[Legendary Killer]

Needs more Co-Op

Gives a season mode like in Smackdown 2. I don't care if there are no voice overs.

[Fail]

Co-op is a small nice addition to things, I've always wanted them to introduce one for the previous Smackdown games, but to no avail were they added.

Let's hope there may be some Co-op season of some sort, even though I highly doubt it.

[TakersFan]

Wow Create-a-Finisher mode sounds cool, but wasnt it announced last year, and it never happened?
Anyway the game is looking nice, and I also hope we have a Co-op season, but I highly doubt it will happen.

[thatdambgood]

Originally Posted by TF

Wow Create-a-Finisher mode sounds cool, but wasnt it announced last year, and it never happened?
Anyway the game is looking nice, and I also hope we have a Co-op season, but I highly doubt it will happen.

Co-op is a small nice addition to things, I've always wanted them to introduce one for the previous Smackdown games, but to no avail were they added.

Let's hope there may be some Co-op season of some sort, even though I highly doubt it.

Last year it was a rumor...and in case you missed the interview that was on the first page



Ledesma: That's correct. So, for the first time ever, we're going to have a co-op storyline in our Road to Wrestlemania mode, and so you can play a multiplayer story and you guys are working as a team. You guys make decisions as a team, and I don't want to ruin the story or the outcome or anything like that, but basically you'll have some roads to cross and decisions to make as a team and you'll be able to play all the matches together. And this is the first time we're ever offering a feature like this.

[kca89]

I'm looking forward to this game as I do each game every year. However, with the horrendous piece of crap called a game for the Wii for 2008 I skipped buying a wrestling game for the first time in a while. I hope this time they put their full effort into the Wii version and make it worth buying.

[thatdambgood]

New Preview



Cue the training montage -- WWE SmackDown vs. Raw is getting ready to return to the ring. Only this time, publisher THQ is seeing double: The focus of the annual professional-wrestling installment in SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is on tag teams (ironic, we know, considering tag-team wrestling in the WWE is currently as popular as a Great Khali ironman match). But THQ believes revamping tag-team matches will encourage the social aspect of man-on-man action by having two buddies cover each other's backs as opposed to smacking the sweat off each other. We agree -- it's hot.

Tag-team matches get two key improvements. One: Both wrestlers now share a momentum meter used to pull off the fan-pleasing finishers. This means both wrestlers really have to work as, yep, a team. So if Brian Kendrick is doing his human-punching-bag routine and ends up making a tag to his partner, Paul London, after a nasty beatdown, London will have to build off of the paltry momentum Kendrick passed on to him. Of course, tag-team wrestling is all about the comebacks, and developer Yuke's has smartly added a "hot tag" feature that will emulate this edge-of-your-seat tag-team staple. Back to the Kendrick scenario: This time, say the man formerly known as "Spanky" is getting smacked around by Trevor Murdoch. Things aren't looking good -- Kendrick is trying to crawl to his partner, London, but Murdoch keeps dragging him away. At this point, the crowd thinks it's over. But, of course, it's not -- everyone knows the face in peril always makes the "hot tag."


For the uninitiated (i.e., people who don't watch wrestling), a "hot tag" is a climactic tag made after several minutes of uncontested offense for the opposing team. Once the tag is made, the crowd pops, the fresh partner goes crazy, and the opposing team sheds a small, bitter tear inside. In SmackDown vs. Raw 2009, this feature perfectly captures the intensity of this signature moment. But because it's a game, the opposing team can still reverse the hot tag (and simultaneously dash children's dreams in the process). If enough momentum is gained, the riled-up duo can even perform new tag-team finishers. Yeah, we know -- there aren't many true tag-team finishers in the WWE anymore, but just think how cool this feature would've been back when teams like Demolition, the Legion of Doom, and the Hart Foundation were around. Actually, THQ knows this -- we're told many classic teams will appear in the game. And, well, you don't have to be Lanny "The Genius" Poffo to know the aforementioned teams (along with other classic duos like the Rockers) will most likely appear in the game. Or they better, at least! Can't tout a tag-team revamp without representing the glory teams of the WWE's past, THQ.

Along with the hot-tag feature, this year's SmackDown allows the illegal partner to do things other than longingly watch their other half get tossed about the ring. In addition to standing on the apron, illegal partners can gain crowd momentum through the ancient art of hand clapping, distract the ref to set up dastardly cheating, and hold opponents for hardcore double-teaming. You can even make a blind tag (tagging your partner without their consent) if you want to stir the drama pot.

The second major revamp to the tag-team mode is the inclusion of a co-op career mode. Now you and a bud can team up for a chance to win glory at the grand stage of WrestleMania. Naturally, it wouldn't be wrestling (especially the WWE) without a swerve or two, so it's possible to pull a Shawn Michaels and turn on your partner partway through your career. Not that we recommend that -- tag teams are already dead enough in the WWE as it


Rethinking tag-team matches is cool, but another new feature is even cooler: create-a-finisher. Yep, you can now build your own -- and we mean any finisher: The option allows you link together up to 10 animations (including taunts) to whip up whatever specialty move you desire. We're not just talking about the standard moves you see in the WWE -- THQ says it may even be possible to create finishers seen in other promotions (Canadian Destroyer, please!).

Rounding out the new stuff in SmackDown vs. Raw 2009: A.I. rebuilt from the ground up (meant to make the wrestlers act more like their real-life counterparts), more emphasis on downloadable content (expect roster updates), and a different take on the Road to WrestleMania mode. By different, we mean they scrapped last year's overly ambitious WWE 24/7 career mode for a back-to-the-basics approach. The key this year is that this mode will only feature a few WWE Superstars. Whoa, now -- don't complain just yet. Sure, the wrestler selection will be smaller, but that's because Yuke's and THQ are spending a lot of time crafting stories for each of the wrestlers chosen. That means that if you choose John Cena, he'll act like John Cena, think like John Cena, and probably get booed like John Cena (why the hate, fans?). Though we're bummed the Superstar selection will be smaller, we're stoked to see more emphasis on stories that should (hopefully) make sense. Plus, you can still take your generic created wrestler through the normal, yearlong career mode -- just don't expect the drama to be as juicy.

That wraps up the new stuff slated for the core versions of the game (XB360, PS3) -- check out our preview for the Wii version here. So far, we're digging what we're seeing. If the story mode isn't as terrible as it was last year, SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 could be the wrestling-game champ. Though, with main-event competition from Midway's TNA Impact!, it'll be interesting to see which gaming grappler comes out on top this year.


http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3167183&p=37





I hope that means Londrick are finally confirmed ;_;

[-WR-]

http://au.gamespot.com/video/945638/...ideoplayerpop?


Not sure if that has been posted. But its the first official trailer.

[odm]

as if the storyline selection couldn't get any smaller, they are going to shrink it even more?!?!?! 1 more reason to have a different dev team work on the next gen consoles so they can take full advantage of them.

[Taroostyles]

It seems like SVR is stepping their game up due to the presence of another wrestling game on the market, it can only mean good things for both games IMO.

How big is this roster gonna be? Didn't they say the biggest roster in the history of wrestling games?

[wwe4life18]

i reaklly hope thewy put other legends in the game like test, dean malenko, steve blackmen, shamrock,dudley boyz (hopefully), and even maybe kevin nash.