WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2009 announced, first details revealed

by Majed Athab { Mar 28th 2008 at 8:30AM }

THQ's WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw series has, for the longest time, been underwhelming in terms of offering unique experiences between its annual releases. We could even say the series has been suffering from a mild case of Madden syndrome. With the announcement of this year's iteration: Smackdown! vs. Raw 2009, however, things finally look like they're going to change.

First and foremost, the series is finally getting the much needed online gameplay and DLC support that fans have been clamoring for in the past years. Unfortunately, specific details on the DLC are still being kept secret. Senior creative manager Cory Ledesma does hint, however, at the possibility of updating the WWE roster via DLC. As for the second major addition, say hello to the brand new "Create-A-Finisher." This tool allows players to create unique ultimate signature moves by piecing together over 500 animations. Also, a re-vamped career mode makes its debut, now allowing for the first time a co-op season with stronger emphasis on tag team action.

As for the roster, so far only Chris Jericho, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Randy Orton, Mr. Kennedy, Undertaker, and John Cena have been revealed. A final number for the roster has not been announced.

Tags: smackdown, smackdownvsraw, thq, wwe, wwesmackdownvsraw, yukes

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jove @ Mar 28th 2008 10:26AM

well graphics were decent at best last time but the thing i really wish they improved was the narration, carreer mode, hell pretty much everything from this game needs to be redone from scratch. 2007 was almost an exact copy of 2006 and a pretty bad one i think. work on the story lines and narrating and the all important thing i think they need to bring, more interactivity with the areas. manly the entrance. take a wrestler there and beat the crap out of him with the steel posts and the lights and do some damage to the set. that would be cool.the narratin needs to change cuz it gets tiring hearing those 2 fools disrespecting each other and not calling it in a non robotic way. and bring out the fire works like in the real shows damn it!

drdre74 @ Mar 28th 2008 9:24AM

well its about time they started doing DLC. I've owned alot of the smackdown games but this year i just wasn't feeling it. I traded it in. But I do like the fact that they have co op story mode and making the tag team mode better. I hope they fix the AI also. Nothing more I hate than to have the AI not come in for a save when you are about to get pinned.

Daniel @ Mar 28th 2008 9:49AM

Please give this game a full overhaul. It was so much fun, but everything from the animation to the way they approach the graphics needs to be given the "ground up" treatment. Quit building off this current engine. It's tired, worn, and has too many miles on it.

upz @ Mar 28th 2008 11:09AM

This is what happens when the corporate heads force you to squeeze out a new update every year. Say hello to the new Madden.

Daniel @ Mar 28th 2008 11:18AM

You aren't kidding! Remember when they would come out every couple years and they would actually add new gameplay modes and such. They would even think up new subtitles for the game itself rather than SVR 200(insert year here)

Riley Freeman @ Mar 28th 2008 9:56AM

i havent played a wrestling game since nintendo 64 wrestlemania and wcw revenge days. the best days of wrestling games. but one thing i never understood is why the hell is it so complicated to have the ENTIRE roster.

they can fit the thousand of players in the nfl and hundreds of nba players in one game theres no reason wrestling shouldnt have the full roster ESPECIALLLLLY with ps3 size discs.

If they fix this i may rejoin

chris @ Mar 28th 2008 10:02AM

ign have a 9 page interview with the guy in charge of making SvR 2009 and one of the things he confirms is that this year the PS3 owners will be able to add their own music to entrances, along with in game chat.

He refused to comment on Home compatability but you'd guess it was in there as well.

AI is being completely overhauled, AI wrestlers will now behave like their real life counterparts and will try and set up the moves they use the most. Eg. Undertaker won't keep doing flying elbows, instead he'll try and work the moves that lead to him doing Old School as the AI will know that's one of Taker's good moves and one he uses a lot.

I'm actually looking forward ot this game, I haven't played a smackdown game since Just Bring it and Know Your Role

chris @ Mar 28th 2008 11:00AM

also looking forward to the "loading times cut by 50%" and the more improved commentary they're promising

like someone says below, if they deliver all the things they're promising, then this could well be a very good game and a vast improvement. But will they actually deliver? Only time will tell...

At the moment I'm pretty hyped though.

Haiddasalami @ Mar 28th 2008 11:58AM

SVR has suffered on multiple accounts. Rehashes, poor commentary, lame storylines etc etc. THQ actually Yuke's Games better get this one right. Bring it back to the old school days with better gameplay modes. I play more Here comes the pain than SVR06. Simply cause me and my brother can kick the ass on some poor wrestler named El fagito and jump from a helicopter. Though now I am pleased to see create a finisher. Cant wait to create the most stupidest finishers.

NitroFrost @ Mar 28th 2008 10:22AM

that trailer was awesome, now will it blend?

Daniel @ Mar 28th 2008 10:54AM

They claim to be working on all those things. If everything Cory Lesdesma said in the interview turns out to be true, this game will be amazing. Hopefully they fix the running system though.

Mike918 @ Mar 28th 2008 5:19PM

Looks like it will be fun, i haven´t played a wrestlnig game since SvR 2006

ICON[o]clast @ Mar 28th 2008 10:06PM

Co-op season? See, this is what i hate about a new game every year. Always switching things around. If It's not broken, fix it anyways (not that it wasnt broken before, but im talking bout older versions). What they NEED is to allow more variety and alternative storylines in the Season mode!

phill-but @ Mar 29th 2008 4:11AM

I think there should be No psp exclusives and stuff like that.
Because why should psp owner get some exclusive wrestlers, its not fair to ps2,ps3,xbox and other consoles.

