Standing in
one corner of the ring, a masculine fighter raises his arm to acknowledge his
fans. Cheers erupt through the arena, proving that when joined together, the
human voice is more powerful than any man-made speaker. Music blasts in the
background, signifying the arrival of a champ or champ-in-the-making. It’s WWE,
world’s largest wrestling organization. And that guy in the spotlight – he
didn’t come to play, he came to win.
Then the
next wrestler comes out. Male or female, the routine rolls on. Big lights, loud
cheers, and a star looking to put on a show. WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw, the
wrestling federation conglomerate game from THQ, has come for another November
of heart-stopping intensity.
This year’s
edition has been hyped with the development of eight fighting styles:
Powerhouse, Technical, Brawler, Submission, Dirty, Showman, High-Flyer, and
Hardcore. It only takes two buttons to activate one of these styles:
R1+triangle. Their power can be quite devastating. The pain and damage level of
Submission moves grows more intense when the Submission style is being used.
Likewise, once a Hardcore fighter is on the loose, he’s more capable of
inflicting pain – even if he must hurt himself in the process.
These style
moves are great, however, they don’t change the battles as much as I had hoped.
Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008 plays well for a game that hasn’t evolved much this year.
But while the Nintendo Wii version features some new (if not a little odd)
motion controls, and while the Nintendo DS version offers a nice selection of
touch and draw-based moves, the PS2 version doesn’t have any new control
mechanics to share.
In addition
to the 24/7 mode, covered next, Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008 contains a Hall of Fame
mode with challenges that range from January 22, 1995 to June 12, 2006. Using
the Undertaker, take on Mick Foley in a Hell in a Cell match on Legend
(difficulty setting). Or defeat Matt Hardy, Edge, Finlay and Jeff Hardy in a
Money in the Bank match using any Superstar, also on Legend. These and other
objectives provide an extra set of challenges to overcome.
Didn’t
Sleep a Wink
Hardcore
hits or hardworking actors? Real-world drama or real-world injuries? Wrestling
is often a question mark regarding what’s real and what’s not. You can tell that
some of the feuds were born on paper, but when someone ends up in the hospital,
it’s doubtful that those doctors are acting.
Smackdown
Vs. Raw 2008 takes a look at some of those issues with the 24/7 mode. As a
general manager, you’ll contract storyline writers to amplify the drama. Need
higher ratings? Want to create an enemy within the league? Perhaps the rivalries
aren’t enough and you’re looking to spark some controversy. Money will get you
what you’re looking for, with an increase in areas like “injury revenge” and
“cheating girlfriend.”
Managers
also have to keep an eye on health and progress reports, rosters, and propose
any trades. Fan support is another consideration. The three main areas, however,
are squarely directed on the wrestlers. Training Exercises are just what they
sound like, but without the mini-game nonsense that’s usually found in this kind
of a mode. To increase a stat (strength, speed, stamina, technical, durability,
submission, hardcore, or charisma) of a particular wrestler, players must take
that wrestler into the ring for a timed battle. The goal is not to pin your
opponent or beat him into submission. Instead, you must execute the moves
required for the stat you wish to strengthen.
The second
area of gameplay, Skill Development, enhances your skills with a microphone (for
press conference appearances), how well you perform on camera, the ability to
manage pain, how to become a fan favorite or fan loathed, and the best way to
endure the hardships of wrestling.
Lastly, you
may tell a wrestler to participate in special events. These are not the
competitions that pull in the big bucks and earn the general manager a nice
bonus. Instead, they are used to promote those competitions and increase the
popularity and financial status of the wrestler involved. To be a part of this
hoopla, get your wrestlers to sign autographs, attend press conferences, charity
events and photo shoots, conduct interviews with online publications, star in a
movie (as a hero or villain), or make a public appearance with an attractive
woman on each side. You can also let your wrestlers take off work for a day to
relax.
As a
wrestler (or more specifically, a Superstar), players will face the common list
of season mode battles. Events may be simulated but only by skipping forward to
a certain point. There is no way to intervene during the simulation process –
once a day has been skipped, you won’t be going back. If several days are
scheduled for automation, you can hit the X button before the sim finishes to
manually participate in some of those matches.
Wrestling
simulations have their obvious downsides, but it’s not a good idea for managers
to do it either. In the GM mode, contract deadlines are of major concern and
come up early on in the game. If you miss the deadline because you were busy
letting the AI do your job for you, no announcement will follow. The only way
you’ll know what happened is when you go to enter a match. “Uhh, what’s going
on? I don’t have any Superstars.” Check your phone and you’ll see a large list
of messages regarding the contracts that are about to expire, and likely have by
this time. Looks like some rookies or free agents are about to get a call.
With much of
the 24/7 mode content being pulled over from previous versions, and most of the
gameplay having been experienced before, WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008 doesn’t feel
fresh on PlayStation 2 anymore. This was to be expected now that the game is
coming to not one, but three next-gen consoles, as well as PSP and Nintendo DS.
On the
bright side, the series has yet to die on the current generation. Series
veterans will enjoy it – they just won’t find it as satisfying as some of the
previous iterations.
|
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Gameplay: 7.0
The gameplay is
still exciting and engaging. You’ll want to play solo or multiplayer matches
even if the other modes have lost their lure.
Graphics:
7.0
No better than
last year’s game.
Sound: 7.0
The cheesy voice
acting can be somewhat overlooked thanks to a hard-hitting rock soundtrack.
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Smackdown Vs. Raw
2008 isn’t the hardest wrestling game ever made, but its Hall of Fame mode will
test your endurance.
Concept: 7.0
The application
of fighting styles and their player-specific nature improve the overall package.
Unfortunately, that’s the only improvement to speak of – the rest of the game
feels like a revised Smackdown Vs. Raw 2007.
Multiplayer: 7.5
There’s still no
better way to play Smackdown than with a friend.
Overall: 7.0
A good rental for
most and a decent buy for the super-hardcore wrestling fanatic, WWE Smackdown
Vs. Raw 2008 doesn’t push the series forward. But with the next-gen consoles in
full swing, it doesn’t seem like there is much room for the game to grow without
jumping ship. Play this one if you love its prequels, and plan moving to PS3 or
Xbox 360 for Smackdown Vs. Raw 2009.
