Sorry for being so late in posts. I've been busy with gaming for the past weeks. To start off my first game review of November and probably the last for this month will be the brand new 9th installment to the Smackdown series, Smackdown Vs Raw 2009. For the first time since No Mercy, this game has 60 plus wrestlers. With pretty sweet graphics, good gameplay and some interesting custimization techniques this game could possibly be the best Smackdown game released so far. But does it live up to its potential?
Since I started playing the game I deffinetly enjoyed it. I mean with th so many wrestlers to choose from its never hard to decide. But that doesn't make the game the best yet. Cory Ledzma and the rest of his staff at THQ who develop the Smackdown Vs. Raw series decided to change the historical game modes. Instead of a story that you can use almost any wrestler but have the same exact thing happen every single time, they decided to make a change. They made a Road to Wrestlemania game which is a uniqe story with certain wrestlers like CM Punk, Undertaker, HHH and more superstars. But there are only 6 stories to choose, one being a tag team story with Batista and Rey Mysterio Jr.
What else have they changed? A question you might ask. They have added the My WWE feature which is a great idea that I have been wanting for years. Finally you can make what wrestler you want on any roster. Either Smackdown, ECW, RAW, WCW, Legend of Free Agent. Whatever you want to choose. So your superstars can be up to date to your own preference. Also they have added the Create-A-Finisher mode. You can actually make a finisher! Its a good idea and could be worked on in further games but it also enjoyable. Plus other stuff like Highlight Reel and the Inferno match. Also the career mode is new but it is very long and unsatifying for a story.
But they have taken some stuff out. I enjoyed the GM mode. I know alot of players didn't but I liked to control rosters and make up storylines. Also they took out the hardcore triple threat tag match. That match was awesome! But other than a few minor things it really hasn't taken a great fall to the sereies. Maybe the roster changes with ridiculous characters like Tony and Masked man (unlockables). They did also not include legends except for Vince McMahon, Tazz and Ric Flair. But with downloadable superstars being made they could maybe possible find themselves into the game. They have already created Super Crazy and Evan Bourne for download. So if you enjoy this series. Pick it up, its fun and has some cool features. Nothing will ever be as good as No Mercy for N64 but this sure does come damn close for a wrestling game. So out of 5 X-points I give SVR 09' 4X points. A good score for a good game. -T
