THQ Games is about to release the 2009 edition of their "Smackdown vs.
Raw" video game. Not to sound like a total fanboy but it looks amazing.
Even with the past two or three releases, it was easy to forget you
were playing a video game and think you were watching it on television.
Back
in 1986, Sega released "Pro Wrestling" and that was revolutionary for
the time it came out. There was a referee and cameraman! I can remember
playing that game like crazy until I could "turn it over" (my old
school gamers know what that is) a number of times. Sure the graphics
were crude but it was better than tearing up the G.I. Joe action
figures I had laying around.
I was just as hyped when the
bodega in my neighborhood got the "WWF WrestleFest" arcade game in
1991. Countless quarters dropped into that machine while I tried to
imitate the Hulk Hogan I saw on TV. Now those graphics were crazy (for
that time) and the animation was something to marvel at. If I can
remember correctly, sweat would go flying when you hit someone with a
chop.
Now after years of 8, 16 and 64 bit grappling games, "Smackdown vs. Raw
2009" is on the way. So far I have all of them since the first release
back in 2000 and more than likely, I'll be adding this one to my
collection as well. Sure it may seem like it's just the same game over
and over but ask a gamer why they run to the games store for "Madden"
or "NBA Live" every year. It's all the experience of seeing the new
goodies that made it into the latest version. One would ask though, why
wouldn't they just pack everything into one game and be done with it?
That's an easy one, there would be no reason to relieve us of our
yearly 60 bucks.
-The Blackspot