WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 (PS3)

WWE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2009 is the latest in the series from THQ and really has improved from the 2008 offering. This time the main focus appears to be on tag teams and working together in matches. To show this feature off there is the co-op tag team Road to Wrestlemanis mode where you and a friend team up as Batista and Rey Mysterio in a series of matches trying to win and defend the tag titles then face off against each other. This is really good fun with some fantastic presentation but unfortunately is over very quickly. You can also play this mode in single player as one of the selected superstars, which as you progress completing certain in-match objectives earns you additional superstars to play as, as well as new costumes and arenas. There are also dozens of moves per superstar, which are mainly pulled off by using the right stick on the controller. This adds so much realism to the game that you'll think that you're watching a real match when playing. It also gives so much variety to each superstar that it will take you a while to master each one. The roster is fairly up to date and there are updates available on PSN for new superstars as well as some classics.

Visually this game looks very nice with some very impressive arenas and entrances. Each superstar looks very similar to their real-life counterparts and move and act in the same ways too. The commentary is accurate to exactly what is going on in the match at the time and the commentators change depending on which franchise is being used. The music is all the same as the real entrance and show music too.

There are so many match types to choose from including the basic one-on-one and tag team as well as steel cage, TLC, Inferno, Money in the Bank, Hell in a Cell, Elimination Chamber (my personal favourite), Royal Rumble, Ladder, Battle Royale, ECW extreme rules, first blood, Iron Man, handicap, 3-on-3, as well as many, many more , so if you're playing this on multiplayer this games has very long-lasting appeal as there is just so much choice here.

I can't imagine how they can make next year's game any better in all honesty as this is easily the best wrestling game since the ones on the N64 10 years ago.

WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2009 is undoubtedly a good game. However, I feel it's beginning to suffer from a "Tony Hawks-type" syndrome by which I mean the series is beginning to stagnate and feel increasingly unoriginal and lacking any meaningful innovation. There's nowhere near enough progression in this installment to warrant mass attention and critical acclaim.

I fear THQ/Yukes are resting on their laurels. I mean let's face it, stick the WWE logo on a dog turd and it will sell. Unfortunately this results in what is ultimately a lackluster effort. When you consider that THQ/Yukes are also on the brink of releasing 'UFC 2009: Undisputed' - a game which, going by the phenomenal demo, is as accurate a representation of any sport in a video game ever - you'd be forgiven for thinking that SvR09 is nothing more than a shameless cash-in on a mega-huge brand.

The gameplay is nigh on exactly the same as in SvR08. The graphics are uninspiring, the speed of the game is way off a realistic precedent, the lack of variety in ladder/table/cage/elimination chamber matches feels restrictive and the Royal Rumble match is just as interminable as it has been for years now. The 'create-a-finisher' mode is extremely limited and I personally miss the lack of a GM mode. They've also included inferno matches but after you've played it once I doubt you'll revisit it.

All that said, the 'Road to Wrestlemania' feature is very good at times and definitely a premise they should expand and build on next time round. Another feature that I was skeptical about at first but actually found myself enjoying is the highlight reel. Some people online have been very creative with this feature with hilarious consequences!

I think it's paramount that THQ/Yukes deliver the goods on a much more impressive scale next year as I think this is the last time fans of the series will tolerate "just another update". Regardless of that, this game is still fun and the 'RTW' mode is entertaining whilst it lasts. If you already have SvR08 though, I really don't think it's worth paying money for this game I'm afraid.

Smackdown Vs Raw 2009, is pretty much any other SvR apart from a few more animations and superstars. The game engine is old the graphics are becoming outdated, the gameplay is tired. The loyal fans of the WWE really do deserve another game, we've been playing this one since at lease 2001. The much hyped tag-team revamp is basically the ability to hot-tag a parter. and while the Road the Wrestlemania mode is fun the CAW options are vastly underdone...We could do with Day Of Reckoning 3 pretty soon