Tag Archives: svr

Gearing Up for WWE ’12

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Posted by Rob on October 20, 2011 – 12:14 pm
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Anyone who follows my blog knows I get crazy around this time of year when THQ starts releasing relevant information about their annual WWE new release. This year is no different, and they’ve done quite a bit of revamping since last year’s Smackdown vs. Raw 2011. Just remember, I am a fan of the game series, not of the actual WWE programming and do not watch it on television.  So what exactly are the new features? Read on:

  • Title: That’s right, THQ decided to drop the “Smackdown vs. Raw” title from now on and are sticking with just “WWE”. It makes a heck of a lot of sense and is something they should have down a long time ago. The first couple of SvR games were true to their name, as there were drafts between the shows in-game and there was a “Be a GM” mode where you had to get more money and viewers than the competing brand. But that all stopped over the past few years and it’s been more about WWE in general and less about a conflict between these two shows. So I’m totally happy with calling it “WWE ’12″ as opposed to “Smackdown vs. Raw 2012″ as it’s a heck of a lot easier to say and write. Read More »

PS3 Review: WWE All Stars

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Posted by Rob on April 3, 2011 – 11:05 am
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This game is one heck of a slobber knocker as THQ redeems themselves for WWE Legends of WrestleMania with their newest title, WWE All Stars. I have been following this game for quite a few months now, and the end product was as good as I expected. First and foremost, this is NOT a wrestling sim like the Smackdown vs. Raw series. All Stars is a fighting game in every sense of the word, from having insane moves, devastating combos, tons of lockables…and the simple fact that it’s easy to pick up and play but challenging to master. That being said, I did not intend to make this a comparison of All Stars and SvR, but I ended up doing just that. This game is definitely on the radar of any SvR fan, so I think it is inevitable to compare the two at some points as a means of giving examples of what to expect.

The roster of characters is pretty darn expansive for a fighting game. There are thirty wrestlers to initially choose from, with at least thirteen more revealed as future DLC. They are divided by old school legends and today’s current roster, and this really does make it the best roster for a WWE game ever. Tons of old favorites are represented like Stone Cold, Rock, Hogan, Macho Man, Andre, Ultimate Warrior and more, and they even have their classic attires. Then you have some of today’s hottest stars including Undertaker, Triple H, Edge, Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio, John Cena, and others as well. Together, it is a very well-rounded cast of wrestlers and is definitely one of the biggest selling points for the game.

But I’ve talked enough about all this basic info over the past three months, so now I’ll go more into what I got out of the actual game. Read More »

WWE Allstars Match: Steel Cage Match and Demo Details

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Posted by Rob on March 17, 2011 – 3:38 pm
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The past two weeks THQ has been releasing matches showcasing the wrestler classes. Last week they did something different, and instead talked their way through a steel cage match between Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio. Here’s the match:

YouTube Preview Image Read More »

WWE Allstars Match: Acrobats

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Posted by Rob on March 5, 2011 – 12:26 am
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THQ has went ahead and popped a full match on youtube focusing on the acrobat class. The video is about eight minutes long, and includes a full match between John Morrison and Shawn Michaels, who are both in the acrobat class in WWE Allstars. While the match is going on, THQ representatives are giving commentary on the match and the game in general. It’s quite interesting and really gives a full feel for what the game is like. The game is very fluid, and the contact recognition is superior to SvR 2011, meaning that the wrestlers on screen actually connect, and you don’t see body parts floating through other body parts. As is to be expected, the acrobat class is fast and can reach the top rope extremely quickly, much like similar light weights in SvR. I also have to say that I like the look of the character selection screen…it’s just like SvR 2011 but it works  so much better in Allstars, mainly because it gives it that fighting/arcade game feel. Another interesting fact mentioned is that a wrestler’s entire career is taken into account, so wrestlers like Undertaker and HBK who have been around for many years will be pulling off vintage moves that they may not necessarily perform these days.

Also, it is hinted that there will be other videos up in the near future focusing on the other classes; grappler, brawler, and big man.

