Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
SvR2011
Oct 22, 2010 19:36:25 GMT -4
Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2010 19:36:25 GMT -4
Watching a live stream of the game right now, and there's interference or some sort of shenanigans in EVERY match in WWE Universe mode. Goddammit, way to fuck up what would have otherwise been a great mode.
|
|
|
SvR2011
Oct 22, 2010 20:16:37 GMT -4
Post by jasonjaconetti on Oct 22, 2010 20:16:37 GMT -4
That video was awesome!
|
|
|
SvR2011
Oct 22, 2010 21:57:40 GMT -4
Post by Havoc on Oct 22, 2010 21:57:40 GMT -4
That video was awesome! Word.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
SvR2011
Oct 23, 2010 15:46:30 GMT -4
Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2010 15:46:30 GMT -4
Kinda hoping the demo of NBA 2K11 works with my USB controller, because if it does, I'm taking my reservation off of SVR and just buying that. The live stream last night ruined any desire I had to get this game.
EDIT: It doesn't, so I'm stuck with SVR.
|
|
|
SvR2011
Oct 23, 2010 17:07:06 GMT -4
Post by sickman on Oct 23, 2010 17:07:06 GMT -4
NBA 2k11 doesnt work with your controller? Thats a shame; 2k11 is a phenomenal game.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
SvR2011
Oct 23, 2010 17:58:39 GMT -4
Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2010 17:58:39 GMT -4
NBA 2k11 doesnt work with your controller? Thats a shame; 2k11 is a phenomenal game. The demo doesn't, so I'm assuming the full game wouldn't. I don't know for sure, I don't have the $3 to rent it just to see.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
SvR2011
Oct 26, 2010 0:20:35 GMT -4
Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2010 0:20:35 GMT -4
Got the game. Will update with my thoughts.
Strike #1: PS3 version has a 20 minute install.
Update #1: After an hour of playing, here's some thoughts. - The way Universe sets up title matches (#1 contenders matches) is pretty cool, and the ranking system is neat. - I recommend simming all the way to WrestleMania in Universe. It's CRAZY how much things change. Every title changed and the rankings were almost completely different than they were at the beginning. - There are WAY too many shenanigans/angles in Universe mode. I'd love to play full shows but I just can't when there's an angle in every match. - The commentary is cool, they mention the upcoming PPV, the most recent PPV, if the two guys have met recently, they talk about it (though not in detail) - Stat Editor is pretty linear. Some guys max out at 90 on some stats, meaning you can't give Steamboat a 100 technical, which I have to say, really sucks. - Ricky Steamboat is a fucking monster in this game. - New weapons physics are cool for more than just glitches. ie throwing chairs at Orton's face. - Haven't touched CAW or Create A Finisher yet. Story Designer seems cool this year. - The whole building up to strong grapples kind of annoys me. - The directional grapples take a little getting used to, but they're really useful. - I've found that playing on Legendary, matches still end too quickly. Then again, I'm playing with the default sliders until I get a better grasp of the game's intricacies. - The muscle flex technology looks cool in motion, but the only times you notice it are entrances (HHH) or the post-match replays. - The new Cell is cool. No door emphasizes the original concept of the match. - They said there's new title win animations for Undertaker, and they fucking lied. - Blood looks awesome. - I like being able to hit finishers out of nowhere. With guys like Jericho and Orton I see this being especially useful. - The four strike combos are hard to land. I either hit three times and one whiffs/misses, or I get reversed before the last strike hits. - Graphics look great. - Haven't done much in Road to WrestleMania yet.
So far, it's not a bad game. Universe is a little frustrating, but being able to buy all of the unlockables for 99 cents and the Attribute Editor on launch was great. Later tonight when Fan Axxess goes up I'll buy it for the Ministry Undertaker and the future DLC packs.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
SvR2011
Oct 26, 2010 11:49:47 GMT -4
Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2010 11:49:47 GMT -4
My review.
It's that time of year again, the twelfth entry in the SmackDown series is here in SmackDown vs. RAW 2011.
Since the very first wrestling game, each era has had the game that defines it. The Hulkamania era was defined by WWF WrestleFest, New Generation was defined by any number of the 16-bit titles that were out at the time. Attitude era is obviously WWF No Mercy. Post-Attitude Era, we've had SmackDown: Here Comes The Pain, WWE Day of Reckoning 2, and WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006. The PG era, to this point, has yet to have a game that truly defines it.
The game is boasting a new physics engine, a free-roaming Road to WrestleMania, the largest roster ever, and a new WWE Universe mode. Does this add up to a game that defines the PG era? Read on.
First off, I'll go right into the gameplay. They reversed the amount of grapples for each character around since last year. Last year, you had four quick, or "weak" grapples, and sixteen "strong" grapples. This year, you have sixteen weak grapples that are available to you from the offset. As you wear your opponent down into a groggy state, you can use the strong grapples. This is nice and it helps those who want longer matches and the ability to tell a story through a match, but there are some things I'd work out, like saving the strong grapples for more impactful moves than a lame strike rush.
