Metascore
78 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. 91
    To all the SmackDown haters out there: If you're going to jump back in the ring, this is the year to do it. Both of these exciting new additions, along with the aforementioned improvements -- and the upcoming downloadable content -- make SVR09 this year's grapple-game champ.
  2. This feels nothing like a dulled-down next-gen title, and wrestling fans will love the variety of wrestlers, match types, moves, and creative features to toy around with. SvR 2009 is one of the best titles released on the PSP or PS2 in months.
  3. A competitive effort, but the prospect of DLC seals it for the next-gen. [Dec 2008, p.57]
  4. More than 60 fighters, six non-linear careers and nearly 50 match types. No other wrestling game has offered so much variety yet. Now I would like to see slightly refurbished graphics and no more clipping errors, then I would be in wrestling heaven.
  5. THQ has done a pretty good job at brining the whole WWE experience home once again.
  6. SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 successfully returns to the fundamentals of realistic WWE action and easy-to-use creation tools.
  7. 70
    A fun game that falls short of its potential. The Roster Editor is a welcome addition, Create-A-Finisher could be deeper but is a great first effort, the Inferno Match is over-the-top but fun, and Road to WrestleMania is one of the best story modes I've seen in a wrestling game in years. However, I can't shake the feeling that I'm playing last year's game when we get down to the nitty gritty match mechanics.
  8. Smackdown Vs. Raw 09 wouldn't be a hard game to praise...if the 08, 07 and 06 editions had never existed. It's really hard to look at this game, which is almost entirely a rehash, and tell wrestling fans to buy it.
  9. SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is a solid release for wrestling fans to enjoy, but for the casual gamer thinking about purchasing a new copy, it would probably be better advised to wait to find a used copy or to save the extra dough and get a cheap copy of 2008.
User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 1
  2. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Pros: Visually impressive; simplified controls improve some of the gameplay; varied roster. Cons: Again, it lacks any kind of innovation or change; removal of General Manage Mode. Full Review »