Customer Reviews
same thing 
2008-04-13
All the smackdown vs raw are the same thing i mean come on theirs nothing different about this game they just took out some characters and the story mode sucks really bad you can't really play just the computer 07 was the same but the best one
A+++ game 
2008-04-07
This Game is great and I play it 1 hour Every Day on my PS2.
My favorite character is WWE Diva Ashley which I play 97% more than any other WWE Superstar But wish they had Divas Maria, Beth Phoenix, Maryse, Layla and other Diva Superstars on Smackdown vs Raw 2008. I rate this Game 10 Stars.
FYI I bought this game Cause Ashley I my favorite WWE Diva and If this WWE Smacksown vs Raw 2008 Game Did not have WWE Diva Ashley it would be rated only 2 & 1/2 stars.
BUY THIS GAME!! 2008-03-30
This game is great compared to any game. I rented it and know I'm buying it next day. This game is great. The graphics are amazing. The reporters are cheesy but still you have to focus on the game. The AI doesget screwed up sometimes but live with it!!
oops i did it again 2008-03-28
If you are big into video games you will love this. If you are an average player the controls in this game do not work anything like the last smackdown vs raw. That is where I have the problem. You have different punch and kick buttons that take time to get used to. I wish that all video game makers would get together and make a standard for which buttons punch and kick. You can still have different combo's with all the rest of the buttons and joysticks on the controller but keep the same basics. I am still getting used to the changes and I am not sure I like the changes yet.
The best wrestling game thus far... 2008-03-26
My title says it all. This is the best wrestling game ever made and an improvement over all other Smackdown games. Thats right, I said it, and I've played damn near every wrestling game for every system...ever! Even that horrible "Fire Pro Wrestling Returns" game.
People have to understand, SvsR is like Madden, you get a new one every year, but you can't expect major changes, only slight improvements. Nevertheless, an improvement is an improvement, no matter how big. Is the improvements in this game worth the buy and upgrade from SvsR 2007? For sure!
Running has majorly improved. All wrestling games before this, your wrestler would run in a straight path when the run buttom was pressed and held. You would have to stop and press the run button again to run in a diffrent direction, making running look robotic and inhuman-like. In SvsR 2008 you are able to run more realisticly and free. You can run in circles, in other words, by holding down the run button (R1) and moving your wrestler with the analog stick. Major improvement in my eyes, it simply makes the game more realistic and fun. You also get tired and slow down after running for a bit.
I'm not sure why a few reviewers don't like the controls. They are simple to learn and use, and moving with the left analog stick is perfect for this game. They also have an alternate control type to use...I love the controls, it took me 10 min. to get used to everything, and they really haven't changed much from SvsR 2007. The reduced number of moves for each wrestler doesn't bother me a bit, you still have plenty for each wrestler. The create-a-wrestler is about the same, maybe a tad better, but the create-a-entrance has improved. A sliding bar has been added so you can see when exactly you have placed fireworks and such, thus making them easier to change and time.
The roster is kinda weak. I wish they had about 60 more legends. THQ needs to make a SvsR game with just Legends, with tons of them. You can create up to 30 wrestlers, so there should be zero complaints about the roster. If someone isn't in the game that you like, create them. There are several on-line sites that can help with creation of real wrestling stars. I haven't played the new story mode yet, but I don't have to, I like playing random matches more than anything. The story mode will only add to the game for me.
The best wrestling game yet isn't perfect though, but THQ is getting closer with this release. ECW was an awesome addition, btw. Add the ol' WCW for the next release!
Layin the smackdown 
2008-06-13
I always liked all the smackdown games so it goes without saying that I loved this one too. Some of the charaters are not in it like Maria Kanellis and Lita but the game is still good.
as bad as WWE has become lately 2008-06-10
crappy roster, slow loading times, dumb angles in the story mode, terrible move controls, its almost impossible to do a reversal cause the opportunity flashes for half a second and in video game time it just doesn't work, it takes a tremendous effort to take the belt off the hook in the ladder match which makes it very frustrating, its hard to make tags, commentary gets old quickly...i could go on....they should make a game where the WWE world is free roaming and you choose your allies, enemies, your angles, etc...and then the computer puts their input based on your choices...I hate being forced to fight people when I don't want to and I HATED that Rowdy Piper came back and turned on me as a tag team partner - what purpose does that hold in 2008 - if I am Triple H why is Piper beating my a** and making me look like a loser??? maybe Kamala can come back too and feud with triple h in the next version, that would be just as smart...
