A couple of weeks ago, I bought the latest incarnation of WWE’s franchise of wrestling games – Smackdown vs RAW 2008. It’s the first of the franchise that features the recently resurrected ECW brand, and promises new legends including every mother’s favourite: the late great Ravishing Rick Rude! It also promises all the bells and whistles associated with the biggest sports entertainment company in the world, but bollocks to all that, what’s it like to play?
Well, let me start with the one and only good point (and it is quite major). The control system. Once you get the hang of it which takes about half an hour, it is quite innovative and fun. The way you have to perform moves by mimicing them is a step in the right direction. It’s not perfect, and at times you are furiously waving
But, unfortunately, it’s the only thing that saves this game.
The characters are all there (except for the brilliant Santino Marella – come on THQ, Italian Stereotypes = Sales!), but the amount of depth in the game is about a teardrop’s worth. There is only about 3 match types, which – when you consider I’ve been used to all sorts of matches – it is shockingly weak. We’re going back to NES days here.
The other thing I don’t like is the weak Create A Wrestler. Sure, it’s there, but it doesn’t have the ability to create your wrestlers’ “Just So”. For example, and compared to XBox 360′s version where I can create my tag team (The horribly politcally incorrect “Nordic Combined” – consisting of “The Swedish Sensation” Sven Blomqvist and “The Gunman” Egil Gunnar Leonardsen) you can’t in the Wii version. Instead the wrestlers come out individually, and it looks a bit silly. Also, you can only pick a style of fighting and 2 or 3 extra moves, and the entrance is limited, and you can’t use the music on your SD card as your theme music. Come on, Excite Truck can do it, why can’t you?
All in all, this game is a bit disappointing. It’s fun for a weekend, but I really wouldn’t recommend buying it. Rent it maybe, but save your cash for something more fun.
Should you not like heeding my warnings, you can buy this game from Amazon here
Comments: 6 Comments
Rhys Wynne, the author of this blog, is a 20 something web designer from Colwyn Bay. 
I miss the THQ game where Ming Chi was in it…and you would play royal rumble mode…I’m pretty sure it was on the n64. If you don’t have a lot of friends it gets old fast though. I would agree with renting these types of games first.
Lol at ming chi!! yeah that was n64 i believe…. wcw right? And yeah we always played 2-3 people so it was more fun that way. Kicking ass and beating the champs.
The wii version looked a little weak just from watching the previews… I havent stuck to a wrestling game like I used to back on N64
i still believe the wii should stick to novelty games! i loved wii sports and played 1 or 2 others but the idea of serious racing games doesnt appeal – spend money on an xbox 360 for the goodness me thinks!
im yet to try guitar hero on wii but the xbox360 version is awesome!!
Rhys , How do you mimic the step in the first picture . I hope THQ releases such games for the PC too.
rhys i agree i was very looking forward to this game and i was going to buy it on ps3 but for christmas i got it on wii so i thought ok but then when i saw how disapointing it is i was shocked!!! but what can you do
smackdown vs. raw 06-07-08 are all great games just cause you don’t like other wii games you don’t have to break down on this one
kk