THQ Lays Smackdown; Current Roster
If you like professional wrestling and a pretty good game engine, Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 is a game you need to pick up. Smackdown is WWE’s long running franchise in which we see major updates every year.
Never before have we seen such a revamped game compared to last year. This year the tag team mechanics have been flipped on it’s ear and changed completely. They’ve also added a backstage brawl which has been missing for some time. The Road to Wrestlemania feature has been added in which you take a wrestler and make him a superstar.
The Innovating Create-A-Finisher Feature
A new feature that no wrestling game has ever had before is the “Create-A-Finisher” feature. That name is self-explanatory. You actually have the ability to customize your finishing move for your created superstar. Long gone are the days in which you must use the Stone Cold Stunner for a finisher for every single created player. You are also able to add in your own taunts to your finisher, making it truly yours. But you’ve got to ask yourself is that really worth the 60 dollars I’ll be pitching out for this game.
Well, the best thing that Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 offers is it’s downloadable content. The DLC is supposed to keep the roster up to date and allow THQ to hold special events based on what is happening in real time. As per usual the 360 and PS3 will have online play, but this time with fully functional voice chat. A change of pace, however, is that the Wii will feature online play. If you were a Wii owner last year and you picked up Smackdown vs. Raw 2008, you know exactly why I traded that game back in after a day and a half. Hopefully THQ went back and changed the Wii version, but let’s not hold our breath. The Wii will not feature “Create-An-Entrance” like the PS2, PS3 and the 360 will. However, you will be able to do custom taunts, poses and even beat down your opponent after a match using your nunchuk and wiimote.
Friggin' dead
As said earlier, the roster will be kept as up to date as possible. That’s a good thing considering the first roster has about five superstars who have been fired over the past few months. Credit goes to the CodeX website for finding the full roster. It is as follows:
- Ashley
- Batista
- Beth Phoenix
- Big Daddy V
- Big Show
- Boogeyman
- Brian Kendrick
- Candice Michelle
- Carlito
- Chavo Guerrero
- Chuck Palumbo
- Chris Jericho
- CM Punk
- Cody Rhodes
- Curt Hawkins
- Edge
- Elijah Burke
- Finlay
- Festus
- Hornswoggle
- JBL
- Jeff Hardy
- Jesse
- Jillian
- Jimmy Wang Yang
- John Morrison
- John Cena
- JTG
- Kane
- Kelly Kelly
- Kofi Kingston
- Lance Cade
- Layla
- Matt Hardy
- Maria
- Mark Henry
- Melina
- Michelle McCool
- Mickie James
- Mr. Kennedy
- Mr. McMahon
- MVP
- Paul London
- Randy Orton
- Rey Mysterio
- Ric Flair
- Santino Marella
- Shelton Benjamin
- Shad
- Shawn Michaels
- Snitsky
- Tazz
- The Great Khali
- The Miz
- The Undertaker
- Trevor Murdoch
- Tommy Dreamer
- Triple H
- Umaga
- Victoria
- William Regal
- Zack Ryder
So THQ has decided to show off a bit and put a ton of wrestlers in the game. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be a great game. I’ll wait until November to rent this thing and I suggest you do the same. If you have a PS2 however, you shouldn’t be reading this article. You should be playing Fire Pro Wrestling Returns and having the time of your life.
Seriously, go buy Fire Pro Wrestling Returns.
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