counts: customizable gameplay.
Along with
the slight aesthetic changes, SVR 08 allows you to assign points to five
different attributes: strength, grapple, durability, speed, and charisma.
Twenty-one skill points are available. They’re assigned automatically when you
begin the player creation mode, but you can reduce each attribute to its lowest
amount (one point each) to allocate the majority any way you please.
Players may
give their wrestlers four different moves from a list of 19. Choose one of the
anti-charge moves: Big Boot, Clothesline, or Drop Kick. Select two grapple
moves: Piledriver, Suplex, Body Slam, and Bulldog. And one crowd-pleasing
finisher: Spear, Tombstone, RKO, Sweet Chin Music, West Coast Pop, Alpha Slam,
Batista Bomb, Chokeslam, Dominator, Fu, Pedigree, and Pump Handle Slam.
This sounds
great and is fairly cool. The moves aren’t spectacular but have enough detail to
convince the player that he or she is actually playing a wrestling game.
…and
Defeat
Unfortunately, the gameplay isn’t on par with the graphics. It isn’t particular
bad – you could find worse time-killers, for certain. But it doesn’t play like a
wrestling game at all. The OK button, which triggers kicks and punches, is your
primary attack method. Expect to press it a hundred times for every few minutes
of play. This turns the game into a button-masher in a matter of minutes.
The grapple
moves are decent but there isn’t much to them. You initiate them by pressing the
left selection key. If your opponent tries to escape, the close grapple view
will appear. That’s when a meter pops up, and more button-mashing ensues. You’ll
have to jam on the left and right buttons to keep the green rectangle aligned
with the triangle in the middle.
Finishers
and ring climbs are also executed with the left selection key. Press these
buttons correctly (avoid attack while doing so) and the game does the rest for
you. If you’re ever on the receiving end of a finishing move, it’ll be time to
button-mash once more.
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Gameplay: 5.0
While Smackdown
Vs. Raw 2008 isn’t a bad time-killer, the button-mash-heavy gameplay prevents it
from achieving a true wrestling game feel.
Graphics:
7.5
Good character
designs and 3D camera changes (dare I say dynamic at times) give
Smackdown an edge over its wrestling and fighting game competitors.
Sound: 3.0
One song played
until the end of time. Or until you shut off the sound, whichever comes first.
Difficulty: Easy
Press OK to
continue. Press OK to attack. Press OK to win. Press OK to hear this message
again.
Concept: 7.5
A lot of good
stuff that doesn’t come together.
Overall: 5.5
For those looking
to add Smackown Vs. Raw 2008 to their mobile lineup, it is recommended that you
only play the game with a phone that has a sturdy OK button that can withstand
excessive button-mashing. This game was reviewed on an LG VX8300 – one of the
stronger phones on the market. If your OK button is weak, pass on this one or
look for a new phone.
