SvR08 Gets Reviewed

[Spectre]

From IGN:

WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008 is good. Very good. The latest outing in the franchise has arrived with 50 superstars from Raw, SmackDown, ECW and the WWE's past; the new ECW Extreme Rules Match; a new tournament mode; and an updated control scheme.

Oh. You can light barbed wire 2X4s and tables on fire. Sweet.

ECW was the promotion I called home in the late '90s, and that's probably why I love the ECW Extreme Rules Match so much. Following the tried-and-true Philly formula, you get to drag your opponent all around the ring, floor and crowd in a no-count out, no-DQ match where the pinfall or submission must happen in the ring.

What separate this match from the hardcore battles we've seen for the past few years are crowd interaction and the weapon wheel. As you take your Superstar and pound in faces around the barricade, fans will reach out to hand you crutches, championship belts, guitars and more. You can take the weapon and wail on the opponent or lockup with the opponent and drag him or her to the outstretched object for some nifty moves such as draping the bad guy over the barricade and going to town on his or her back with the crutch, having the fan hold the guitar steady while your opponent comes in headfirst and other craziness.

You can even perform specialized taunts with the crowd where you lean back on the barrier and bask in their adoration or take one of their signs and celebrate with it.

However, it's the weapon wheel that truly puts this match in its own league. In years past, we'd blindly reach under the ring for whatever foreign object we could get. Now, when you reach under the ECW ring -- this match type can only be played in the ECW arena -- you can use your left stick to select from a set of eight weapons such as chairs, mops, Singapore canes and more. You can even pick four weapons before the match that you want to see represented on the wheel more than once and don't have to worry about being attacked while picking your item -- the game focuses on you and your opponent is left in off-screen limbo.

ECW! ECW! ECW!To me, the weapon wheel is one example of SmackDown's somewhat simplified control scheme. For years, the game's been prompting players on how to reverse, but even last year's game was a sea of bumper/face-button combinations if you wanted to do easy tasks such as whip opponents, initiate submission moves and more.

IGN Ratings for WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008 (X360)

Rating Description

out of 10 click here for ratings guide

8.0 Presentation

The front end is slick and stylized while the match selection tree is a breeze to navigate. The cutscenes are a bore.

8.0 Graphics

They're mostly good. At times, the game is stunning (Randy Orton's turnbuckle RKO), but other times the wacky hair, clipping and Torrie make you cringe.

7.0 Sound

The commentary is stiff and nonsensical, the wrestler voiceovers that are -- in my opinion -- holding the series back are equally as lame, and the crowd isn't into it this year.

7.5 Gameplay

In ring, it's the same blast we've been having for years with great moves and vicious weapons, but the disappointing 24/7 mode, limited roster and same old matches will sour the experience for some.

7.5 Lasting Appeal

Other than money, nothing's going to bring you back to 24/7, but that leaves you with a solid online system. However, if you're sick of 2007, the few changes in 2008 won't cure your ailment.

7.8

Good OVERALL

(out of 10 / not an average)

Game Still Looks Good im getting it Anyway.

SVR08 Full Review

Discuss.

Edited November 3, 2007 by TV's Joe Lauzon

[jitz]

The PS3 scored a lower 7.5 due to the lack of online chat and the suckiness of the point of view entrances over custom tracks.

The 24/7 mode sounds shit, which is unfortunate as I really only play the season mode.

[takersfan]

Ps2 has no online but idc reviews is nothing its still fun non ign reviews said 8/10 or higher

[Nemo]

you just said you dont care about reviews, but brought up the fact that other reviewers gave the game an 8/10 or higher.

you obviously care about reviews. stop saying you dont.

[takersfan]

Still buying it but i have to point it out to people who care too much about reviews eh?

[jitz]

I find the reason for 19 wrestlers in 24/7 mode hilarious. The saying that they're the only wrestlers with decent voice overs is the single greatest video game quote of all time. Here I was thinking it was there job to do voice directing to make sure they get the most out of each guy who walks in the studio.

[Heart Breaker]

There's a vital error in IGN's review.

If you watch the video review, you will see Greg mentioning how bad carrying injuries over into career mode is. He then goes onto complain about how there's no rest option. Which I could easily agree with him... but there IS a rest option.

Watch the IGN Video Review of SvR08 for the 360 or the PS3. You will hear Greg rant on about how there's no option to rest his character... But then, pause at 6:58 seconds. You will see a R&R option come across the screen.

Resting is not the best way to get your name known, but everybody needs a day off. Regain some of your health with a nice massage.

I just thought this was funny, seeing as how one of Greg's biggest complaints about WWE 24/7 mode was the injuries and how he couldn't rest... yet there's an option shown right in the video review to rest... It amazes me. You think these reviewers would look thoroughly throughout a game for a rest option, before posting a video review.

[ALL STAR]

Think the review is kind of spot on. But why dosnt he speak about caw mode like how many layers etc, instead he moans about glasses.

Think the main thing to take from the review is that the game is fun to play and has a fuck load of features.

[takersfan]

I still cant wait till the game is out cause it has everything important on ps2 for me

[DX Kidd]

Ps2 has no online

ur kidding rite?

[The Crow]

svr08kidd he's not kidding it's true

[takersfan]

Its damn true.....

[NeuroToxin]

PS2, Wii, and PSP, no online for j00

DS (QWTF!?), 360, and PS3 have online