Not A Very Good Wrestling Game 2008-05-30
I must say at first this seemed like it would be a very good game seeing as they added so much to it since any of the prior smackdown games that ive played. So this was the first time trying SvR series, and from what i heard it was pretty much the same game only with a few changes. Going into game play i thought everything would work as it did before only with some minor adjustments parts of the control scheme. Man i was wrong!! The beginning tutorials of the game should say it all, you have to figure out each fighting style with its own individual and annoying learning curve that really isn't worth the time (or the fun) you have to put into doing it. Though it takes a strategic spin on things, the flow of the game suffers. But once you have gotten the hang of the controls, it'll start getting fun. If there is one thing that thq brought to the table was a very slick, cohesive, and polished environment. The graphics and move choices are awesome. There is also a really good variety of modes on here as well, such as 24/7, Tournament, Legend (which lets you fight in some of wrestling's greatest matches) and other creative little things that they've long put into overhaul (since any of the smackdown titles that is); which is all very cool, but here are a few issues i had. When playing in 24/7 mode with a created player, you have to do a lot to maintain how your player does, such as training mode. Which involves playing a two minute match to see if you can pull off the moves needed to earn just 1 stat point (which i might add is on any difficulty mode of the game) which is very frustrating when your new to the controls or even when playing on easy. Trust me you will be losing quite a bit. The worst thing about it is most moves are based off the square button and the analog sticks. Which means things can and will become very confusing if you are accustomed to the old system of play. The other thing is the commentary and the cut scenes, these all would have been very good if they didn't constantly use the same ones over and over again(Not the mention the acting is weak). Frankly ive enjoyed enough of the previous titles to know that the commentary this game has isn't [...]. Now comes the superstars, in my opinion the current stars that WWE have on the roster right now are very boring and at best are okay (WHERE THE HELL IS BOOGIE MAN!). It is nothing like some of the rosters of the past, and don't even get me started on some of the stories. Playing with Booker T should tell you what i mean. Even though some of greatest wrestlers of the past such as Rick Rude, Andre The Giant, Stone Cold, Bret Hart, and Roddy Piper are included in this title. What you have to do to unlock some of these players are mind numbing. Would you spend well over 40 hrs playing a wrestling game to do it?, you decide. Then comes the matches that involve more than one opponent. This is what really pissed me off. Instead of having a button you can press to switch over to the person you want to fight, you have to walk over to them in order to have it switch over automatically, but when others are attacking you it makes it almost impossible not to get hit or injured to the point where it takes you forever to recover. Costing you the match or any shred of patience you have for this game. It honestly makes SD:Know your Role seem like a four star game compared to this. The only reason why im giving this two stars is because of the create and multi player modes, which in my mind were just about the only fun redeeming qualities this game had; or if you like hearing the same bland mediocre nu metal band played over and over again while playing, it's all up to you. I for one am glad i decided to rent this one before i thought to buy it. If you really want to play a fun and easy to digest wrestling game, id recommend sticking with the older titles. It'll save you time, money, and any unnecessary frustration.
Smackdown vs Raw 2008 
2008-05-27
This is my first wrestling game. The only realy issue with this game is that while you are able to create 30 Divas or Superstars after about 9 or 10 the game will not load on the PS2. I don't know if it is my PS2.(Purchased in 2001) or weather this is fairly standard no matter PS2 year purchased you have. Also would like to have created divas in their birthday suits, know what I mean Vern. But the less clothes for the divas is allright to. The game will not let Melina be controlled by a real person and lose her belt. I tried four different times and won each time but the belt never changed hands. There is no Bra and Panties match. If there is it must be locked or I could not find it. Also could not create my own Championship belt without "Paying" for it. That's just plain wrong. However I enjoy it and give it 3 thumbs up.
I just don't know about this one... 2008-04-21
This game is such a mixed bag for me. Some things are better than ever, such as the graphics, entrances, weapon moves, etc. There are also some pretty big negatives, like the fact that Yukes decided to remove TONS of moves from the game. You don't like HBK's front grapple moves? Are they too "boring"? Well, now you get to choose from only about 4 other grapples, which are equally as boring. You want to do a weapon grapple with John Cena or Undertaker? Sorry. Their fighting styles are not "hardcore", which means you cannot do weapon grapples. Want to remove the turnbuckle pads with CM Punk and strong irish-whip opponents into the exposed steel? No dice. Punk is not a "powerhouse", so he cannot strong irish whip. Even if he could, he can't remove the pad because he's not "dirty" enough. This is a bunch of crap. Why do they limit us and force us to play a certain way? Now there are only a few grapples per wrestler, whereas games like Smackdown HCTP (released over 4 years ago) allowed 16 FRONT grapples per wrestler, which led to matches with lots of depth and variety, and not much repetition at all. You could literally go an entire match without repeating the same move twice. Not anymore.
The best wrestling games have TONS of grapples for different situations, and also allow unlimited freedom in the ring - play how you want to play. If you want to play dirty, do it. If you want to try a high-flying aerial move, do it. Great wrestling games also have a huge variety of moves and taunts in create-a-wrestler, and allow you to assign any of these moves to existing wrestlers (if you don't like their pre-assigned movesets). For some reason, Yukes keeps removing more and more moves from their library every single year, and now we are left with a very limited, very boring selection of moves and taunts. I know they are trying to make things "realistic", but they are taking away all the fun and FORCING us to play with very restricted movesets, which is frustrating considering games from 5-10 years ago had much more variety. Shame on you, Yukes.
At least the graphics are really good, and the game features guys like Jeff Hardy, Sandman, Tommy Dreamer, and CM Punk. Plus some of the moves (especially finishers) have been re-animated to make them less choppy, and there are tons of cool weapon moves for wrestlers with "hardcore" fighting styles, including flaming tables and con-chair-to's.
So, to sum it all up, for every positive in this game, there is a glaring negative. The roster includes some new faces, but the size is drastically reduced. The season/GM modes have been combined (cool in theory), but the concept is executed poorly and the whole thing is a mess. There are some cool new moves, but the movesets are reduced significantly. The fighting styles are unique to wrestling games and add "realism", but the wrestlers are much more limited in the ring, and are forced to play a certain way. Next year, Yukes, please remove all the gameplay restrictions, re-add all the grapples, re-add all the moves and taunts in CAW, beef up the roster, and give us a season mode that's actually fun to play. Then I will be a happy Smackdown fan again.
