[Editor's Note: Here at MEGATONik, we value video games as a special, interactive entertainment medium, one that is different from almost any other form of entertainment out there. This is why we have decided to leave it up to the discretion of the editor whether or not to include concrete numerical scores with each review that we do. I, for one, have decided not to include a solidified numerical value in my review, as I do not believe that this type of game merits a number. - backflip]

When first asked to review WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 for the Xbox 360, I was hesitant. Not because I was afraid Mark Henry would bear hug me, but because I had not, since the days of WCW vs. NWO: World Tour for the Nintendo 64, spent very much time with the wrestling game genre. I’ve been around the proverbial block quite a few times in terms of video game genres, just not as much with wrestling. However, I did give the game a solid block of my time, not to mention an indian rug-burned arm and broken leg, to convince me to return to the sport of wrestling.

How did the game fare against my oiled up six-pack and pristine pectorals? Hit the jump to find out.

When I first popped WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008, I immediately turned to the multiplayer. Multiplayer in previous wrestling games that I had played was possibly the one reason that I had enjoyed them as much as I did; there is nothing more fun than grabbing a folding chair and beating the living snot out of a buddy. Such is the case with this year’s installment of Smackdown vs. Raw.

After scrolling around for a bit and checking out the dozens upon dozens of gameplay modes to choose from, I settled on the mack-daddy of multiplayer mosh-fests, a 30 person Royal Rumble. While I’ve always been impartial to this mode, I thought it only fair to start at the bottom and work my way up. The match began as I had expected it to, with my wrestler’s theme and introduction. The graphics were, for lack of a more descriptive and precise word, stunning, and were among the best that I had ever witnessed. These introductions were presented in such a way that I became engulfed in the world of professional wrestling, and was suddenly hit by a wave of excitement. Then the action started.

Almost as abruptly as the cutscene opening had started, I was thrown into the ring without a fair warning. Needless to say, I was taken aback. However, I quickly rebounded and was able to jump straight into the action. The gameplay, for the most part, is intuitive. From what I hear, and from the little that I have played of WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2007, the controls remain predominantly the same, differing only slightly in minute instances. The right stick is used to initiate a grapple, and, you will quickly come to realize, becomes your best friend. I learned to use this to my advantage early, and began beating the living daylights out of my buddy. However, when the action amassed to six wrestlers in the ring at once, I was almost immediately thrown from the ring, and was told that I had lost. (I like to attribute this to my lack of experience with the genre. You may have other ideas, and are more than invited to keep them to yourself.) When this happens in a multiplayer 30 man Royal Rumble, you just press the Back button and are assigned another wrestler with which to continue fighting. In the end, it came down to me, playing as the almighty Mark Henry, pitted against my buddy, who had taken control of John Cena. Surprisingly, the little cockney Gael pulled it off.

My experience, however personally slighting as it was, was largely positive. The graphics, even during gameplay, were among the best I’ve ever seen, except for a couple of pixelated hiccups here or there, and the gameplay, while slightly repetitive, is solid. The controls are tight and responsive, with the exception of the RB “reverse” button which seems as if it only works when you aren’t expecting it to, and, surprisingly, there is only a slight learning curve. The most important thing was that I had fun, honest-to-God fun, albeit I had only played a single match thus far.

As for new features, this year’s Smackdown is full of them. The game offers eight “Superstar Fighting Styles” to choose from, each with their own unique abilities and strengths and weaknesses and a new “Struggle Submission System” that allows the player to locate where to apply the most pressure during submissions. Additionally, 2008 has included the ECW (don’t ask me what that stands for) in the game, and has a new WWE 24/7 mode where you get to live the “hectic schedule of a WWE Superstar.” That’s all fine and dandy, but where’s the fun in rushing from PR event to middle of the arena, going hours without the chance to defecate or eat?

However, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 is not without its flaws. After only a handful of bouts, the game’s many different match variants seem to close up, and become strangely familiar. You may be fighting in a cage, or in an ECW arena, but the basic premise of the fight is the same: pin or toss out the opposing player. The repetition, however, does not end there. The moves that each wrestler performs, including their “signature” moves, essentially begin to meld together into one after the first couple of fights. In other words, almost everything, excluding Rey Mysterio’s ninja-like abilities, all seem far too alike one another. While the many, many different useable weapons may seem like a nice touch at first, they end up being so alike one another that in time you won’t be able to discern whether you’re beating someone senseless with a steel chair or a flaming 2 x 4. Additionally, the game is hurt by an uncharacteristically small roster, including only the most basic of wrestlers from the major conferences (or whatever it is that you call them). I ended up wishing that I could play as my main Slim-Jimtastic man, Macho Man Randy Savage.

In closing, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 is a welcome addition to the already flourishing series, and should keep wrestling fans, as well as some hardcore gamers at bay. If you can overlook the slight repetitiveness of professional wrestling, as well as a few graphical hiccups and roster problems, do yourself a favor and try this game out.

Fighting/wrestling genre fans: BUY IT!
Hardcore gamers: BUY IT!
Casual gamers: RENT IT!
Avian influenza-infected fowl: BEWARE IT!