More Smackdown this year

By Robert Purchese Published 30 March, 2007

More sweaty men in rings.

THQ wants to get us all into the ring this afternoon, as it announces a fresh instalment to the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw series.

This 2008 version will be available on a staggering amount of consoles, including PS3, Wii and DS for the first time ever. Adding to that list is the familiar Xbox 360, joined by the ever eager PS2 and its little brother, the PSP.

The bare chested brawling is in for a bit of a spruce-up, too, with the addition of eight new Superstar Fighting Styles, each with its own strategy and attributes. There's also a snazzy Struggle Submission System that gives you realistic control over your fleshy fellow, using your analogue controls to dictate the amount of pressure to use on your foes.

The game will also include superstars, arenas and weapons from Extreme Championship Wrestling, on top of numerous fan-requested updates like new rosters, more environmental hotspots, a combined Seasonal and General Manager Mode experience, improved out-of-ring action, enhanced online community support and more. Phew.

"We are excited about the incredible potential for WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 as the franchise expands to six platforms," said Nelo Lucich, vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. "The game’s new Superstar Fighting Styles and Struggle Submission System, combined with year-over-year improvements, are certain to bring the sports entertainment video game experience to new heights with long-standing franchise fans and casual gamers alike."

However, we should point out that the DS version will be slightly different to the others, using its unique touchy-feely interface to create a wrestling experience of its very own.

Ho ho. But we know that it's all secretly fake, no one actually gets hurt in the ring.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (24) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • nickthegun #1 5 years ago

    ---NOW LOADING---

  • mkreku #2 5 years ago

    Why can't someone make a really good game based on Pride FC vs. UFC, featuring all the real life fighters licensed in the game? That would rock.

    I'd stomp on Wanderlei Silva's head, using Fedor Emelianenko.

  • OnlyMe #3 5 years ago

    I want a half-realistic kickboxing sim, in the vein of Fight Night 3!

  • jonsaan #4 5 years ago

    @nickthegun

    Spot on mate.........Loading loading loading.....instruction screen...loading loading...loading

    Next gen. Don;t make me laugh.

  • AssassiN Verified Owner/Editor, Computers N Stuff #5 5 years ago

    "Why can't someone make a really good game based on Pride FC vs. UFC"

    Given that they are the same company now - it'll probably happen one day soon.

  • jonsaan #6 5 years ago

    and will subsequently be shit because it's THQ.

  • Eighthours #7 5 years ago

    Are they ever going to make a next gen version?

  • pusherman #8 5 years ago

    Given UFC's rising popularity, they'll make a game for it soon enough.

  • dllord #9 5 years ago

    I heard a few months ago that there IS a UFC game being made right now!

  • DDevil #10 5 years ago

    "But we know that it's all secretly fake, no one actually gets hurt in the ring."

    Apart from the guys who do of course. Like Bret Hart, HHH, Stone Cold Steve Austin etc etc etc.

  • The-Bodybuilder #11 5 years ago

    >"no one actually gets hurt in the ring"

    Tell that to Owen Harts family.
    Edited by 1 at 30/03/07 @ 18:08

  • Machetazo #12 5 years ago

    Yeah, dlllord, I read that story too. By the guys who worked on Throwdown, if memory serves...
    Oh. You should all know, it's by THQ, as well! <a href="http://uk.ga mespot.com/news/6164224.html
    ">http://uk.ga mespot.com/news/6164224.html
    </a>

    I wish Midway had more to show of TNA: iMPACT! But I guess we'll have to wait till E3 in July to find out how the six-sided ring translates to console action. They have said they're making their own wrestling game, though, rather than lifting an existing control/setup. I hope it'll be good. :)
    Edited by 1 at 30/03/07 @ 18:12

  • effinwooly #13 5 years ago

    they DO get hurt !

  • Razorus #14 5 years ago

    OMG, enough of this shit. Smackdown hasn't progressed since its first iteration.

  • spongebob #15 5 years ago

    I read "More Crackdown.." and was disappointed to find this :)

  • thefilthandthefury #16 5 years ago

    Excellent. I'm an avid Smackdown fan and I always love trying out the new games. Looks like I'll have to get it on two platforms now though (360 and Wii).

  • NewYork #17 5 years ago

    The PS2 NEVER DIES.

  • MrFlintBlackman #18 5 years ago

    I think Eurogamer prefer sweaty footballers to wreslters.........

    I love to "fake" jump off a 10ft ladder and be ok, but it's not going to happen.

  • Pastici #19 5 years ago

    @Razorus

    Well, it has really =/. Not so muc in the past few games though, they add some small pointless thing then a graphical sheen.

    /Still plays Here Comes The Pain.

  • Sl1pstream #20 5 years ago

    Hart didn't die because of the wrestling. Stuff fell on him, reducing him to a human pancake. Don't act like that makes wrestling real.

    Getting hurt doesn't make something dangerous all of a sudden so don't use that as an excuse to somehow legitimise this "sport". If that was true, everyone who ever decided to walk to work is a hero because of the chance that you'll get hit by a car.

    If you jump of a 10ft ladder and get hurt (or a cage in Foley's case), you don't get hurt because of the wrestling and the sacrifice that the sport requires, you get hurt because you're an idiot who just jumped off a 10ft ladder.
    Edited by 1 at 31/03/07 @ 23:22

  • Tonka #21 5 years ago

    It's still real to me dammit!

  • Vin #22 5 years ago

    Christ, this shit STILL looks like PS1 era stuff.

  • DDevil #23 5 years ago

    Sl1pstream - I guess you're not counting people like HHH who tore his quad. Batista who tore a muscle in his back. Bret Hart who retired after a concussion from a kick, Stone Cold Steve Austin who had to retire due to wear and tear on his knees and neck. Shawn Michaels who is looking at time off due to the same reason. Chris Benoit who fractured a vertebrae. And so on... All of whom wear injured during non-gimmick matches.

    They were injured because of the wrestling and the sacrifice it requires. No ladders or cages (etc.) were involved.

    So by your logic injuries in cricket, rugby or football aren't because of the sports and the sacrifice they require, it's just a load of idiots playing with balls.

    Oh and nothing fell on Owen Hart, he was killed after the safety catch on his harness failed as he was rappelling down from the lighting rig into the ring. Just shows you really don't know what you're talking about.

  • bdc #24 5 years ago

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