Review of WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008

Aside from the admittedly reduced roster, I still must say that "Smackdown vs. Raw 2008" remains every bit as addictive as any other WWE title that preceded it.

Much has already been voiced here about the "complicated" and "frustrating" controls and, I agree, they are. This is mostly why I opted for "Control Type B." This alternate control scheme was far more easier to navigate and, while I still don't prefer using those pesky analog sticks, I actually believe it grants the game more of a nostalgic arcade feel. It only really took me ten minutes to familiarize myself with how everything worked and, now, I'm pulling off suplexes, powerslams, and turnbuckle leaps like a seasoned pro! Anybody still amiss over the controls should therefore give this other set a try. They will all immediately notice a firsthand steady drop in their complaints.

I purchased the game this past weekend and am currently three months into the 24/7 mode with Ric Flair. Talk about a wrestling fan's wet dream! This new gaming experience ingeniously blends the traditional Season and General Manager modes from years past and gives us what is, essentially, a twenty-four hour seven-day-a-week breakdown of a professional wrestler's workaday life. It provides an overflowing plethora of character development options. You get statistical tracking and career goals that all serve to guide you toward the ultimate achievement of becoming a WWE Legend. What I find particularly cool is the whole "realism" aspect. If you're injured in any way during a match, you'll receive a text message encouraging you to pursue treatment. This means, to anybody who may not already know, that you rest up and relax on your "off" days. Rest & relaxation is but one of several options you have when you're not wrestling. You can sign autographs, conduct interviews, perform charity functions, or work on enhancing your physical skills. It all adds into your collective goal at rising up in the ranks and is, beyond any doubt, a postively awesome new feature that falls ito why I currently cannot get enough of this game.

Then, of course, comes the new struggle submission system. This is amazing! I'm currently using Ric Flair, as I've already said, case in point. His finisher, as any fan will tell you, is the Figure Four Leg Lock. I put this hold on Carlito in a recent match and the hold was broken! I know, big deal, right? Well, let me tell you how Carlito got out of it. He didn't grab the rope to force a break from the referee. No, Carlito actually pulled Flair's leg out from around his own and physically squirmed his way out of the hold! Call me a geek, but it's little touches like that a fanboy like me lives for! And, keep in mind, I've only been playing this for the last three days. There could be any number of other surprises I still have yet to see.

And the legends? Well, let me think. I haven't advanced far enough to unlock any yet. But, from what I've seen online, the big names we have on tap this year include: Bret Hart, "Ravishing" Rick Rude, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Sabu, Mick Foley, Terry Funk, and a few others that I may honestly be forgetting. Sabu, wow! The addition of ECW in this year's game is, to me, the quintessence of cool. That brings to mind the newly-added Extreme Rules match! Every weapon you can possibly imagine at your disposal, including the long-overdue ability to set fire to a table before slamming your opponent through its surface! Who couldn't want that?

It's obviously not going to be every gamer's cup of tea. But, at the same time, I completely fail to see how any true video-gaming wrestling nut could possibly pass this up! Trust me when I say....you will lose sleep, you will miss appointments, and long-time friends will forget your name if you plain and simply do not force yourself to put down the controller. This new game, for me, as I've already well established, is just that addictive and belongs in every fan's collection.





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