Another cool addition is the ability to connect moves into a pin. That means that whenever you go for say, a German suplex, it gives you the option to press the Pin button at the correct time to bridge the suplex into a pin. Other moves apply, like the Tombstone Piledriver. This is a really good addition to the series, and one that I know takes away the sting of hitting a move next to the ropes and having it break because it linked into a pin.
Speaking of Pins, the system from last year is back. Inspired by THQ's WWE Legends of WrestleMania game, you can either mashmashmash until your heart is content, or you can hold the buttons down until the green meter hits the blue area of the pin meter. Moreover, there are leverage pins now, like the rana position, sunset flip, etc, where if you hold on just a wee bit longer and let go in the yellow area, you'll counter into a leverage pin. This is awesome and I've had several back-and-forth situations with this system.
Signature Moves are back, and have the same function as last year. Hit one, and you can hit a finisher. Much like the finishers, no work needs to be done when you get your Signature move. Press Triangle/Y/whatever is on your controller that allows you to do it, and you'll do it. This works especially well for finishers like the RKO, the Codebreaker, and the Brogue Kick, all three of which you can hit from a standing position, or a running position.
Also new to the game is the ability to lift the opponent to the top rope for corner grapples. This opens up cool possibilities like a springboard super hurracarana from Rey Mysterio, so it's a very welcome addition.
THQ added in a new feature to the SmackDown series this year in the Match Creator mode. This is similar to the feature found in the old WWF Attitude game, as well as both ECW games. Here, you pick what ring you want the match to happen in (regular, inferno, cage, cell, chamber), and then there's a ton of win conditions and rules for you to toggle through. It's not as fleshed out as it could be, but it's a start.
As I alluded to earlier, WWE Universe is a mode that THQ has pushed this year. A combination of GM Mode and the SmackDown! 2 season mode, Universe is never ending, and the choices you make when booking, and playing, matches governs what happens throughout. This is alright, but the mode gets overrun by these repetitive cutscenes like someone having a front row ticket to an enemy's match, or someone getting sneak attacked. There's over 100 cutscenes, so why do only around 5 or 6 of them get used?
Another gripe I have is that you can't edit title matches...at all. You don't want Undertaker defending the WWE Title in a Championship Scramble? TOO BAD, JUNIOR! There's nothing you can do about it. This is REALLY an issue.
The rankings system is awesome as well, but I found myself asking why it existed when you could just have number one contender matches all your own. More often than not, the same guys end up challenging for the belt instead of being able to put two guys who aren't ranked in a contender's match just to see if one of them can make it at the top.
The ability to pretty much run the WWE is a cool idea, but for next year, I'd tone down the amount of angles that happen as it really takes you out of the experience of the mode. WWE never, ever has this many run ins on one of their programs, it's more like TNA Universe than WWE.
As customary for the past few years, WWE Road to WrestleMania is this game's bread and butter. It's a story mode with five (Cena/Jericho/Rey/Christian/vs. Undertaker) stories to play through. You can free roam the backstage areas for the first time since SmackDown: Shut Your Mouth in 2002, and characters are around to talk to, and there's even side quests.
The drawback is how it's presented. Mouths flap while bodies stand still, and lip syncing is not here at all. This is a major thing, because you notice it immediately. Definitely something to fix this year.
A couple of the stories are cool, like Christian's, which sees him and Edge reunite, and Cena's story. The vs. Undertaker one crosses over into the hokey category at times, but it's still worth checking out if you like the angles Undertaker is typically used in.
The Create modes are back. Create-A-Wrestler is improved in that you can now use more than one hair style on a character, but the drawback is that not every logo has transparency, which makes giving guys a ton of crazy tats isn't really possible because the default look makes them appear sharpie'd on.
Create-A-Finisher now boasts corner finishers, so yes, you CAN give Punk the Pepsi Plungs. Among other crazy moves, I saw a Zangief esque Spinning Piledriver. Really insane stuff here.
With the paint tool this year, you can not only create logos for wrestlers, but logos for BRANDS. So if you wanted a Ring of Honor or TNA brand, guess what? Make the logo, or download one, and you've got your wish.
Speaking of downloads, online is back. I haven't been able to find a match yet, but the addition of an Online Royal Rumble match is great. 12 people be damned, this is what we've wanted since online came into the series in 2004. All the match types are playable online now, which means it's a step in the right direction. Community Creations hasn't got anything up on the PS3, but you can now edit the downloaded wrestlers if the creator gives you permission. This solves the complaints about inaccurate movesets and no theme songs from last year.
This all adds up to one great package, but I don't think it's this generation's No Mercy. the gameplay is fun, but I found most of my matches ending too quickly, even on legend difficulty with finisher damage turned down. Road to WrestleMania can get hokey at times, but it's still a fun experience. Universe is awesome just for the novelty value that it's a less restrictive GM mode in some respects.
So what should you take away from this review? This year's SmackDown game is great right now. Whether it holds up well or not over the next decade, who's to say, we'll have to talk then. But FOR NOW, this is a great game with enough tweaks to make the gameplay, although a bit dated, still feel fresh. There's some things I'd change about it but quite frankly, this is the best SmackDown game since SVR06.
