WW…E? Wow, things sure have changed. Actually, the loss of the ‘F’ to the World Wildlife Fund is about the only recent event in wrestling that I am aware of. Like the other writers here, my relationship with professional wrestling began as a child in the ‘80s, fascinated by the wild costumes and moves, becoming less interested as time marched on. I don’t dislike it; it’s simply not an interest of mine. My experience with wrestling games follows a similar trajectory, only I stuck with them a while longer. Playing the NES, SNES, and GameBoy wrestlemanias and knock-off games was great gun, but it was around the time of the Nintendo 64 that they began to lose me, with snazzier graphics being matched by increased complexity. Things haven’t changed much.

I didn’t realize just how bulky THQ’s wrestling games had become. There are options here that should satisfy any discerning wrestling fan. There are one-on-one matches, tag matches, handicap tag matches with two teaming up against one, steel cages, tables, as well as modes like King of the Ring, Parking Lot Brawl, First Blood, ECW Extreme Rules, and Royal Rumble. If there is a mode or combination that you’re interested in, it’s in here. You can event create a custom intro to go with your custom wrestler. There are also modes to play classic matches in the Hall of Fame, which not only has a little background history on the match but also includes a match from ECW. The inclusion of ECW is new for the series and the brand is ingrained throughout, and though it only has a small mention on the box, its rules, wrestlers, and brand are well implemented for its first outing in the series.

There is also a 24/7 Mode that allows for you to be a star or a general manager, both climbing the ranks of the WWE. As a general manager of SmackDown, Raw, or ECW, you must hire wrestlers and train them both physically (strength, speed, endurance, etc.) and in showmanship (mic work, fan support, etc.). A calendar of events will allow you to schedule autograph signings, interviews, training and matches – the later two can either be played out or simulated. Read the official WWE site to get a bead on how good you are doing, hire writers to prepare the best storylines, and set the matches for a particular event. As a wrestler going through superstar mode, you will do much of the same, but instead of directing the action you act it out. As Ray Mysterio, I gave interviews, signed autographs, went through the brief bouts of training, read the official magazine to get an idea of my standing, and played through events. Voice messages from Vince McMahon and other wrestlers will assist in understanding all of the options and how to succeed.

The roster is daunting. For those who haven’t followed wrestling for a while, many old favorites like Steve Austin and Rodney Piper can be unlocked whenever requirements, either cash or cash and match success, are met. Each wrestler has a style that corresponds to the moves they have, with brawlers being able to engage a string of punishing blows, high flyers can dodge, and dirty wrestlers will fight, er, dirty. They also have strength and popularity gauges as well, which are especially important in the 24/7 Mode. They look good, for the most part, and follow the trend of better texture and animation than build and smooth animation transitions. There is also online play, wrapping out one of the healthiest group of features that I have seen in some time.

WWE: SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 has so much going for it, it has to be a must. Unfortunately, getting into the game requires some secret handshake that I’m not familiar with. The game can be played by mashing buttons, but it won’t get you very far. For those who have not been following the series for a while, getting into it now is extremely difficult. Save for a few token videos that introduce the new elements that are making their inaugural appearance here, there isn’t anything in the way of help for the newcomers. The 24/7 Mode is actually fairly simple, so it isn’t that it’s intuitive but there isn’t much going on – selecting what to do and when and seeing a figure as a result is about all you do. Still, at least those can be played, simulating all events, without any experience. Other than that, though, a lack of familiarity is a series detriment to the game’s enjoyment.

Most series do start off with the assumption that the players will know a thing or two when starting. Those games, like Virtua Fighter, also have tutorials set up to help out. There is no such help here, not even a simple How To guide. For someone new to the series like myself, the game consisted of frustration and hand cramps. The fighting system is faithful to the sport’s stop-and-go method of slight delays between movements, as well as the exaggerated animations when hurt, but that just drove me nuts. The inconsistencies also did a number on my nerves. I could be fighting an opponent of comparable strength and stature, yet my dozen blows would be undone by one chop to the chest, with my blows resulting in a stumbling in theirs with me hobbling around like a car hit me. There were also times when my model actually went through my opponent, face meeting the mat. The flow and combo system is much more intensive than it seems, especially when working in objects like chairs and tables as well as each fighting style’s unique abilities. The matches I won were due to the Easy setting turning the computer into a walking punching bag. I don’t want my hand held, but a little help would’ve gone a long way.

Longtime fans of the series might very well find the new additions enough to warrant a purchase; the usage of the right analog stick to punch or head pummel a downed opponent is actually intuitive and very fun, after all; but newcomers won’t. There is a lot to like here, but it’s difficult to like. I wish someone would teach me the secret handshake to understand just what was going on.

Overall: 5/10