Smack Down VS Raw 2008

The second control enhancement is the Struggle Submission System, where grappling moves take on a completely different form as you have to balance the amount of pressure that you apply to your opponent; give too much and your grip weakens, give too little and they can break free. This proves to be a very nice addition as you constantly have to pay attention to what you are doing, and can't just take submission holds for granted. But beyond that, the controls remain hit-or-miss as getting the awe-inspiring moves to work is just as difficult as setting your opponent up for the actual move. Overall the animations for the moves took precedence over the fluid control of movement making for a very slow action game. True when you can pull off a nice rope dive it is beautiful, but getting to that position is just as frustratingly tedious.

In addition to the regular matches and tournament fights you have the option to play legendary battles from wrestling's past. These are actually quite entertaining as you are given the role of the underdog attempting take down the superstar, often given a certain criteria to meet. Completing such matches unlock additional players in the WWE shop. And if that isn't up your alley then the next is sure not to be: 24/7. Possibly a good concept that just completely fails in the end, this mode cripples you for being prudent. As you set your player up for the year, you have several options designed to enhance your popularity and physical condition, but while doing one, you are getting punished for not doing the others. If your player gets hurt in a match then you are forced to take days off, therefore not getting paid, or suffer another round where you might be hurt beyond finishing the season and therefore not being able to meet your goals for the year.

On the PS2 the graphics are pretty good although, as in the other versions of the game, there are some clipping issues with body parts as they melded into other players and into the canvas. Sound with the intros really gets you hyped for the matches with each superstar's defined songs, but after entering the ring the crowd and announcers become monotonous, with the blow-by-blow analysis frankly not being pertinent to anything occurring in the ring. Load times are bearable but seem unnecessary as you have to wait for three load screens just to enter a match, namely each of the player's intro scenes and the load for the match itself.

Overall SvR 2008 will fill that burning need you have to play a wrestling game although it doesn't bring the full power and intensity to the game that it should have.

Dec 15, 2007 | 0 comments
Paul Bishop

I know that for some of you it’s difficult to take anything “LEGO” seriously but just see how serious you take it when you choke on one. by Cole Smith
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is not a game to be taken lightly, that is if you want to have some fun, good laughs and incredibly entertaining gameplay all at the expense of the Star Wars franchise. Yes, the game lampoons the classic cinematic series but in the process it creates an alternate but independent Star Wars universe based on LEGO models which are based on the original Star Wars characters. This game has single handedly broken two cultural barriers: Star Wars isn’t just for nerds, and LEGO isn’t just for kids.

System: X360, PS2, Xbox, GC, DS, PSP, PC
Dev: Traveller's Tales
Pub: Lucas Arts
Release: Sept 2006
Players: 1 - 2
Review by Cole
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Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best