Enjoy the video:

YouTube Preview Image

PS3 Review: WWE Legends of WrestleMania

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Posted by Rob on February 14, 2011 – 1:18 pm
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I had given the game a rent when it first came out almost two years ago, and I gave it a pretty horrible review. I don’t mean horrible as in it is a horrible game, but horrible as in what I actually wrote was horrible. I was tempted to just delete it, but I would rather let it sit there to remind myself how far I’ve come with my writing.  Also, in my defense, I think it came from my old website, and I had just copied and pasted it, since I didn’t take my old site as serious as this one. Anyway, I rented the game again from Gamefly for two reasons. First, I am getting really excited for WWE Allstars and wanted to play something that would be a little similar to whet my appetite until the game is released next month. Secondly, I was pretty darn close to getting the Platinum, so I decided to go back and get it. I may have given the demo some horrid reviews, but the game is in fact pretty enjoyable.

First off, the main draw of the game, which sets it apart from the Smackdown vs. Raw franchise, is the roster. Legends of WrestleMania lets you take control of one of thirty-eight WWE “legends” or your own CAW (create-a-wrestler) as you partake in a variety of matches and modes. The roster is full of old wrestlers I’m not familiar with, such as Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, Koko B. Ware, and Kamala. The biggest roster draw are probably the “classics”, such as Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, Andre the Giant, Bret Hart, Yokozuna, Jake The Snake Roberts, The Million Dollar Man, and The Road Warriors. There are also current or recent roster wrestlers, but they appear as they did early in their career. For example, Triple H appears as the Greenwich-blue blood Hunter Herst Helmsley, and is nowhere near as buff as he later became, Shawn Michaels rocks a mullet, and the Undertaker looks almost twenty years younger before he was completely covered in tattoos. The youngest wrestlers to appear in the game (in terms of when they first came to the WWE) are Stone Cold and The Rock, who are indeed legends. There are also four classic managers that appear in the game, including Paul Bearer and Bobby Heenan. The ability to take control of these classic wrestlers is definitely a lot of fun and will fill any WWF/WWE fan with a ton of nostalgia.

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Starting to Get Cautiously Excited for WWE Allstars

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Posted by Rob on January 20, 2011 – 1:26 pm
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When I first heard about THQ’s upcoming WWE Allstars game, I wasn’t interested. It appeared to be unrealistic with over-the-top exaggerations of the wrestlers. It immediately reminded me of WWE Legends, which wasn’t a horrible game, but I preferred the realism and seriousness of the Smackdown vs. Raw series. Also, the fact that it was being hyped as an “online” game was quite unattractive, given the horrible SvR servers that THQ currently has. However, yesterday THQ released a ton of information, screenshots, and videos about the game, and after seeing it in action, I have to admit that my curiosity is quite peaked.

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PS3 Review: WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011

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Posted by Rob on October 27, 2010 – 5:53 pm
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I got SvR 2011 in from Amazon last night, and after the first twenty four hours of ownership, I’d like to share my impressions of the game. This isn’t a true review, but more like a laundry list of my likes and dislikes, as well as plenty of my own personal pics, since I get tired of having to scour the interwebs for pics of the game.Though as a side note, since I took these pics from my TV with my camera, the quality is not 100% awesome, as the rest of the game actually looks. A second side note, as always, is that I do not watch WWE programming…I am simply a fan of the games, and view them as the best fighting and co-op games ever made.

My Likes

For me, the most important part of any WWE game is the ability to “create-a-wrestler”, which will henceforth be called CAWs. CAWs are the backbone of the SvR games, since this is where every fan of either WWE or just fighting games in general can come and create their own custom character. This year’s edition is no different, with plenty of customization options for you and your friends to create. Ever since owning WWF War Zone back in the 90s on my PS1, I have always made a “BigBadBob” character to represent myself, and this year is no different.

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More Info on SvR 2011

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Posted by Rob on October 8, 2010 – 6:14 pm
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I managed to stumble across a review written by one of the guys over at IGN who got to spend some time with the game. What he had to say basically spells out that this could very well be the best installment of the series. One of the interesting things he mentions is about online play. He was able to play a six-player Royal Rumble match online, and all he had to say was good things…he didn’t mention anything about the game lagging. Anyone who has played any other version of SvR knows that the online matches are always plagued by lag, so if the servers dedicated to SvR 2011 are finally up to the task, this could be what really puts the game series on the maps. However, since he was playing an early version of the game, it could just so happen that there are simply very few people using the servers right now, and that once the game’s full release hits on October 26th, there could be more lag going on. I don’t think anyone will know for sure until later this month, but I will be one of the first to report on it!

