Smackdown Vs Raw 08

[Mad Scientist 0]

Yep, won it with ease, thanks for the tip there Godfish.

 

No problem. It really works well in multiman ladder matches (MITB comes to mind), because even if one wrestler comes up after you, another will tip the ladder. If you've gotten the belt with both hands, you can hang from it and not fall, while the other guy climbing the ladder eats canvas. So far, none of the computer guys have been smart enough to knock me off the belt if that kind of thing happens.

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

Yeah, I noticed in my MITB match all the asshole opponents stood around while Jeff Hardy was hanging there and I was laid out on the mat. It was like that in the Rumble, too. If I was on the ring apron, two jerks came at me right away, but if I threw someone else over the rope (or they threw someone else over) and I accidentally became auto targeted at someone else, none of the other guys seemed to care.

[TheFranchise 0]

Sorry to get ahead of myself here, as we're only just playing this game the last month or so.. but a lot of critisism was aimed at this game because of how similar it was to last years offering.. So, next year, what could they possibly do to make the game stand out more, that was lacked this year?

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

I don't know if I already said this (I think I did...) or just thought it, but you'll notice that in recent years the SD series is criticized both for not changing at all AND changing things too much. Especially on the PS2 version (which I have) there isn't much within the system limits that could be changed. A lot of last year's annoying glitches seem to have been fixed too (tag teams are more than person in introductions, I haven't heard the announcers talk about people not in the match yet, etc.) and there have been some new move animations too (though whether or not you LIKE these new animations is up for debate... I like them, but good lord people jump high when the counter a UCM with an Edge-o-matic).

 

That said, once you get used to playing the game and what is new about it (controls), a lot of it begins feeling familiar. This is the first time since the 2001 that I didn't at the very least go to the store and pick the game up (2001 - 2005 I had pre-paid for the games, 2006 I think I just went and got it) and even now I'm not playing it that much. Their tendency to remove things (moves or modes) and not replace them with other things of equal or better value is annoying. I don't like that this year's game doesn't have a belt showcase area to let me know who the exhibition mode champ is and what the last 5 title matches were... yeah, it's kind of a wrestling geek thing to book exhibition title matches and have their histories on file, but it gave the game re-playability.

 

On that note, I love the ability to put two belts on the line in one match and the post match double gold celebration - not enough to cancel out my disappointment at the removal of an easy to read champions list, but it's good.

 

Also good - the King of the Ring coronation ceremony. It's a blast taking people like Umaga or The Sandman and winning the tournament with them just to see how wacky they look in the ceremony with the Diva you pick as their Queen. The fact it adds a KOTR stable (which changes everytime you give someone a new tournament win) so people make a King and Queen entrance is a nice touch. It must be said, they did a lot of small things right with this game that give it nice touches, but it sounds like they botched it big time on the season mode (which I've barely played this year) and that annoys a lot of people.

[Mad Scientist 0]

My suggestions for a better SDvsRAW would be as follows, in no particular order:

 

Add more moves in general. They can do this either by bringing back moves they dropped since 2006 (there were tons of great moves in SDvsRAW 2006) or by coopting the move list from DOR2, or both.

 

Add more submissions. I like the new Struggle Submission system. It's a great strategic minigame (as opposed to the button-bashing and/or slide bar). However, right now there are only about 15 moves (if that) using the system, including moves that NO ONE has ever submitted to in modern wrestling (Abdominal Stretch...I'm looking at you). Where's the crossface chicken wing or Cloverleaf? Sadly, they kept some of the submissions on the roster and just didn't implement the new system, which just basically puts the cloverleaf and anklelock into the realm of the headlock or arm wringer. Lazy.

 

Drop the voice work. It's all crappy. And it's all the same commentary as the last couple of years, just with a few different voices. Or, if voice acting must be included, only use it for the cutscenes in season mode. Then it at least makes some sense.

 

Don't have CAWs begin as automatically inferior to the pregenerated wrestlers. I don't mind having to work up a ladder to a title shot, but come on...starting me at overall 37? Let wrestlers start out at somewhere close to most wrestlers who debut on TV...at least at overall 60-70. My CAW Powerhouse should not have the overalls of one of the Divas when he debuts on TV. If they did some kind of developmental mode, this could be okay...my guy starts in training as a loser, but then is competent by the time he shows up on WWE TV.

 

Lower card titles should be included in career mode. I should have the option of going after the US, IC, or even the tag team belts in the career mode. Jumping right into word title contendership is a bit much for a debuting wrestler. Strangely enough, DOR1&2 had this kind of thing, as did the abortive Xbox game Wrestlemania 21 (at least a little bit). SDvsRAW has ignored the intermediate titles for too long.

[Exslade ZX 0]

The CAW packs you buy start your guy at 80.

