[Multiplatform] Smackdown vs Raw '08

Hmmmm, that seems DIFFERENT, to say the least.

Supposedly though, no online capacity, at least for the PS2.

I really didn't play much of 2007-glitchfest and all, but maybe this one wil be better. I guess I'll wait and see.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Just a few more days before this game comes out.

This game alone makes me want to consider getting an XBox 360 when I have the funds (and availability) due to the 1) custom music for entrances and 2) online service (well, okay, so maybe not due to the cost and me not really playing).

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I still don't understand why they don't incorporate aspects of the DoR engine into this game. While I do enjoy the Smackdown games, and look forward (with low expectations as some people have started to give out reviews) of this game, I always liked the DoR engine, in particular DOR 1, the most.

Most amazing jew boots

So I finally got a chance to play this game. I dunno if this should be a spoiler or not but...

Spoiler:

Plot continualty is definitively a negative. Either that, or Cena is a dolt as he fought for a number one contender's shot for a title he already had.

So far, the game isn't that bad. I haven't be able to powerbomb people on steel steps as I have seen on videos, do the table thing, or such. However, I HAVE been able to get use to the controls in a remarkably short amount of time. Also, there seems to be more fluid movement with running around, use of moves (well, to an extent), and such.

The roster is quite pathetic. There are a few new faces, but most of them are old hat. Some of their moves are updated (HBK's superkick is better...although maybe it was like that in 2007). Why certain wrestlers need to be unlocked when they are part of the current (or close enough to it) roster is beyond me.

24/7 mode is OK. Be spoiled by the above comment for one amusing problem. Cut scenes are rather boring as half the time you see your character high-fiving guys he is supposedly feuding with, and then leaving those who want a handshake high and dry that you are suppose to be buddy-buddy with. The ability to do appearances, etc is slightly enticing but I found wears off soon, partially due to the possibility of getting injured.

Speaking of that, injuries so far aren't as bad as the previews had them out to be. My character had a slight injury, and while it did slow him down a bit (although that may be due to stamina), I had no problem with any of my matches. Still, it gets boring as you can only do one really big thing per week due to the possibility of getting injured. And resting from an injury has quite an annoying penalty.

Music wise the game is OK. A few new themes as most of the roster has had the same themes for the last year. The ingame soundtrack is alright. Nothing really stands out, nothing really is annoying. Commentary (okay, so that's not really music) still has some bugs in it (I swear they talked about Smackdown wrestlers AFTER winning a match on Raw). I still hear some of the same comments made back in 06, save that JBL-not Tazz, is saying them.

So yeah, it's nothing too bad so far. I still have to go through more of the game (I swear now that I think about it I didn't see Elimination Chamber, but I would assume I just overlooked that as I looked at all the new things and such).

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Really? 24/7 mode for me was a breeze and coach couldn't stop singing my praises. Of course, I was HBK. But still, 90% of the time, he was more or less like 'you rock'.

Supposedly you can do a conchairto, but I haven't done it yet. Maybe I'll play around with it some more tonight.

The game apparently is unable to listen to some of the options. In a 'Beat the Clock' tournament, I won it to face Chavo for the CW title. I turned DQ's off, went outside, grabbed something, socked Chavo, and got DQ'ed. Hmmm...

How ya doing, buddy?

Figured out how to do a one man con-chairto.

1.) PIck someone who has a Hardcore character icon. Examples are Edge, Sandman, Dreamer, Sabu...
2.) Get TWO chairs (you can grab one from under the ring in the upper and lower places where you can grab items).
3.) Clobber your opponent (and perhaps the ref if DQ's are on) so that he is lying down face-first.
4.) Near your opponent's head, holding one chair, push X (or was it square :s). That should place the chair under your opponent's fcae.
5.) Grab the other chair and push the square button (or, um, X? Blast my memory!) near your opponent. Conchairto!

The story mode is alright, but I seriously can't stand seeing the same animations over and over again. Furthermore, I see HBK half the time diss his partner, and high-five his opponent. Continually minus a hundred.

I DO enjoy the ECW matches. I still don't know how I got it, but I had a flaming table. One of my opponents hard a flaming barb-wire bat. Crazy stuff. Also, was pretty cool when you win a title and already have one seeing your wrestler hold out BOTH titles in the animation.

I don't really see though the differences with a hardcore match now save that the items are already outside and you don't have to go under the ring for them. Heck, ECW matcehs are basically an improvement of them (since you can also choose which item you want).

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I would advise ultimately waiting for it to drop in price in a few months. It's not horrible, but not worth the 50 bucks.

FELIPE NO

I THINK you run into the door and your wrestler will automatically open it. At least that works for the PS2 version...