Another fun-sounding feature is the Road to Wrestlemania. Not only will you take part in the story of the selected character, but you will also interact with other wrestlers backstage in-between matches. Doing these “side quests”, as the article refers to them, your wrestler will gain the ability to purchase upgrades that increase their stats. This goes for anyone, not just CAWs (create-a-wrestler), so that definitely adds in some fun features. However, what I’m really excited for is the Road to Wrestlemania storyline titled “Versus the Undertaker” where you can take one of the pro wrestlers or your CAW, and attempt to end the Undertaker’s undefeated Wrestlemania streak. That sounds like it will be a blast, and with the confirmation that Paul Bearer is in the game, that storyline is something that I’m really going to enjoy. Read More »

Getting Pumped for Smackdown vs. Raw 2011

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Posted by Rob on September 27, 2010 – 9:04 am
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As many of you know, I am an avid fan of the THQ game series WWE: Smackdown vs. Raw, despite the fact that I am not a wrestling fan. This game actually makes me a hyprocrit, as I will openly criticize people who purchase each year’s version of Madden, while at the same time I purchase each new edition of SvR. So last month I traded in my copy of SvR 2010, along with some other games, and got enough credit from Amazon to pre-order 2011. I’ve been reading up a lot on it, and I’m getting pretty excited on some of the new things they have to offer.

The most interesting is this concept of a “Universe” mode. When turned on, the game will keep track of who fights who and all wins and losses in exhibition mode. Then, the game will use this information to form alliances and enemies which will be used to enhance the feel of the exhibition mode, and make it feel more like a wrestling match. For example, if you are fighting someone else, and beat them up, chances are they may attack you during your next exhibition match. It can be done on your way to the ring, they can get you in the middle of your match, or they can wait until the match is over before they strike, interrupting your victory celebration in the ring. At the same time, it also means that if you have a tag team partner who you fight alongside frequently, there is a chance they will come to help you out during your singles matches. While all this has been attempted in previous games, it was always a very random and iffy thing, but it sounds like they are concentrating on getting it right this time. While all this has been attempted in previous games, it was always a very random and iffy thing, but it sounds like they are concentrating on getting it right this time. Read More »

My Recent Smackdown Escapade

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Posted by Rob on September 1, 2010 – 3:17 pm
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I went to a taping of WWE’s Smackdown show last night (Tuesday, August 31) at the Times Union Center in Albany (home of AHL hockey!!!), and enjoyed myself quite a bit. The arena about a twelve minute drive from my apartment, tickets were only $25, and the Undertaker was going to be there…all aspects which made me want to go, despite the fact that I haven’t sat down and watched wrestling since the very early 2000′s. I must say that it is a heck of a lot more fun when you’re there as opposed to watching from home.

Note: I did not bring my camera, since I assumed they would be searching and Shell was not around to hide it in her pocketbook. Turns out that cameras are encouraged, just no video cams, so I could have brought it, and if I had known, there would have been a lot more pics. Instead all I have are a few crappy ones I took with my cell phone.

Let me talk about the overall feel in the arena first. It was hot, sweaty, and stinky…I have to say that the stench was far worse than anything I had to endure at PAX East. But the slight discomforts made up for actually being there, surrounding by raving fans who probably believe that the WWE is the same as UFC and other MMAs, in that the fights are real. There were kids, teens, and full-grown adults walking around sporting various WWE shirts, signs, and even belts (professional and makeshift.) To hear the crowd react to the wrestlers in the ring was also pretty cool, from everyone shouting for a fan-fave to kick out of a pin or submission to the crowd booing at the heel when he flaunted to the stands. You could hear everyone say “oooh!” with each chest chop and dropkick that was received. The other mind-blowing reaction was when a wrestler’s theme music hit, indicating they were on their way to the ring. The people got so worked up to see their fan favorites, and it really did make the experience a fun and memorable one. Read More »

How I Spent My Saturday

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Posted by Rob on November 22, 2009 – 2:07 am
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Shell went to a friends house today, so I was on my own for the afternoon and night. I kept quite busy during this time. Heres what I did (in no particular order):

