Previews// WWE Smackdown vs RAW 2008

Posted 23 Oct 2007 09:33 by
Weapon wheels appear on screen so you can pick and choose what item to reach for, while many of the items are interactive in limited ways, such as setting tables on fire and… well, lots of other things on fire too. You can also get weapons from the audience, which is nice of them.

Aside from perhaps the ECW mode, most of the new features apply to the XBOX 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, which were both pretty solid. For some bizarre reason, the PS3 version appears to be half as fast as the 360 version in terms of the framerate. It was instantly noticeable the moment we went from the Microsoft platform to the Sony platform, but after playing for a while on PS3 you sort of get used to it. It’s just a matter of if you can (or want) to get used to it too.

Technical comparisons aside, the whole game feels very much like past Smackdown games, so diehard fans will be right at home here – in fact, aside from some button changes, the game doesn’t appear to have evolved aside from the added features. It’s a good engine though, so there is probably no point fixing what isn’t broken. The only question is whether the additional features can charm those who already have last year’s edition.

It may be worth investing in the Wii or Nintendo DS versions instead for some gameplay variety – although having said that, the 360 and PS3 versions are the definition of ‘hardcore experience’, so anyone looking for something fulfilling rather than a party-style, more accessible version of the game on Nintendo platforms are going to be sore out of luck.

The Wii version appears very much like a PS2-ised version of the next-gen titles, albeit with Remote and Nunchuk support. The analogue stick moves your wrestler about the canvas, while attacking is a matter of swinging the Wii Remote about. Grabs can be initiated by swinging by holding the B Trigger and various other moves are applied to the other attachment buttons.

The most fun is holding down a button and using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to perform a wrestler’s taunt pose – waving the Remote in front of your face while playing as John Cena, for instance will… well, do his ‘hand waving in front of face’ taunt that he is famous for. On the flip side, there appeared to be an extreme lack of control options for the sake of providing a family-friendly gameplay mechanic – there didn’t seem to be an option to run, and sometimes I couldn’t approach my opponent further than a particular circumference when he was on the ropes, in a method that only reminded me of Wii Sports Tennis’ approach of giving you no control over your player whatsoever.

The Nintendo DS version took a much more imaginative approach. Instead of going for an N64-ised version of the next-gen titles, the DS Smackdown is controlled entirely by touch screen. Matches are played out like a set of cut-scenes, interspersed with short action sequences to allow your fighter to pull off various moves. To make your player punch for example, you tap the wrestler’s hand, then another icon to indicate a high blow, and then driving the touch pen upwards along an arrow will make the punch connect. If you take too long though, your opponent will play his attack on you instead.

It’s not really a full blown game short of a bunch of mini-game Quick Time Events, but it’s quick gameplay means you can at least play it on the train. You get to train your own player in the DS version too, using a 3D environment to build basic attributes up and using train tokens earned in matches.

Basically, Smackdown vs RAW 2008 looks to be more of the same, but it’s trying its damndest to break from the tradition that has befallen other annual sports games by simply improving the same old formula. By adding new features and more intuitive play though, the next-gen experiences provide just that – which honestly isn’t a bad thing, considering it gives a pleasant hardcore contrast to the efforts made on Wii and DS. Each version plays on the console’s strengths in unique ways, and this extra effort is what makes this game at least worthy of your curiosity when it’s released in November.
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