 

Unless you were talking about popularity, and really, that means jack shit in 24/7. I spent pretty much a whole year as Jeff Hardy, WWE champion, with a popularity at like 5. (Because I actually decided to use the rest feature, because I was injured for a while)

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

There are 20 Struggle Submissions for the record (since your finisher can be any move regardless of your fighting style you can see every move, so I counted out 20 of them).

 

I was happy to see buying one of those premium kits bumped my CAW right up to 80. I didn't know what the hell "kit" meant. Using someone's previous suggestion of just simulating a few years of 24/7 mode as someone like Undertaker helped me buy just about everything before I even started 24/7 (which I did as Matt Hardy and only played until I won the right to be #1 contender and earned Rey Mysterio's respect).

[Mad Scientist 0]

The CAW packs you buy start your guy at 80.

 

Unless you were talking about popularity, and really, that means jack shit in 24/7. I spent pretty much a whole year as Jeff Hardy, WWE champion, with a popularity at like 5. (Because I actually decided to use the rest feature, because I was injured for a while)

 

Yeah, I know, but if you were playing with your own CAW from the outset, and didn't try simming through a season first with Undertaker or someone to get cash, then you debut as an overall 37.

 

Personally, I bought the kits because I used the simulated season shortcut, but that means that I've had to cheat to get around a simply foolish aspect of the game's design. Which is not good in a game that has gone through at least 6 prior incarnations by this point.

[Toxxic 0]

Exactly. If I create a wrestler, I want him to be good. Or I at least want something where I achieve something and from there can make as many CAWs as I want as good as I want.

 

I also want more fucking attention paid to tag teams. I want tag team Finisher moves that actually keep someone DOWN, and you have to build a meter up to somehow. Maybe tagging in and out or something, or it gets built up as both of your guys do damage, or even gets built up by doing other, lesser double-teams. It makes jack-all sense to be able to do the 3D right at the outset, or whatever.

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

It dawned on me while fighting Khali as Matt Hardy in 24/7 mode that this game got rid of the love it or hate it "small guys can't even TOUCH big guys" engine from last year. It just seems so silly that anyone can knock Khali around now.

[Toxxic 0]

When you say 'knock around', can they pick them up? I think balance is what I'm looking for. I don't mind Matt not being able to pick up Khali. What I objected to was Rey Mysterio's running spinning heel kick bouncing off Trevor Fucking Murdoch.

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

As far as I could tell, I could do whatever I wanted. I gave Khali a Razor's Edge from the ring to the floor.

 

[Toxxic 0]

Shit. I kinda liked the 'different weight' idea, they just took it too far in the last game.

[DangerousDamon 0]

I got a pretty good Angle and Hogan just now on Xbox Live. If anybody wants them I'm BafflingMeerkat. Just message me.

 

However, Hogan's moveset is retarded and both guys have over inflated attributes.

[Mad Scientist 0]

As far as I could tell, I could do whatever I wanted. I gave Khali a Razor's Edge from the ring to the floor.

 

 

Shit. I kinda liked the 'different weight' idea, they just took it too far in the last game.

 

Yeah, they just dropped the entire weight deal. You'll still occasionally see that "I'm too heavy" no-sell, but it shows up as a big guy counter now. I thought they had things right in SDvR2006...you can only lift someone one weight category above you. Heavyweights can lift superheavyweights, but light heavyweights can't. I still can't fathom why these developers felt the need to break things that worked well in previous versions.

[tekcop 0]

My little brother got the Wii version for Christmas. Jesus, what a crappy game. It was fun for about two hours, but now we're all bored with it. I've yet to beat more than two people in "Main Event" mode just because I get tired of randomly waving around the Wiimote trying to reverse shit.

[Matt Young 0]

All versions of the game are $37 at Target through Saturday. I'm all over that.

[JHawk 0]

Aside from the massive popularity drops for resting in 24/7 mode (-15 for a rest when there's no show? WTF?) I like the concept of 24/7 mode.

 

Now if they could have a two-month story arc that doesn't require fighting the same two guys the entire month we'd be set.

[haws bah gawd 0]

All versions of the game are $37 at Target through Saturday. I'm all over that.

 

Same here. If I can get the PS3 version for $37, I'll take it.

[Obi Chris Kenobi 0]

I got a pretty good Angle and Hogan just now on Xbox Live. If anybody wants them I'm BafflingMeerkat. Just message me.

 

However, Hogan's moveset is retarded and both guys have over inflated attributes.

 

 

Thanks for the trades, they are pretty damn good. Shame they don't have Hogan's moveset hidden away in the default ones you can buy. Thanks again!

[Toxxic 0]

OK, for PS2: How do you call your tag partner into the match when they're not the legal man? You know, to break up pins or prevent your opponent from breaking up yours? or do you just have to trust them to do it themselves?

