ARE YOU RREEEEAAAADDDDDYYYY????????

For eight years the WWE Smackdown vs Raw games have dominated their genre. The series has never been perfect, however, with a list of character flaws fans have long wanted to see ironed out.

The main complaint that always comes up is the season mode. Last year's effort really tried to be more fulfilling, offering more story, moves and options than ever before. Fresh fighting styles meant dirty fighters could remove turnbuckle covers, while high flyers could carry on momentum by rolling whilst running. But the wrestling community is not easy to please (I should know, I'm one of them!), so Smackdown vs Raw 2009 arrives with a lot of expectation upon its strapping shoulders.

A game of two seasons

WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 has undergone a transformation. The most important area is the season mode – or in this case, both of 'em.

First up is Smackdown vs Raw 2009's Road to Wrestlemania; a focused character specific mode that runs for a three month period. The only characters playable here are Triple H, Undertaker, CM Punk, John Cena, Chris Jericho and a Batista / Rey Mysterio Tag Team. Each story is unique to that specific character (or characters) and lasts about 3-4 hours. The plotlines are believable too (so no fighting over a movie script this time), and the presentation captures the WWE feel.

Career mode meanwhile is where you can take any superstar, including your created characters, and fight for titles. You start at the Intercontinental Championship and work your way up unlocking new belts as you go. Here there are no cut scenes, no stories, just you, fighting your way to the top. As you do, you unlock new championships to fight for and new match types to use during the streamlined season mode. At first it feels a bit odd to fight and not have a cutscene afterwards, but once you get used to it you realise WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 is more focused and clean for it.

What a Slobber Knocker, folks!

There is only one new in-game control in Smackdown vs Raw 2009; the Signature Move. These get the crowd pumped and hint at the end of the match being nigh. So Triple Hs' Spinebuster or Jeff's Whisper in the Wind. They're simple to do, too; you build up your momentum bar and store it, then get into the right situation to use it. So if you played Smackdown 08 you'll be instantly at home.

In Road to Wrestlemania, commentary is more accomplished, focusing on your specific character and current feud; but in the Career and Exhibition it's largely the same as last year. By far the worst is the Smackdown Commentary team (Michael Cole sounds a bit monotonous), which can detract from the action in the ring. But the Raw and ECW teams add to the atmosphere, even though their comments are occasionally repeated.

Also new for WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 are Highlight Reel and Create-a-finisher. The former lets you pause during a match and save any action that's just happened, then go into the Highlight Reel and tweak it so it looks twice as brutal. It's great for showing off to your mates. Create-a-finisher meanwhile is something fans have been crying out for. It works amazingly well, too; letting you string up to ten animations together and create a move specific to you. The animation you choose to start with will dictate the next set of movements, so you can come up with some crazy moves. The only downside is that turnbuckle finishers are sadly absent. Maybe next year.

My Gawd what an impact

Some small areas have been slightly overlooked. For one, Create-A-Character parts could really do with being updated (though download content could fix this). The exclusion of previous faves Create-a-PPV and Create-a-Title, on the other hand, is all a bit miffing.

And yet, the new additions really do breathe new life into Smackdown vs Raw 2009. With two season modes, Create-a-Finisher, downloadable content and so much more. Smackdown has received a chair shot to the head, got back up, and stands ready to take on the world once more.

GAME's Verdict

• Road to Wrestlemania career path captures the feel of WWE at its best.
• Create-A-Finisher is simply awesome, so many options to make your own move of destruction.
• Knowing that downloadable content is on the way to keep the game fresh.

• As improved as the commentary is it in places, it can still be slightly annoying.
• Not knowing what the download content is going to be, or when it will be available.
• Some of the create a character parts are starting to look dated.

Review by: Tom 'The Gamers Champ' Daly
Version Tested: Xbox 360
Review Published: 07.11.08