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WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2008 review

Game: WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2008
Platform: DS
Genre: Sports (Wrestling)
Developer: Unknown

Reader review by japanaman

November 26, 2007

WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2008 delivers the first DS wrestling game ever and the first 3D wrestling game for a Nintendo handheld. Unfortunately, the action is truly limited to a 2D form. Instead of controlling wrestlers with a control layout similar to Smackdown 2: Know Your Role, you perform moves by tapping buttons on the touch screen. For example, you can tap a quick attack icon or a powerful attack icon, then swipe or spin your stylus in the direction requested. It’s rather fun, but doesn’t allow players to have true control over their wrestlers.

For example, you can’t simply run around the ring like a madman, or pick up and drop weapons repeatedly, or climb up and own turnbuckles. You must act reasonable and do whatever the CPU forces you to do when you correctly follow the touch screen instructions. It reminds me of playing a DVD game with WWE clips in it. You’re essentially pressing forward, fast forward, stop, play, etc.

If you like DVD games or are a huge fan of such games as Warioware, Turn It Around, Touch Master, etc., you may really like this game, but if you’re a WWE fan use to having full control over movements, then this game won’t please you. In fact, unlike the Wii version, you won’t feel like you’re really in control of anything at all.

This extends to the modes which only include one-on-one matches with 21 wrestlers. It takes you back to the days of Royal Rumble for the Dreamcast and WWF Wrestlemania for NES. There is no CAW mode, CAB mode, or any modes similar to the home console series except Story. That’s where the game gets interesting. The Story mode actually follows the traditional Story mode of Smackdown Vs Raw 2007. If you want a simple story mode without having to manage every aspect of it as in SDVR ’08, then this game is for you.

If I don’t compare this to other versions of the game, then I still have a lot to complain about. The character model bodies look too similar in style to each other, there are no voice-overs, there’s not enough match types to be entertaining, and there’s not enough wrestlers too choose from.

Oddly enough, if you have a friend with a DS and a love of the WWE, you should get two copies so you can try to outdo each other in taps and swipes. Fighting the CPU can get quite stale, but out-tapping and out-performing another human really brings some fun and challenge to the game.

In all, I recommend this title as a rental as it lacks enough depth to keep playing for months until the next Smackdown DS game. If it had multiple modes, the game might have more depth, but ultimately, even if you had to climb ladder rungs, pull a belt down, or set a table on fire, it would be through poking and swiping the touch screen. I recommend this to hardcore DS fans, touch screen addicts, and fans of arcade style fighters only.

Rating: 7/10

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