Wrestling and the PlayStation 2 go together like peanut butter and jelly, cookies and milk, and Ryan Clements and apologies. However, as the system continues to age, quality opportunities to lay the smack down are becoming more and more rare. This year, THQ and Yuke's have brought WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 to a smattering of platforms, and the PlayStation 2 hasn't been ignored. While it's true that this PS2 version is just a stripped down rendition of what fans are getting on the PlayStation 3, this is definitely a step up from last year's title even though this franchise is nowhere near what it used to be on Sony's second system. On paper, it seems like SVR 09 should cruise to wrestling game greatness. The title packs more than 60 wrestlers, 14 one-on-one match types including the new Inferno option, a new story mode, better AI, and a focus on tag teams. However, when you get into the punching, grappling, and slamming that make up the game, the world begins to feel like well worn territory and begins to look muddled. In the end, we have a game that improves on last year's outing in a number of ways but falls short of returning SVR to its place of honor on the PS2. Where there's smoke, there's an Inferno Match video. Don't get me wrong, SVR 09 is a fun game. The solid controls from last year are back -- left stick to move, right stick to grapple, reversals via the shoulder buttons, and so on -- and come with a few minor touches such as the game flashing "Signature Move" when you can set off a stored special as well as the ability to enter the ring via the steel steps. These are welcome additions, but it's pretty much exactly what you saw last year. Still, there are a handful of other bells and whistles to grab your attention. For starters, the AI in SVR 09 doesn't suck for a change. On Legend, the computer's still going to be reversal heavy, but it's also going to store Finishers, break up pins in tag matches, and basically give you a run for your money. If you're not happy with how the AI is acting, SVR 09 finally gives us sliders to adjust the game's thinking. You can make Finishers more or less powerful, you can adjust how much the computer reverses, and you can even modify momentum rates. Customization like the sliders is a theme in this game. While you're messing with menu, a smattering of entrance music is playing as a soundtrack. If you don't like a particular song, you can press in your left stick and skip to the next track. Via the game's Roster Editor, you can mold the WWE as you see fit with a few button clicks -- change what brand people are on, give and take away championships, decide who is clean and who is dirty. There are alternate attires for the likes of CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, and others; there are 19 arenas; and you can unlock the WCW brand and classic championship. Of course, this wouldn't be a professional wrestling game if it didn't add some new gimmick matches. The Inferno Match is an interesting bout that looks good but always ends a bit silly. You and your opponent duke it out in a ring where the edges are set ablaze. As you pull off moves, the flames leap and the temperature in the lower left corner rises. When the magic number reaches 500 degrees, you're supposed to drag your opponent to the ropes and toss him (Divas still can't participate in the crazy match types) into the fire. When one of you is successful -- there's a button-tapping minigame to try and reverse the strong-grapple dragging -- a body flies over the ropes and that guy's clothing is set one fire. It looks a bit goofy to see CM Punk rolling around with his ass on fire, but it's still a fun (albeit simple) fight. Meanwhile, THQ and Yuke's dropped the Parking Lot Brawl from previous games and replaced it with the Backstage Brawl. Here, you can fight in a KO-only match in the locker room or the gorilla position. There are objects to interact with in these areas, but they're pretty barren in general. Plus, there
4 of 6 found this review helpful.
Overall rating
2/ 5
Gameplay
2/ 5
Graphics
2/ 5
Sound
1/ 5
Lasting Appeal
2/ 5
Gamer07
fromChicago
This game is perfect for:kid gamers
Dont Buy!!!
PostedFebruary 27, 2011
Its really bad the graphics are terrible, theres no announcers, theres NEVER noone online to play with...save your money and dont buy this trust me.
1 of 4 found this review helpful.
Overall rating
4/ 5
Gameplay
4/ 5
Graphics
5/ 5
Sound
4/ 5
Lasting Appeal
4/ 5
jaykidrock82
fromelmsford,ny
This game is perfect for:casual gamers
Great
PostedNovember 5, 2010
This game has everything ecxept commentary from annocers and barrier section 2 fight what i dont get is that svr 07 had a barrier section 2 fight so this game is great get it
2 of 2 found this review helpful.
Overall rating
2/ 5
Gameplay
4/ 5
Graphics
2/ 5
Sound
4/ 5
Lasting Appeal
3/ 5
Waffleboy1234
fromMD, Monntgomery village
This game is perfect for:hardcore gamers
good for a little while
PostedNovember 2, 2010
The game is good for a while but kind makes u mad on PSP.The create modes are great. Exibiton is good with its matches, characters are fine but i hate how the give the fat wrestelers toned bodies i mean Matt hardy is fat and they give him a more realistic lookin 6 pack then Batisda. the controls are fine but the moves kinda get weird when rey mysterio can pick up big show, Mark henry,Khali,and Big daddy V ?!?!?!? Jerry king and miachel cole arent even there on psp. u cant even go over a bariicade. Randy orton looks weird , rtwm is awsome. The annocers move their mouths but no sounds comes out until they stop talking. In short itll tire u out in 3 months.
