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WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2009

EMAIL PRINT ps3

6.9 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 37 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 33 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: THQ

Developer: Yuke's

Genre(s): Wrestling

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: November 9, 2008

Summary

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 upholds the franchise’s commitment to delivering the definitive videogame simulation of live WWE programming. The Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, PlayStation 2 system and PSP system versions of the game unleash a brand new tag team experience, allowing players to build momentum and attributes, eliminate opponents with high impact double teams and finishers, as well as get the “hot tag” for the win. The franchise's renowned creation system offers a brand new Create-A-Finisher option, while a new Road to WrestleMania Mode paves the way to WWE’s biggest event of the year and lets players experience co-op storylines for the first time. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 also extends the virtual WWE gameplay experience with robust online capabilities, including the highly anticipated debut of downloadable content. [THQ]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2008

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...

100

AceGamez

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is the best wrestling game to come out in years and easily the best wrestling game available on console at the moment.

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1UP

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.

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Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)

WWE '09 provides enough content and depth to last the armchair wrestler for years and is one of the most accessible yet deepest sports games I've ever played. [Holiday 2008, p.64]

Worth Playing

Whether it was the desire to stay one step ahead of TNA Impact or just the realization that things were getting stale, THQ and Yuke's really stepped up this year and delivered a terrific wrestling game in WWE: Smackdown vs. Raw '09. The new Road to Wrestlemania mode finally builds a viable vehicle to tell the types of stories that one only finds in professional wrestling, with a smart eye toward rivalries and character dispositions rather than the slapped-together garbage that seems to plague every other game dealing with similar subject matter.

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Games Master UK

A clear improvement over "SvR 2008" but a lot of it's still very familiar. [Dec 2008, p.54]

Gamer 2.0

As a complete package, SVR 09 never fails to impress.

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ImpulseGamer

At the end of the day, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 is still the definitive wrestling game available with THQ and developers Yukes making this franchise a fine art.

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Game Informer

SvR’s great right stick grapple system hasn’t changed much in the last few years, so it’s hard to say the series has evolved much on the mat. I’d still love to see a tutorial system to help newcomers ease into play.

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Cheat Code Central

A perfect title for wrestling fans. It has tons of different match types, plenty of customization options, and provides some new and interesting ways to interact with other fans. This is definitely the most complete-feeling WWE title to come down in a long time, and it is great that the series has wrestled itself back into the spotlight.

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GamingTrend

I was really hoping that this would be a significant improvement over last year. Unfortunately, outside of the loading time and the Road to Wrestlemania, there's not much to recommend this game.

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Pelit (Finland)

If you have beer and if you have friends, this game is good fun for the weekend. For those who are flying solo, wrestling might get boring pretty fast. The computer isn't that tough for an opponent and the controls are a bit sloppy. [Mar 2009]

PSX Extreme

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is a major improvement over last year's terribly flawed game.

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GameFocus

As a standalone product, the core gameplay offers a very satisfying simulation of WWE action. If you’ve been a follower of the series for some time, you’ll be pleased with the product but somewhat disappointed with the new features.

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GameSpy

A game that is equal parts extreme sports action and surreal soap opera, an improvement that should keep it at the top of the wrestling game into the next decade.

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Extreme Gamer

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 is a more jam packed and solid than last years WWE offering.

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Cynamite

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.

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Playstation Universe

WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw! 2009 is as good as it gets for grapple fans.

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3DJuegos

Smackdown VS Raw 2009 is a step ahead for the series with new games modes with a perfect recreation of the WWE television experience.THQ needs to fix the poor collision detection and improve the combat system because is a litle simple and repetitive. It´s the best wrestling game but has a small problems to solve in next games.

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VideoGamer

SDvR09 is better than last year's effort, no question, and it's a better game than TNA Impact! on account of it being yet another iteration of a tried and trusted game engine and packed full to bursting with features old and new. So yes, on the whole it has met the challenge.

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Playstation Official Magazine UK

It's a huge return to form. [Dec 2008, p.114]

PTGamers

This year's edition is a worthy addition, although not considerably different from previous iterations but still manages to offer a polished experience that fans won't miss.

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Destructoid

While it’s not yet perfect, Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 is easily the best wrestling game we’ve seen this generation, hands down.

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IGN

In the end, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is a good game but one 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.

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Game Revolution

The fighting mechanics have been enhanced and edited to the point that any room for improvement is nearly all in the extras (and if TNA iMPACT! has anything to say, in the animations and the clipping). WWE Smackdown! vs. RAW 2009 is the strongest next-gen title in the franchise, no questions asked.

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GameSpot

SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 successfully returns to the fundamentals of realistic WWE action and impressive creation tools.

