Fights hui, Story Pooh

Visually, SmackDown vs. Raw her a lot. Even on my old tube TV it looks damn good. While falling during the fighting that the attack movements ("Moves") are partially unflüssig because the program the fighters independently repositioned in order to correctly display the "up / logging" can, but given the spectacular actions can get over . see Particularly fascinating I found the audience. Because I know so far only sports games on the PC and am used to from there quite unsightly pixel clusters that SmackDown viewers have me excited. They react to the actions in the ring (available for example, when a fighter is about to perform a jump attack), holding various signs up, and hoot when successful attacks. Sometimes the player can even interact with them by picking up a guitar for example, a fan and as a weapon against his opponents.
The control is relatively simple. With simple keyboard shortcuts (max. 3 keys per move), you can start wonderfully spectacular actions (or ward). A damage report makes it clear where you can hit the opponent. This holds also accordingly the struck body part. Own goal or successful defense actions will be rewarded with "momentum" and at full momentum meter can perform special actions.

Smackdown vs Raw 2008 offers several different game modes:
EXHIBITION is the name for a single match. Here, the game offers a variety of variants, eg cage, hardcore or table matches. Up to 6 players can compete with or against each case. These different match types make great fun and provide a great change. Here you will find neither in the game nor the manual explanations of the individual variants and their rules. So if you do not know that you can throw your opponent through a table with a Table match has to win, could experience some frustrating moments.

Tournaments offer a combination of different types Match. Again, several human players + CPU opponents can participate.

In the Hall of Fame mode, the player can re-enact famous real matches. As a reward, waving the chance to unlock wrestling legends, which can then be used in EXHIBITION- / tournament after each match.

The 24/7 mode refers to the career mode and is not available in the absolute vulnerability of the game. The story is strictly linear and the player can hardly be influenced. While you will be asked from time to time before a detachable touch of a button either-or decision, but the result is usually the same. So you get quite early offering RAW switch to Smackdown. Whether you accept or reject, it remains in any event on Raw. The story is told through short video animation, the too often repeated, and therefore annoying quickly. The expressions contained are sometimes quite hair-raising. For example, you will be months insulted and threatened by a young lady, and then suddenly gets a marriage proposal from her. Nor is it clear why certain other wrestlers the player first verbal attack, then ally with him, and eventually fight him. Here I would personally a dynamic system that the relationship with other wrestlers makes depends on their own actions, much rather have been. All in all was given away a lot of potential in Story mode.

On the positive side is still the editor. Here the player can create his own wrestler. From the look in all details about clothing and style of fighting through to own invasion sequence with music and fireworks you can really determine everything themselves here. The good end can his fighters from several hundred attack maneuvers those assigned (incl. Keyboard shortcut) that you want to use in the game (Exhibition, Tournament or 24/7) then.

Total Smackdown vs Raw 2008 is really a lot of fun, especially if you play it with / against friends. However, the weak story mode the game will cost the 5th star.