Smackdown vs Raw 2008 (360 demo)

[ChrisF]

Odd, thought more of you were into semi-naked spandex clad men! Obviously up to me me start a first play

Demo consists of a "Normal Match" or a "Hardcore" match, both One on One. Hardcore match just seems to consist of a chair and sledge hammer lying outside the ring. As well as the commentator tables.

Four characters you can choose between are:
Rey Mysterio
Undertaker
Bobby Lasley
Randy Orton

You can pick any of the other characters that you didn't pick to be your manager (in the case of Normal matches, not Hardcore)

Intros are all intact with announcers voice over. Can't remember if the announcer was stood in the ring in the 2007, but he's definitely there now as the wrestlers come to the ring. Commentary is in place, but it's pretty sparse. Don't know if thats just because it's a demo, or what, but what there is doesn't really make much sense, its just the odd comment.

Graphics seem to have been refined from 2007 and are now a lot smoother. Crowed also seems to be a lot better and less repetition in faces, although there were quite a few similar signs to be seen as my dude came to the ring. Oddly quite a lot less banners when the match is on.

Gameplay seems to be a whole heap better now and you do seem to be able to control the wrestler a lot more - lot less of a butter masher/hope for the best situation. Reversals seem to be a lot easier to pull off to.

Referee seems to play a lot more role in the matches as well now as there are a fair few ways you can interact with him (such as using him as a shield if your play is Dirty).

Characters all seem to have signature moves that are easier to pull off now too, rather than just as finishers.

I'd say its ok. Probably a rental for me, but its definitely a better game than 2007. Not sure about the management side of things as that's absent from the demo.

[Dogg Thang]

Odd, thought more of you were into semi-naked spandex clad men!

The Tingle game fulfilled my quota of semi-naked spandex clad men. That and the bloke I picked up at the bus stop.

[Greg Moss]

The Tingle game fulfilled my quota of semi-naked spandex clad men. That and the bloke I picked up at the bus stop.

TMI!

Only had a quick go, one match, Rey Jr vs Orton, but I like this a hell of more than last years game. It does feel a lot tighter and more responsive, and thankfully they have got rid of the awful stamina system/thing where you had to hold B to catch your breath, imo that had no place in an arcadey wrestler like this. Don't like how they've mapped run to the LB and left stick and finisher to the Y button though, would be better imo if run was Y and finisher was LB.

I notice when you pick your chap you can choose between two options, in the case of Rey, you've got High Flyer and Showman, does this affect the moveset or just give you certain abilities (like hiding behind the ref)?

Don't know why they have bothered to add ECW in this year, looking at the roster on IGN there's only 3 or 4 ECW wrestlers in the game.

[dvdmike]

Was fun till it managed to red ring my launch 360 !!!

[ChrisF]

I notice when you pick your chap you can choose between two options, in the case of Rey, you've got High Flyer and Showman, does this affect the moveset or just give you certain abilities (like hiding behind the ref)?

Guessing from the loading screens, it gives you different moves. Like High Flyers can launch themselves off/over/in-around/out again the ropes etc..

[SmokeMeAKipper]

Had a quick blast before and as is the norm it's a case of evolution rather than revolution. I noticed a couple of new animations which is nice as in the last game there were still some from the original PSOne version and most of them have been reused and recycled continuously over each iteration.

I thought they might have tried doing something different this year, especially with Midway having a TNA game in the pipeline, but I'm sure it'll sell either way. I'll probably pick it up in any post-Christmas sales but it doesn't seem different enough for me from '07 to warrant spending another 40 notes on.

[James Mc Fadden]

Some wee impressions I posted earliar today on anothe forum.

Firstly, it looks great. You can clearly see they have taken even more time over the character models in this years version. Very realistic at times. Entrances are fantastic as always. It dosent appear to be as fast this time around too and when you get hurt your character really does sell it. I'm yet to figure the button layout out properley as you there isnt an option to view the controls in the option settings. You can only appear to have a quick peak at them when you go from the Start screen into the Menu screen which is a bit lame. It all feels a lot different but im sure with time ill soon be pulling everything off again with ease. It seems easier to run about now which is nice. Remember how it used to be all over the place? It's now easier to pull off high diving moves etc. Stamina bar looks to finally of gone thank god. I didnt get on with that before. It's all about damaging body parts now. Cool, much better. New way of pulling off Special moves as now when you fill up your bar you have to tap Y a few times for it to work. This gives your Opponent time to counter it if your not quick enough. New type of special power moves for different Characters like Powerhouse for Taker and High Flyer for Rey Rey etc. (Like with Rey you can press the triggers in and he does quick rolls to escape trouble and specials off the ropes apparently) Ive read you have to fill up your bar and press RB and Y together in the right positions to pull it these new moves of. I havent tried that yet myself. I also like how now when browsing the menus setting up matches etc the background music used is the wrestlers entrances which makes a very nice change from that nonsense they usually give us to suffer with.
Thats about it for now, i mean I like it but then i knew i would. I've owned every Smackdown game there is. I'm a bit of a wrestling freak like that. hehe.