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GameZone

A game with decent entertainment value. The AI seems pretty tight and the game looks pretty good. Unfortunately online could not be tested. The single-player campaign is decent with a challenge that ramps up slightly as you move along. Still this game should have appeal to those who are fans of the sport.

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Gaming Age

I definitely enjoyed this year's version of the Smackdown vs. Raw series, but I still think that it's time for a serious change of pace.

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Game Over Online

Despite a plethora of flaws, SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 remains a capable, if underachieving, wrestling game.

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Play UK

With the introduction of TNA Impact! the climate has suddenly changed; hopefully, though, this will translate to a less-frustrating (but similarly full) release from Yuke’s next year.

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Console Monster

Any wrestling fan would love to play SvR 09 though, just don't expect anything too exciting in the single player aspects of the game. Worth a rent, or a cheap purchase.

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Boomtown

SvR as a series is the MVP of videogames. It’s upper-midcard rather than Main Event status, but is destined for greatness if only it can be nurtured and refined in a few areas.

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GameDaily

Instead of reinventing the franchise, THQ merely tacked on some additions to the formula. That's not enough to wrestle away our $59.99.

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PSM3 Magazine UK

Same old grap, different day. Still fun, but this franchise is ageing. [Christmas 2008, p.82]

Playstation Official Magazine Australia

A genuine improvement over previous titles. [Christmas 2008, p.85]

Eurogamer Portugal

In the end, WWE is a more complete game compared to last year`s edition. Road to Wrestlemania is a mode that makes you live the spirit of North American wrestling and on the other side the gameplay is refined, allowing exploration of the moves, that are now more diverse. Fantastic animated sequences in a superb visual, with full licenses in wrestling, something hard to find in a rival game. A good option for fans of the genre.

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Game Chronicles

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.

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Giant Bomb

The entire game feels lifeless and old. The presentation fails to capture the excitement of the real thing. The gameplay doesn't match the product it's attempting to emulate. And the layers upon layers of plain-looking menus feel like they were ripped out of a PlayStation 2 launch game.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 6.9 (out of 10) based on 33 User Votes

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

Adeola O. gave it a5:
Dis game is good alright but it is a let down. There is no real season mode or GM mode, the RTW is a bit limited. But they totally blew it with the A.I. This game is so BLOODY EASY even on legend. All they know how to do is reverse virtually every move you do when they cannot even stop a pin. Pathetic.

therealdealdude gave it a4:
This is far the worst this game as made a roit thq its do or die this year 2010 better be good becuase if it isnt i wont buy in game with thq on it they tryed to bring the free mode back what free mode am just going after title title and title which sucks in here comes the pain i choose a 67 points superstar and i play and i miss 4 weeks for not being popluar but am i stuck chasing a title no i choose if i want one but that doesnt mean everytime i want one it has to be a story (smackdown vs raw and smackdown vs raw 06 07 ) in here comes the pain if u re make it with a couple new features but different superstars like u stuck even jobbers in the game every year they stick the big guys and i really liked that i could change shows but in hctp they stuck almost everyone in they need to put like 70 superstars in the next with hctp and some new features i finsihed the game and outside the games it says.

Al D gave it a9:
SvR 08 is so far the best improvement in the series. I admit to have been disappointed each year after the release of Here Comes The Pain, but it looks like THQ has added the right touch of realism to the SvR brand to make it a total package. The Road to Wresltemania mode makes up for years of sub-par season modes, Create-A-Finisher is THE BEST THING EVER to happen to wrestling games ever since Create-A-Wrestler modes were invented, and finally --- Rey Mysterio will not squash the Big Show! (If you've played the game for as long as I have, you understand what I mean by that.) You will be satisfied -- trust me!

Mike gave it a5:
SDvsR 09 is a total let down for me.sure they added create a finisher and the custom entrance music features but they also got rid of the create a championship and trade a superstar features.The "new" Road to Wrestlemania feature is a total waste of time considering it only lasts 2-3 months instead of the usual 12 and you fight the same 3 ppl over and over again throughout the 2-3 months.everything else looks just like it did in SDvsR 08 so if you dont mind blowin $60 on the same game minus a few cool features replaced by a few not as cool ones then go get this game.if not then keep playin SDvsR 08,your wont be missing out on much.

Bryan M gave it a1:
I don't know what game the Reviews where playing but it was not S VS RAW 09! this game is just bad, first they take out GM mode thats one strike 2nd they make all the controls wired thats two three you have to unlock some characters that should be in the game, and last any game mode stinks! I thought TNA was bad but compared to this that game is a 10! they worked harder on this game aka longer, and it still stinks stop working on that Tag crap and work on making the game more fun to play! I can not belive I wasted $5 just to rent this pice of junk! if I was you I would just stay to the 08 version!

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WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2009

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