  • Watched Simpsons Season 11
  • Watched Boondock Saints off the PS3(never saw it before…was a really great film)
  • Worked on my portfolio
  • Played WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010
  • Played Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
  • Did three loads of laundry (mine, Shell’s, and the linens)
  • Took out all the garbage and recyclables
  • Read some of The Life of Johnny Reb
  • Talked to my mom and sister on the phone

So yeah, I got quite a bit done. I like to do some little chores around the house when Im home alone so that I dont get accused of playing games the entire time, so I break up my relaxing time with more productive things. Today was a good day to just unwind and relax. I enjoyed my day off.

PS3 Quick Review: Smackdown vs Raw 2010

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Posted by Rob on November 3, 2009 – 8:24 am
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svr2010

I know I always say this, but I feel like I have the need to restate it constantly. I am not a wrestling fan. I havent watched wrestling since 2001 or so. However, I LOVE the WWE series of games. It is such a unique, fun, and interactive fighting game that I find myself constantly getting the most recent version each year. And this year was no exception. I got it in from Gamefly yesterday, and after spending a little under two hours with it, I was sold. I traded in some games to Gamefly and in return kept SvR2010.

The first thing you notice is the training mode. The main menu screen is actually a training mode, where you can do all kinds of moves to your opponent as the game prompts you to do particular ones. This is a great way to quickly get into the action if its your first time, and see what the game has to offer.

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Election Day Plans

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Posted by Rob on November 2, 2009 – 7:54 am
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Since the schools are closed tomorrow for Election Day, I dont have to go in. So Ive been thinking about my plans for tomorrow, and this is what I hope to accomplish:

  • Finish watching Season Nine of The Simpsons
  • Play SvR2010 (so long as it comes in on time)
  • Get my lessons finished for Wednesday
  • Start reading my Civil War book for class
  • Get a hair cut

That is what I hope to accomplish. Who knows what I will do. One thing is for sure though…the leisure activities will take precedent over the school ones!!!

Fairytale Fights is Out…WWE SvR2010 is In

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Posted by Rob on October 31, 2009 – 12:30 pm
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So Gamefly has been successful in perplexing me once again. I had an open queue, and I decided to wait and snag Fairytale Fight, which had a release date of 10/27 on Gamefly. So I waited, and the day came and went and I got no message telling me it shipped. So I looked on the site, and the release date had changed to 10/29. So I said “ok, fine I’ll wait til then.” Then on Thursday the date changed to 10/30, then yesterday the release date changed again to 10/31. Then this morning I went on there, and the current release date is 11/3.

As I was constantly waiting for this game to ship, I received an email informing me that WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010 (which had an availability of very low) shipped. Im pretty happy…Ive been dying to get my hands on the new SvR game and see how it is. So I’ll be getting that in next. Im hoping it gets here by Monday so that I can spend all Tuesday playing since I’ll be home from school thanks to Election Day. We shall see.

Morale of the story…Gamefly is a very confusing and frustrating system, yet I love it!!!

Sending Borderlands Back to Gamefly

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Posted by Rob on October 26, 2009 – 10:14 pm
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I really enjoyed Borderlands, and was sad to send it back. But in the end, I made the right decision.

For the few hours I put into it, I knew it was a game I would love to own eventually. Having just purchased Uncharted 2 I was in no position to purchase a new game, so I decided to return it to Gamefly and get something else. Plus, Uncharted 2 and MUA2 are just begging for attention.

I did this so that I would be able to really enjoy the game when I did finally obtain it. If I played through a lot of it now, I would not be as excited to get back into it in the future. So my character is only level 13, and has not really gotten too far in the game yet. I look forward to snagging the game and playing a lot more in the future.

Im hoping to get either Beatles Rock Band or Batman: Arkham Asylum. Both games are listed as medium availability right now on Gamefly. I have been dying to snag Batman for a long time, especially after hearing so many good things about it. Also, I think Shell and I would have a good time playing through Beatles Rock Band for a bit. So yeah, Im hoping for either game. I also have the new WWE game SvR2010 on my list, but I don’t expect to be snagging that anytime soon since its still a new release. We shall see whats next.