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Alright, so story mode gets a F for continuty (sp?). Here's why:

Spoiler:

So, for Survivor Series they announced it will be a triple threat with all the world champs putting their titles on the line. The winner gets the title from the person who loses (i.e. pinned or submits).

Okay, great. SOunds wonderful. So we go along, I face Smackdown's champion (King Booker) in a non-title match. Sounds good.

THe next week, Shane messages me telling me that he backs me up in my match, and that someone will be giving me a call. So, I wait for this call in the game...and wait...and wait...and wait...and...nothing? Sorta. Continue reading...

Then, suddenly "I" decide to place my title on the line against Lashley (ECW champion) on the Raw before the big PPV. Okay...strange, but I'll go with. I successfully defend the title, and all is good...when I hear the last two lines...

J.R.: "So now the Raw champion will have the ECW champion backing him up in his match."
King: "Yeah, but can be be trusted?"

If I had turned away for five seconds, I would have missed that. Somehow, the match suddenly had the added stipulation that if I won, Lashley would become my PARTNER in the 'triple threat' match. Of course, I thought they meant that he would try to help me win the match...surely they wouldn't do something like that. At any rate, keep this thought in mind as well go to...

Dreamer and Lashley hitting my character with a car and Dreamer yelling at me for thinking that his champ wasn't worthy enough for a title shot. Unlike King's and J.R.'s two lines which I could have missed, there was NO missing the fact that I had JUST DEFENDED my title against Lashley. To his credit, Lashley said nothing, possibly having become a zombie under Dreamer's control (Hey, at LEAST then Lashley has an excuse...).

Now, to add to it all, suddenly Shane messages me saying I was a fool to turn down Lashley's help (I swear the magazine even had it state that my character agreed, but I'm not quite sure). Given that I had no idea that I was suppose to get help from him, let alone ever had a chance to give a choice, this is rather odd. Of course, given what Dreamer and Lashley did at the end of Raw, it actually seems logical (even if I never actually SAW it) that my character would turn down their help.

Which of course leads to the handicap match in which I and Lashley DO team against King Booker. Lashley then pins Booker, and instead of him gaining the title, I become the dual champion.

Oh, and to top it all off...AFTER it all, I was notified that I would get a salary increase. Of...one dollar. Unfortunately, the game FORGOT to actually add this (as small as it may be) into my actual salary.

Did Steph somehow write the script of this game?

Oh...and one more, less hilarious but still happened:

Spoiler:

About two months game-wise prior to this, there was the storyline where Steph fell in love with my character. A bit cheesy, but fine.

Alright, well, Shawn got beat down by um, someone. At any rate, this was AFTER the MAIN EVENT on RAW, in which was followed by the marriage where Steph was 'left at the altar'...ALSO on RAW. I guess no one had televisions in the back, and Coach was brain-dead that he forgot to tell Steph that...

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Haha, I had that too. As said in an earlier post I...

Spoiler:

Fought John Cena for the number one contender's spot. We go at it, then show respect to each other after our match. Apparently, Mr. Cena forgot about that, and that he was going for contendership for a title he ALREADY OWNED as he began taunting me the next day concerning his title defense against...well, possibly me.

I'm sorry, but a sucky storyline like that DESERVES to be mentioned twice. I should have seen the writing on the wall with just THIS.

Oh, speaking of Carlito, that sets up another storyline and bug in the game.

It started with Mickie and Nitro breaking up. In the storyline, Mickie then began to like the champion. This enraged Nitro and a feud started...which arruptly ended as he, along with Triple H, became "knights" under Candice and Edge (Queen and King respectively). Despite Nitro swearing revenge, that never actually happened as somehow Edge and Candice's storyline overtook Nitro's. Then again...that kinda IS how the WWE books...so it may not be far off the mark.

At any rate, there IS a part where I swear Candice gives you a choice of who you'd like to face. Nitro, Carlito (who is with them as well) or Triple H. I KNOW I picked Trips because I already faced Nitro and Carlito in previous matches...only to find me and Carlito at it at Raw, anyway. Hey, are they mimicing the votes they do for their 24/7 Series here as well (back story: Basically, very recently people all voted to see Survivor Series 1987. Well, despite that, they got 1994, and suddenly were told that Survivor Series 1994 won)?

I will say that the game doesn't forget EVERYTHING you did though after a PPV...

Spoiler:

Steph messaged my character saying that since he helped Shane so much, he could also help Steph. Of course, here's the amusing part. She stated that she "Got my character's number from Shane". Now, unless my character changed his number within the last month, somehow, Steph totally forgot about that she had the marriage angle with my character. Blast old age, haha

There's nowhere I can't reach.