WWE SmackDown vs RAW 2009 (PS3)

Author's product rating:   

Gameplay/Playability	A good game - good gameplay & playability
Graphics	Excellent Graphics - visually stunning
Sound	Good sound effects & music
Value for Money	Satisfactory

Advantages:	Different endings and storylines, Tag Team moves, overall ingame modeling, Inferno match
Disadvantages:	Similar to its predecessor in most parts, no actual revolution of gameplay

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

WWE Smackdown VS Raw 2K9

One word review

This is just an evolution, not a revolution

I played this game in the Gaming Centre nearby my house for two hours, the PS3 version of the game. I must admit that the game is enjoyable and all WWE fans would love this game. But Normal Gamers and Non-WWE fans won't really like to play this game for more than 2 matches i suppose because this game is exactly as is predecessor Smackdown VS Raw 2008.

The Changes

This game mainly has certain changes from 2008 version of this game as this game mainly concentrates on The Road To Wrestlemania.

No 24x7 mode as in 2008 which really sucked up. For all the characters it carried the same storyline with some minor changes in cut scenes which was also very rare to spot. This was the case with Smackdown VS Raw 2008 (SVR 2008).

But this game mainly concentrates on Road To Wrestlemania.

For every player there is a separate storyline which is totally different.

There is only approximately 15 different matches for every player you select to play with till the Road To Wrestmania, the "Grand Finale" is reached.

There is also separate ending styles for every player you select which also depends the types of matches that one selects and rivalries developed with superstars during the course of the game.

Mainly the Tag-Options ie., Tag Team Moves are really increased and there is lot to choose from like Turnbuckle partner can hold an opponenet and the current player can just punch him until refree count out to five.

Also specific Tag Team moves are present for Real Time Tag Teams like The Hardyz where Matt Hardy can apply Twist of Fate and Jeff Hardy can simultaneously apply the Swanton Bomb. This is very cool Tag Team move to perform. Also there are lot of others too.

Player modeling and characterisation and resemblence to real life characters are improved. Players sport their latest gear too.

Also the all new editing a current match option which allows players to save the played match and to upload it in their PS3 Home. This is a cool option and various other signs and options can be added too, all available from a user friendly interface.

My Experience

I'm basically a WWE fan and i loved playing this game. Applying Tag Team moves and Finishers which have also been improved are very well designed so that they look very cool with all those Camera cuts.

Also chair shots, TLC matches, Table and the all new and improved Inferno match has been well crafted and are very enjoyable to play. I just loved it.

I played a TLC match between Jeff ( Me ) and The Undertaker under Hard difficulty mode. Though i lost this match, i just loved it as it lasted for nearly 40 minutes. Believe me the AI has been well improved than its predecessor.

The learning curve is nearly 20 minutes approx. If one has experience playing previous WWE games in PS2/PS3 like SVR 2007 then its only a matter of 5-10 minutes max. All controls are mostly similar and are easy to apply like the grappling moves which are improved too.

I played the Inferno Match between Triple H ( Me ) and Jericho under Hard difficulty. I won this match after nearly an hour of battle and it simply rocks, its great playing these kind of matches.

Also Table match was very good but was same as SVR 2008 but with all new Tag Team Moves like i mentioned above for The Hardyz, this was taken to next level of gameplay.

But other matches like parking lot brawl, No holds barred match and other matches like Ladder, No-DQ matches were all similar to its predecessors.

New weapons (Some Wide Range) can be found under the ring which is a good improvement. Also Players with their Signature Weapons perform some special attacks and handling of such Signature Weapons by players is improved and is lot cooler to use.
For instance Triple H can use his Signature Weapon as The Sledgehammer and can perform certain Cool moves.

Also the overall appearance of the game, the ingame shadows and lighting effects and sounds, ring appearance and refree modeling and refree AI, Crowd appearance and Crowd (people) face differentiation has been well improved.

But there are no major changes to the overall gameplay. The gameplay still looks a lot similar to its predecessors only.

Also Diva looks great especially Beth Phoenix looks all muscular and Kelly Kelly looks beautiful. But other divas modeling are same as it was in SVR 2008 and only sport new attire.

Conclusion

Hence in my opinion this game will surely entertain all the WWE fans but the neutral gamers and Non-WWE players who play this game will get bored because of its monatenous gameplay, when played for nearly half an hour to the maximum continuously because its a lot similar to its predecessor games.

But the cut scenes and the in-game entrance videos and all new remodeled belts (WWE belt for instance) will add to in-game look.

Hence again this game is only an Evolution and not a Revolution which we actually expect and expected from this game.

Also i rate this game with "Average Difficulty" having considered that people have experience with past WWE SVR games. Else this game is difficult and requires patience to get the learning curve correct.

This review is based upon my experience with this product and my gameplay and is not copied from any site.

Thanks.

P.S = Please rate this review and leave your comments which would be very helpful for me. Thanks in advance.

Regards

Nishanth Lakshminarayanan