The latest installment of the SMACKDOWN VS RAW series has arrived and what a game it is!  The graphics are stunning, the soundtrack is amazing, and the gameplay is awesome. 

One of the new things in SVR 2009 is the ability to download new superstars into the game.  What a concept!  No longer do we have to toil away in the create-a-wrestler mode just to get the wrestler we want that wasn't on the original roster for the game.  You can now simply download it onto the game.

Another great new thing is SVR 2009 is the new Create-A-Finisher mode.  Personal experience, I worked on my custom finisher for over an hour till I got it the way that I liked it.  THQ must be after my heart to add this feature into the game.  If there is a finisher that you don't like, you can go ahead and make your own finisher.  And the ability to either have a custom name for the finisher or use one of the preset names that are supported by the in game commentary makes me jump for joy.

However I do have a few gripes about this installment of the series.

When the game was advertised on television, there was a promise of a big tag team storyline.  So I finally get my hands on the game and there is only one storyline and the only team you can use is Batista and Rey Mysterio.  I now pose this question to THQ and WWE.  Why?  Why only one tag team storyline?  Why not have a custom tag team storyline for all the characters?  To have only one storyline for the team mode and the fact you can only use Batista and Rey Mysterio kinda blows in my opinion.

The Create-A-Title feature is now history, which saddens me.  I loved making custom titles and naming them.  I guess to have one new feature, you have to get rid of the other one.

In the past installments of this game, there was always a custom storyline for the Create-A-Character.  However in this installment, THQ decided to nix this feature from the game.  And again I ask this question, WHY?  Why get rid of one the game's better features in a custom storyline?  The only use of a custom wrestler in this installment is to do exhibition matches and title tournaments on the game.  I want to see how my custom wrestler would fare in actual WWE storylines.  I want to see my custom wrestler interact with the other stars in the back.  I want to see my custom wrestler become a star and thanks to THQ, I can't.

A new feature in the game allows you to pause and rewind certain moments in a match and save them like a recording.  Then you can go back and edit some, add music and graphics and whatnot.  You can then save it and view it like a dvd which is nice but why not use this feature to make custom titantron videos for the custom wrestlers?  One of my biggest gripes for this whole franchise is the fact you can't make custom titantron videos for the custom wrestlers.  I am tired of seeing the WWE Logo flash on and off for my custom wrestler.  The only game that had custom titantron videos for custom wrestlers was RAW 2 for the XBOX.  I enjoyed that feature in the game and I was hoping that they would carry that feature over into the SVR franchise, but it never happened.

Despite these gripes I have, the game is outstanding.  If I had to pick, head to head, between TNA Impact and SVR 2009, SVR 2009 would win everytime.  SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2009 gets 4 bodyslams out of 5.