And i agree with Riley Freeman they should be able to put a full roster together. They should even put some old wrestlers in Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, etc.

I'd like to see some more involvement with ECW. There should be ALL the originals Van Dam, Sandman, Sabu, Dreamer etc.

And i think you should be able to be females in season mode.
Also you should be able to have chicks in ALL match types.
And bring back the BRA & PANTIES match.

And the thing i'd like to see most is the 8-MAN TAG MATCH.
We don't care if we can only have 6 players and 2 com.

I HOPE EVERYONE AGREES WITH ME!

theratdude @ Mar 31st 2008 7:58PM

psp owners dont get the comentary, or the 2 announcer tables at ringside, or 3d crowd, or create-a-wrestlers that can actually move their fingers, eyes, or mouth, which is why they add the extras, so they can even things out. figure it out dumbass.

ICON[o]clast @ Mar 29th 2008 4:51PM

@ phill-but

i definitely agree with the Bra & Panties Match ;)

phill-but @ Mar 30th 2008 1:10AM

I'd like to see a stretcher match aswell

phill-but @ Apr 1st 2008 9:59AM

theratdude i am not a dumbass.

and who cares about psp owners.
i just want more legends for my console so :P

Jeff @ Apr 10th 2008 7:49PM

They should improve on the storylines like make a storyline different for every wrestler...All the wrestlers and legends should be in the game....A lot more match types...Im sick of the same ones ...The royal rumble needs to improve...They should allow a lot more than 6 wrestlers in the ring in the rumble....You should be able to challenge for any belt in the storymode like(WWE Championship, World Heavyweight, ECW, Intercontinental, United States, Cruiserweight, World Tag Team, and Tag Team Championships.)Make the wrestler go anywhere you want like backstage or out in the crowd...This is what I think it should be like

bobbob @ Apr 13th 2008 10:20PM

yah i agree with most of these things. I think they should also add more match types and diva matches. And if you cant be a diva in storymode they should make there own storymode for the divas

bobbob @ Apr 15th 2008 5:09PM

and does any one know when this game is coming out?

phill-but @ Apr 13th 2008 4:57AM

i really wanna see Rob Van Dam in the game

wert nila @ Apr 30th 2008 4:47PM

hell yeah

king @ Apr 20th 2008 3:44PM

in this game there should be every match type that they use in the WWE and every superstar from the three rosters(RAW Smackdown and ECW) and some legends.

royal rumble match needs improving so there can be more than 6 men in the ring at once and more ways to eliminate people.

more story lines need.

There should be a create yoUr own match type.
comentry from anounce tables needs improving and in the PPV arenas there should be three anounce tables with commentators from all three brands at them and when you put your opponant through it the commentators should get up abd move.

when you play as a superstar yo should be able to climb over the security wall anywhere in the ringside area to fight in the croud.

you should be able to go backstage and in the parking lot during some matches aswell.

Pratik Mhatre @ May 13th 2008 12:58AM

SVR 2009 2009 2009 I can't wait for this game . is any one know when it will release

MAGICBOI @ May 1st 2008 5:31PM

more ladders and tables in tlc match short ladders mid size and the twenty footer, more interaction with ladders and turnbuckles, you should be able to slap jr or king, im very interested in seeing the how the new tag team functions work. i been play this game since the first one was released manys years ago and im sure alot of wwe fans have and we want more

joel @ Apr 28th 2008 6:40PM

I think all the wrestlers and divas on all the rosters should be in the svr09 because every year yall put some wrestlers in the game and thats what makes the game boring because yall leave certain wrestlers out like victoria,santino marella,paul london and brian kendrick,the miz and John morrison and in this game yall better have maria playable in this game because in svr08 you couldn't play as her and definely change the storylines for each wrestler because im tired of playing as a wrestler that goes through the same story I already been through that just makes season mode boring

aman360 @ Apr 29th 2008 12:59AM

could u PLZZZZZZZZZZZZZ wen ur character in season mode gets attacked by your rivalry let say i pick john cena and he gets attacked by carlito-rivalry and william regal culd u get a choice to run down the ring and attack the rivalry or the other option let it slide or can ur character get all mad and throws his cap,shirt & run down the ring and attack the rivalry wen he does his entrances because when ur character does his entrance after being attacked he does his regular thing and that don't make sense he does his regular thing after being attack

ajay360 @ Apr 29th 2008 8:26AM

i agree witha aman 360 plz put whatever he said

derek @ May 1st 2008 2:57PM

i agree they should have all the rosters on there plus some oldschools like goldberg and brock lesnar ect i also think you sould be able to have the ring filled with tables and have more diva style matches i mean am i the only one who wants to see all the divas in a ladder match for the womens title

CJ @ May 20th 2008 11:56PM

they need to change the ultimate control grappling system, i hate that. they need to go back to the old grappling system they used in smackdown here comes the pain(the best wrestling game ever). they also need to let you have more than one finisher at a time. i would like to f-u somebody the follow it up with the stfu. and finally they need to add some of the most celebrated and well known superstars to the wwe legends roster like brock lesnar, goldberg, rob van dam(ecw legend) etc. oh yeah one more thing, you should be able to go backstage during a hardcore match like on smackdown here comes the pain and you need to let more than only two superstars to fight backstage at a one time