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WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2008

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6.8 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 27 critic reviews
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Based on 20 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: THQ

Developer: Yuke's

Genre(s): Wrestling

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: November 13, 2007

Summary

WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008 lets players take the fight into their own hands with the debut of Superstar Fighting Styles. The game features eight unique styles, each having its own strategy and exclusive attributes. A brand new Struggle Submission System gives players intuitive and natural control over their WWE Superstars by using the game's popular analog controls. Realism and strategy are at the forefront, as players now control the amount of pressure they apply to their opponents. In addition, WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008 features a significant Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) presence, including a variety of Superstars, arenas and weapons. The game is also packed with significant updates requested by fans, including new rosters, more environmental hotspots, a combined Season and General Manager Mode experience, improved out-of-ring action, enhanced online community support and much more. [THQ]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

PSM Magazine

From the spiffy graphics to the more right analog stick-centric controls to the robust Create-A-Superstar to the new WWE 24/7 career mode, this is SmackDown as its finest. [Dec 2007, p.72]

GamePro

This isn't a title for the casual gamer, but if you're a fan of the franchise or just really love throwing half-naked men off ladders and pinning them to the ground, then SvR 2008 is about as good as it gets. [Dec 2007, p.124]

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Play UK

Entering the ring with a lot to prove, the development team has been both daring and dynamic in its approach. Despite a few glitches, Yuke's has produced a game that can more than hold its own with the quality "SmackDown" games of old. [Issue#159, p.66]

Digital Entertainment News

SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 may be the only major pro wrestling title in town, but it's a good one and, unlike Madden with the NFL license, doesn't let its exclusivity lead to a lack of innovation and improvement. A solid upgrade!

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Pelit (Finland)

This year’s WWE’s wrestling game doesn’t bring any big changes to the gameplay but offers a deeper career mode with injuries, exercises and all kind of events. Now it’s also possible to play as a manager. The game is too repetitive in career mode, but very enjoyable when played with friends. [Nov 2007; single player score = 78; mutliplayer score = 84]

Game Informer

The eight new fighting styles for each wrestler in the game are a nice addition that provide some great diversity in the characters, but they destroy the game’s balance.

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GameTap

The good news is that once you do hop inside the ring, you tend to forget about who is missing as you try to figure out how you can slam your head into a steel cage or get hit in the back with barbed wire and not get hurt (you can't).

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ZTGameDomain

SVR 2008 is definitely a step ahead for the series from a gameplay standpoint. The new controls, fighting styles, and ECW content really take the series to the next level in terms of in ring action. However, the disappointing 24/7 mode and the return of some nagging problems keeps this title from being the truly great experience it could be.

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1UP

Though it's improving each year, SmackDown vs. Raw could really use some friendly (or TNA's case, not-so-friendly) competition.

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PSM3 Magazine UK

Still fun and still addictive, but the new grapple styles add little and the old flaws remain. [Dec 2007, p.68]

Kombo

WWE 2008 is a fine wrestling game. There are a lot of neat features that will give this game plenty of leg locks until the next edition is published.

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GamingExcellence

Ultimately, Smackdown VS RAW 2008 is a lot of fun to play.

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Maxi Consolas (Portugal)

Although there’s some new stuff, it sticks with last year’s formula. Which probably wouldn’t be that bad if the same old problems didn’t remain intact, from the limited AI to the graphical bugs, not forgetting those annoying loading screens. [Dec 2007]

GameZone

While the original formula remains the same year after year, WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2008 is still a fun game that does manage to pull off some new moves on the PS3.

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IGN

The controls are great and make the act of wrestling shine. However, I can't score this game as high as last year's PS2/360 title or pervious installments of the franchise. Single-player 24/7 Mode is a step backward for the series, the Create-A-Superstar and GM 24/7 are basically rehashes of last year's product, and the same complaints we've had for years -- awful AI, lame commentary, poor collision detection -- are still rampant.

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Extreme Gamer

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 pushes the series marginally forward with a focus on creating a more personal touch with the unique fighting styles and updated visuals. This doesn’t mean Yuke's is out of the clear, the really buggered up the merger of the 24/7 and GM modes in this edition which causes the season mode to feel out of synch and unfocused.

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GameTrailers

The inclusion of superstar fighting styles and the struggle submission system is a step in the right direction, but it’s still difficult to recommend Smackdown vs Raw 2008 for a purchase to anyone but the most ardent fan.

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Playstation Official Magazine UK

This is a strong wrestling game, featuring the best grap engine yet seen on PlayStation, and only the weedy selection of extracurricular activities prevents a higher score. [Dec 2007, p.88]

Worth Playing

While there are a ton of match types, a fairly sizable roster of ECW, Raw and Smackdown stars, and the inclusion of the new Superstar Fighting Styles, these positives cannot offset the terrible sound and voice acting, middling graphics and the train wreck that is the 24/7 mode.

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MEGamers

The game, for new comers at least, will turn into a button mashing fight when playing a much more experienced friend, who by the way is going to be kicking your ass like there is no tomorrow.

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Cheat Code Central

There are a lot of nice improvements here. It just seems WWE could exceed fans' expectations, but they never really do.

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Gamer 2.0

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw could have been a great game and a step into making the best wrestling game to date. With so much potential that could have been used, the game just feels a bit too unbalanced at times.

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GameSpot

With little notable improvement to the formula and steps backward in several key areas, SmackDown! vs. RAW 2008 is a big disappointment.

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VideoGamer

It's a reviewing cliché, but this is one for hardcore fans only.

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GameSpy

The downside is that if you're looking for that next great leap off the turnbuckle and into your living room, you may instead have to settle for a pretty satisfying leg drop to hold you over until next year. Slow and steady worked for Hogan all those years, so it may be good enough for you.

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PSX Extreme

It has some of the worst A.I. I've ever encountered, on top of a broken formula that only frustrates the player. No direct communication between the gamer and his controlled athlete mars the experience, as the gameplay feels more like guess work than anything else.

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Game Revolution

Passable and tolerable.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 6.8 (out of 10) based on 20 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jo S. gave it a3:
Really hard adaptation from '07-'08 due to the button changes and all...its also basically a repeat of other previous games considering the GM 24/7 mode , but the CAW system is better...overall I regret buying it and are eventually going to return it.

Zift K. gave it a5:
Wow.... I'm actually giving a wrestling game a 5. From Here comes the pain to this. Utterly pathetic. What's the difference from SVR 07, other then the horrid frame rate. That's the main reason the PS3 version blows, the dismal frame rate. THQ, get your act together. You went from superb to pathetic. pretty much how the WWE is getting right now.

Tempie Markham gave it a5:
Outdated tag champions and excuse of trouble with voice overs leaves the roster way to small for the hype that preceeded the game. Relying on caws to fill out the skimpy roster I may as well apply for a job at thq. The 24/7 mode is a pain in single player mode. be finsihed with this in a week and trading it in. Not going to bother with online play.

Will Raiment gave it an8:
Good game, i like it. Looks great, plays quite smoothly, but a few bugs in my opinion. Loading times are awful, the characters move a little too slowly for me, there are several characters that I don't recognise (and i watch it all the time) and the crowd are abit quiet, which sort of makes it a little boring at times. Good though!

Daniel Friday gave it a4:
Another poor next gen game, major step back on WWE games, poor graphics, dredful game play unlike ps2 titles, the grapple system dosnt work. just a poor thoughtless rip off to all game fans and WWE fans alike

Corey F gave it a0:
wrestling is terrible

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WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2008

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Summary

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What The Critics Said

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