WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 is THQ’s latest Xbox 360 edition of the longstanding professional wrestling series that captures the hard-hitting action of all your favorite WWE superstars. As expected, the 2008 release is packed with many new features in an attempt to get you to open your wallet and drop $60 on this game. Unfortunately, this incarnation the WWE feels much like taking one step forward and two steps back, as the story mode was haphazardly thrown together, and the graphics are still built on an ancient PS2 engine. I know the WWE fanboys will stand in line for 2008, but the smart thing to do would be to boycott this game and demand that THQ build a wrestling game worthy of Xbox 360 systems.
Developers are often given a “free pass” with their initial offerings on a new system because gamers understand that there is a learning curve with building games for a new generation console. Compare any 2006/2007 sports title with their 2008 counterparts and you’ll see what I mean. Our hope is that the developer will use their profit and experience to develop a quality game the second time around. As such the bar is raised, the expectations are higher, and the critiques are justifiably harsher. My question to THQ is, “what have you done for me lately”?
WWE 2008 features many refinements over WWE 2007, the most welcome of which is the control scheme. 2007’s control set was clumsy and cumbersome, requiring the gamer to press a series of buttons to execute the simplest of moves. This was simplified with the 2008 edition by utilizing the right stick and a modifier button to pull off various grapples. There are 3 levels of grab moves including Quick, Strong and Ultimate Control, each of which can be initiated very smoothly in comparison to last year’s game. Once you have your opponent in an Ultimate Control grapple, you can use the right stick to follow on-screen prompts to finish the move, while your foe can also use the right stick in an attempt to reverse the move. Submission moves are also oriented to the right stick. Once you have your adversary in a Struggle Submission hold, a grip icon will appear onscreen. Using the right stick to apply pressure, the gamer watches the icon and releases the stick just before the grip slips, which gives the wrestler in the hold an opportunity to escape with careful timing. Overall the control set is very well done in relation to the previous title, and should dissipate some of the frustration that existed before.
The introduction of Superstar Fighting Styles brings a great new wrinkle to WWE 2008 game play. There are 8 styles including Brawler, Dirty, Hardcore, High Flyer, Powerhouse, Showman, Technical and Submission, all of which feature unique moves, abilities and strategies. A Dirty wrestler can shove the referee at an opponent while a Showman can steal his foe’s finishing moves. By defining personalities by virtue of the fighting styles, the gamer will no longer see the “good guys” remove turnbuckles or do other things out of character. This is one of the better new features in Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 as it forces gamers to think about strategy, strengths and weaknesses during any match.
Also new for 2008 is the WWE Hall of Fame, which includes some of the wrestling greats of yesteryear. You no longer have to pull your NES out of storage if you want to wrestle with Rick Rude and Roddy Piper. The Hall of Fame is far from comprehensive with superstars such as Sabu included while notables like Andre the Giant are omitted. Overall the 2008 roster is very limited, and should have included many, many more wrestlers if THQ is going to slap the Hall of Fame label on it. Many wrestling fans will be glad to see that the ECW is in the game this year, including the ECW Extreme Rules Match. Gamers also have much more latitude than ever before to create custom wrestlers complete with move sets, entrance movies and imported music.
Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 features a poorly executed career mode called “24/7”. The gamer first selects whether they want to play as a wrestler or a general manager, then you are prompted to select either a WWE Superstar or one of your custom wrestlers. You can choose to either begin with the wrestler’s “real” stats and abilities, or start with feeble abilities and train your way to greatness. Once you’ve indicated which WWE brand you’ll wrestle for (Smackdown, Raw or ECW) you’ll be treated to a very bland and boring locker room that serves as the main screen for 24/7 mode. The locker room features a WWE magazine to keep abreast of storylines, a laptop to check on your wrestler’s health and attributes, a cell phone that serves as the primary driver of the plot lines, and a wall calendar for scheduling training and matches.
