i am not gonna beat around the bush if you played the smackdown series before then this is a great game however if your like me and have ever smackdown game then it unfortunatly is not the best version.
GAME PLAY 3/5
points that let this down is the fact that they boast new features that are the same as precious years with a name change and a slight gameplay tweak. for example. EXTREME RULES is just a hardcore match with a tweak of gameplay its nothing new although it is a kool feature. the 1 thing thats new which is part of the tweaking is crowd handing out the weapons. i hate the new submission feature, the theory is sound but you shouldnt be penalised for applying the grip too hard, it should be up to your opponent to break the grip not because you have applied a hold too hard. another gameplay decision is the decision to make wrestlers stick to some resemblance to there character. for example certain moves with a chair are only avalible to use if your characters gimmik lets him. which is not how wrestling works i understand limiting the undertaker doing any sitting sentons with a chair because in the real wwe you wouldnt see him do that BUT the guidlines are too harsh, and why cant everyone steal finishing moves now you have to be a particuler type to do that now. overall the game play is dissapointing, it can be fun and im not saying that what you get isnt good but for game play thats a let down.
Graphics 4/5 loses 1 mark for pretty much being supped up versions of the same, stunning but the same errors such as collision detection with the hair is still prominant.
Sound 3/5 this is dissapointing aswell. the commentry is exactly the same as last year, its dull, repetative, and sounds nothing like how they react to a TV match. i was watching a making TNA Impact game video and Don west along with Mike tenay were realy going for it. commenty has so much potential but this game disspoints in that department as it has done for years.
this would have been 4/5 if not for a feature that was not included in this release. the xbox 360 players get a nice and long overdue feature which is to add there own music collection to the in ring theme musics that allows them to create wrestlers of Past and in other companys with there current theme music or there WWE music which is readaly avalible on CD's on Play.com this feature should have been included and its just a slap in the face that THQ gave x-box a better extra.
Online Play 4/5 lacks voice chat ATM but i hope that is more of a PSN fix than anything.
FUN FACTOR 5/5 as with all SvR games these are damm fun and you soon couldnt care less about the flaws in the game when you get going. i feel ever since they started releasing this game yearley they have been rushed to adapt new things into the engine and that in turn leaves allot of problems lerking however no one can deny in a year with the regig and graphical improvements that this is a good game. i would hope with the PSN avalible that new content will be addable to the game such as move sets and the song ripping feature. i would say for SVR 2009 make that the last in the series with lots of dedicated network features and downloads including wrestler updates and work on a new game. this Engine is still fun but for how long.
Overall 4/5 with my general thoughts that its the same game tweaked slightly but well worth the purchase for you first HD wrestling game. if your rich enough to have a 360 aswell get the 360 version. and everyone should give the Wii version a go.