E3 2008: Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 - new

We first saw THQ's upcoming Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 game a few months ago at its media event during Wrestlemania XXIV. At the time, though, very little was shown of the new tag team experience or of the new match types that would debut in this year's game. During a private showing here at E3, however, we were able to see the improvements to the popular wrestling series in practice and chat with the THQ team on what we can expect to see this fall.

Fighter intros and music is one element that the THQ/Yukes team has always captured well, and this year's game is no different. All of the 60-plus wrestlers included in the game will feature their authentic intros, even down to the lighting effects and pyrotechnics. Each wrestler will showcase his signature mannerisms during his stroll down to ringside. The THQ team has made some progress in improving the prematch load times that have plagued the series in the past. Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 has only one roughly six-second loading period after selecting the wrestlers for the match (though there is a momentary pause right before action begins in the ring as well). This is an improvement from years past, and there is no longer any pause between player intros.

In addition to revamped commentary, the THQ team has made it a focus to improve the AI in this year's game. Though we couldn't see a definitive moments of the improved AI in action, the THQ developers did seem to have difficulty in showing off their gaming skills against their AI opponents.

Much of the gameplay shares similarities with prior iterations in the series. The game displays a meter indicating your wrestler's momentum. This meter will slowly fill as your wrestler chains together more attacks and also decrease your opponent's momentum. Once you've built up the meter, you will be able to execute your wrestler's most devastating finishing moves. In addition to the momentum meter, a damage indicator will become visible whenever a wrestler takes damage. The indicator is color-coated to show you the damage your wrestler has taken to various parts of his body.

The major addition to Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 is the return of tag team play. This year's game takes this tag team play to a new level, though with a variety of actions available to the tag team partner waiting on the ropes. He will have the option to roam up and down the apron, grab the active opponent while your partner beats him down, or even distract the ref letting your teammate get in some illegal blows. You will also be able to enter the ring as the illegal partner, but you need to be careful and make sure that the ref is engaged in some way before doing so (otherwise the ref will try to get you to leave the ring while you partner gets double teamed).

more............