Codebreaker Reviews: Smackdown Vs. Raw 2009

Codebreaker2008 · 22nd November 2008

For some fans, We've been waiting for this a long time. 08 was really a letdown and we begged for something decent. We got 09. Is it worth the play, or is all hope dashed again?

One of the biggest hyped up things for this year was the create a finisher. While you can only create something from the standing dazed position, it's pretty varied, and allows you to create some crazy finishers. However, some of the motions don't flow together like they should, leaving for some very jerky finishers.

Another crazy hyped up thing is the revamped tag team. While to be honest, I never really stayed too much into that, mainly because I found it to be pointless. However, they did make some improvements, such as the "hot tag", which is a semi decent feature, but unless you REALLY like the tag team mode, it's nothing to write home about.

Perhaps one of the biggest things was the "Road to Wrestlemania". These are pre-developed storylines developed for certain wrestlers. While the storyline (for some) are great, others just really feel lackluster, and you wonder why did they even bother putting said wrestler IN the mode, when they could have used someone else (I, personally was looking forward to a HBK road, but that fell on deaf ears.) and that's another thing. If you don't like the wrestlers in Road, you're out of luck. And there's only 6 to choose from. And the "you and a buddy can finally take on the road together?" Yea, that's crap. There's one storyline, one again, if you don't like them, you're outta luck.

Oh, one more thing? They're all short. I've completed 1 in a little less than an hour.

Then there's the new career mode, which is, pick a wrestler, wrestle, 3-5 star a match, rinse and repeat. It's the same thing over and over, and it's repetitive as hell, with no cutscenes and no story. Unfortunately for all of us that doesn't have a cheat device, this is the only way to boost our CAW's with abilities that are difficult as hell to unlock.

Besides that, it's the same game, new cover. Some characters even still have the same moves from 08. Besides the addition of new arenas (which is almost customary) and the roster update, you're looking at the exact same game. Oh wait. They revamped the system of last year to this one, but to be honest, there's not a huge difference.

I could mention the new inferno match, but that alone isn't enough to save this game. I could say that the commentary is MUCH better in this game, but most people just turn it off after a while.

Overall, this feels incomplete. Almost like an Add-on pack/Roster update. The Create a Finisher and the Road of Wrestlemania is good enough to at least warrant a rental. But, if you have 07 or 06, Avoid this one, unless you REALLY, REALLY feel the need to have a wrestling game that's only good for about 3-5 days.