Crispy Gamer News

All is calm, all is bright. I hope you’re enjoying your vacation time, assuming you are one of those lucky folks that gets it during this time of year. For the rest of us, onward and upward as we slither into 2009…

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One of my favorite franchises gets a new release this week, offering more refined tag team play and the new make your own finisher mode, amongst other new features. Will SmackDown Vs. RAW 2009 offer better graphics, collision detection and faster loads times over the 2008 edition? I hope so.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the latest addition promises added depth and realism, a tag team co-op storyline, multiple ways to generate and share player-created content, and the debut of downloadable content. Obviously there are significant differences between the next-gen versions of the game and the Wii, PSP and DS versions. Look for a review soon.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is now available for the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii and Nintendo DS, with the mobile version slated to launch on various carriers throughout November.

THQ and JAKKS Pacific announced details on the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 collector’s edition, which just happens to be a PS3 exclusive. No worries for fans of the series on the Xbox 360 and other platforms - the extent of the SE contents is a bonus disc with some multimedia extras. Before we get into that it should be pointed out that publishers like THQ need to put a lot more thought into what collector’s edition of a game should contain besides behind the scenes stuff; we are in an age where it is easy to distribute extra contents like arenas, wrestlers and move sets, so why doesn’t THQ offer these kinds of incentives to gamers willing to fork out an additional $10 - $20? Maybe I just don’t get it.

PS3 owners that buy the collector’s edition of the game will get a bonus Blu-Ray disc containing behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the videogame, as well as more than two hours of WWE footage from a variety of popular SmackDown vs. Raw cross-brand matches from 2008. The content is delivered in a steel cage package for North America, while fans in Europe and Asia Pacific regions will see their items encased within a miniature ring. The SE edition is available at most major retailers for pre-order right now.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is slated for release on the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2. PSP, Wii, Nintendo DS and mobile devices on November 9.

WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2008 was a bonafide hit (in terms of sale, not overall quality) before today, but THQ’s last wrestling game (the ninth in the series) has managed to get greatest hits classification on both the PSP and PS2 today. That simply means that you can now buy the game on either platform for the suggested retail price of $19.99. As an avid fan of this series, i’d have to say that the 2008 edition really dropped the ball in story / career mode, but made up for it in the new gameplay elements that were introduced. Still it’s a fun game and for around $20 it’s worth a shot on the PS2 if you haven’t already played it.

Of course, you could just wait until WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2009 comes out but that’s your prerogative.

THQ is showing three new fighting games at E3 this week, and today the company offered some broader details on each. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is getting a more refined cooperative play mechanic across the board, if you believe the hype coming out of L.A. The game will offer new tag team finishers, and a new “hot tag” feature which gives your team the momentum to finish the match quickly. The other interesting feature is co-op storyline, which lets players take on the story mode together for the first time since that awful Xbox game RAW 2. Finally there’s a new create a finisher mode, which let’s you create the end all be all move.

THQ also announced additional details about WWE Legends of WrestleMania, a brand new video game property currently in development for the Xbox 360 and PS3. The game aims to bring home the oldsters who remember the 80’s and 90’s when the WWE was still the WWF and Hulk Hogan, Andre The Giant and Macho Man Randy Savage were ruling the roost. The game will feature forty WWE legends, recreations of historic matches and events, a new grappling system, Create-A-Legend mode, and online play. WWE Legends of WrestleMania is scheduled for release in March 2009 to coincide with WrestleMania 25 in Houston, Texas on April 5, 2009.

Finally, first details on UFC 2009 Undisputed have been revealed. The game based on the popular mixed martial arts sport will feature the top stars in multiple divisions, a new fighting system that will be easy to pick up and play, a create-a-fighter mode, character development, and a single player story mode that challenges players to fight their way to the UFC Hall of Fame.

Check out our E3 Hub Page for the latest features and commentary from the Crispy staff.