[JHawk 0]

Piper made a save on his own for me in a tag match, so he apparently does it on his own this year.

 

Piper also entered the ring to prevent a save.

 

It almost doesn't feel like SvR without a 75-minute tag match

[Matt Young 0]

Nice... I won a copy of the game in http://www.wrestlinggamers.com's Christmas giveaway. All it cost me was a $2 Christmas card from Walgreens.

[Toxxic 0]

OK, so I've purchased the premium kit for my guy. Can I now alter his stats any, or am I stuck with the way they've put them from the purchase of the pack? If so, surely this means that all guys I purchase the pack for are going to be exactly the same?

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

I'm pretty sure the packs just raise you 50 "overall" points... as I only have one guy (me), I never bothered to look at what this actually changed.

 

As for tag matches, I THINK it's the same deal as last year for calling someone in (if they don't do it automatically, which apparently they do) - it's however you make a manager give you a chair, but the opposite. I used to know how to do this for the older games where you used the D-Pad, but now it's holding a button down and using the d-pad (L1? L2? R1? One of them). I hate tag matches in this series (as well as Internet darling Day of Reckoning and even in the THQ 64 series at times) and will speak them when at all possible, but another option I find works well for when I want to play / have to play them is to use my guy to beat the hell out my opponent(s), do a finisher, and tag out. The AI partner eventually realizes he can pin the guy while I'm beating up the opposing partner on the floor.

 

Oh, there's always room for an old fashioned count out victory too.

[Mad Scientist 0]

OK, for PS2: How do you call your tag partner into the match when they're not the legal man? You know, to break up pins or prevent your opponent from breaking up yours? or do you just have to trust them to do it themselves?

 

You should be able to hold the R1 and press up or down on the control pad...I think. They still may be utterly incompetent at it, but they should at least enter the ring. I've found it works best to call them in just before you go for the pin or just as your submission hold is locked in.

 

OK, so I've purchased the premium kit for my guy. Can I now alter his stats any, or am I stuck with the way they've put them from the purchase of the pack? If so, surely this means that all guys I purchase the pack for are going to be exactly the same?

 

The kit gives you an overall 80, and you can raise them further through the workout regimen in 24/7 mode.

 

[JHawk 0]

So I just got the choice to face either Nitro, HHH, or Carlito, chose Nitro, and got Carlito anyway.

 

Why give me the choice?

[Mike wanna be 0]

So I just got the choice to face either Nitro, HHH, or Carlito, chose Nitro, and got Carlito anyway.

 

Why give me the choice?

So somebody could say "No JHawk, that'th fo' thomebody elth. We gon' keep you right where you is right now." and give you motivation to cut a great promo in the ECW to catapult yourself to superstardom?

[Toxxic 0]

OK, for PS2: How do you call your tag partner into the match when they're not the legal man? You know, to break up pins or prevent your opponent from breaking up yours? or do you just have to trust them to do it themselves?

 

You should be able to hold the R1 and press up or down on the control pad...I think. They still may be utterly incompetent at it, but they should at least enter the ring. I've found it works best to call them in just before you go for the pin or just as your submission hold is locked in.

 

OK, so I've purchased the premium kit for my guy. Can I now alter his stats any, or am I stuck with the way they've put them from the purchase of the pack? If so, surely this means that all guys I purchase the pack for are going to be exactly the same?

 

The kit gives you an overall 80, and you can raise them further through the workout regimen in 24/7 mode.

 

Whoopee. So for those of us who like to make a plethora of different CAWs with different stats, the game sucks. Niiiiiiiiiiiice.

[Mad Scientist 0]

OK, for PS2: How do you call your tag partner into the match when they're not the legal man? You know, to break up pins or prevent your opponent from breaking up yours? or do you just have to trust them to do it themselves?

 

You should be able to hold the R1 and press up or down on the control pad...I think. They still may be utterly incompetent at it, but they should at least enter the ring. I've found it works best to call them in just before you go for the pin or just as your submission hold is locked in.

 

OK, so I've purchased the premium kit for my guy. Can I now alter his stats any, or am I stuck with the way they've put them from the purchase of the pack? If so, surely this means that all guys I purchase the pack for are going to be exactly the same?

 

The kit gives you an overall 80, and you can raise them further through the workout regimen in 24/7 mode.

 

Whoopee. So for those of us who like to make a plethora of different CAWs with different stats, the game sucks. Niiiiiiiiiiiice.

 

Well, each kit is designed to highlight a particular fighting styles main stats...so if your CAWs actual stats will be a little different, depending on which premium kit you use for that wrestler. Each kit will give you a 90 in the fighting style's primary stat and good stats in related categories. Of course, you still need to run each CAW through 24/7 to pump their overalls up above 80.