Overall Score: 8.8
|
|
|
SvR2011
Oct 27, 2010 0:05:57 GMT -4
Post by lwffantrav on Oct 27, 2010 0:05:57 GMT -4
I’m not a big video game guy (probably why I love Legends/Filsinger game, etc), but admit all of those WWE games definitely have neat graphics, cool entrances, etc.
But one thing I love about Legends unlike older video wrestling games I played in the past is that the main guys will win when they should…they are based on their place in wrestling history. Whenever I played the video wrestling games in the past, it was simply who has the better skill, so if you were a better video game player, you could have (for example) El Dandy beat Hulk Hogan. That’s probably one of the reasons why I never got into wrestling video games.
I admit, I have no idea how these newer ones work. Say you and a friend are playing and you are The Undertaker and your friend, with some good video gaming skills, is, say, Zach Rider. Is he, using Rider, going to beat you, using the Undertaker, the vast majority of the time since his skills are better than yours? Or is there some kind of default in there that makes the upper tier guys a tad better than the lower card guys
Yeah, I know upsets happen, which they do in Legends and that’s what makes Legends so special (nothing like an upset when snake eyes hit). But the vast majority of the time, Legends is pretty accurate when it comes to wrestling history, but when it comes to video games, it doesn’t matter who you use, it’s whoever has the better skill.
Am I correct in my thinking? Not that there is anything wrong with the video games, but was just wondering if that’s the case.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
SvR2011
Oct 27, 2010 0:48:03 GMT -4
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2010 0:48:03 GMT -4
I admit, I have no idea how these newer ones work. Say you and a friend are playing and you are The Undertaker and your friend, with some good video gaming skills, is, say, Zach Rider. Is he, using Rider, going to beat you, using the Undertaker, the vast majority of the time since his skills are better than yours? Or is there some kind of default in there that makes the upper tier guys a tad better than the lower card guys Yeah, I know upsets happen, which they do in Legends and that’s what makes Legends so special (nothing like an upset when snake eyes hit). But the vast majority of the time, Legends is pretty accurate when it comes to wrestling history, but when it comes to video games, it doesn’t matter who you use, it’s whoever has the better skill. Am I correct in my thinking? Not that there is anything wrong with the video games, but was just wondering if that’s the case. I agree that upsets in legends (especially those where you think the guy is going to kick out and you roll snake eyes) are what makes the game special, and part of the reason I love the game. Characters in the games now have Overall stats with individual stats that contribute to making certain things stronger, whether it be grapple attacks or strikes or whatever. There's also abilities that the top guys have (ability to regenerate health, instantly get up and hit a finisher, etc) that make matches much more difficult for the lower-end guys. re: Ryder/Taker - The thing is, the lower end guys are usually given lower tier moves, like really weak stuff. So for that Ryder player to win, they'd have to avoid being hit (and when Taker has a big boot that spans roughly 1/4 of the ring, it's easier said than done), and make sure to never miss an attack. Even then, Undertaker has abilities that let him become invincible for a brief period of time, and allow him to hit his finisher. Ryder's durability is really low too, so one Tombstone would almost equal an instant loss. So you're right in some respects. Skill does come into play in some cases. It's certainly not impossible for Ryder to beat Undertaker, but even the most skilled player would have a tough time overcoming even a mildly decent player because the developer makes the top level guys with the intent that they should be the toughest guys in the game.
|
|
|
SvR2011
Oct 27, 2010 7:58:05 GMT -4
Post by ljacone on Oct 27, 2010 7:58:05 GMT -4
Not interested in SvR as a game or a series (I prefer Fire Pro in pretty much every dimension), but one neat thing I read (via Christian's twitter feed) is that the third alternate outfit for Edge and Christian is The Conquistadors!
|
|
|
SvR2011
Oct 27, 2010 8:10:49 GMT -4
Post by jasonjaconetti on Oct 27, 2010 8:10:49 GMT -4
Not interested in SvR as a game or a series (I prefer Fire Pro in pretty much every dimension), but one neat thing I read (via Christian's twitter feed) is that the third alternate outfit for Edge and Christian is The Conquistadors! SCORE!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
SvR2011
Oct 27, 2010 13:19:04 GMT -4
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2010 13:19:04 GMT -4
Not interested in SvR as a game or a series (I prefer Fire Pro in pretty much every dimension), but one neat thing I read (via Christian's twitter feed) is that the third alternate outfit for Edge and Christian is The Conquistadors! They botched the Conquistador attires, too. The masks/costumes don't match at all. They're like different shades of gold/brown. Maybe I'm color blind. Wish they would have been separate characters, though. I mean, Taker's Druid is playable, why can't we use two more spots on the Conquistadors?
|
|
|
SvR2011
Oct 27, 2010 20:10:46 GMT -4
Post by lwffantrav on Oct 27, 2010 20:10:46 GMT -4
Thanks Switchfoot. I definitely want to hear those kinds of reviews before I pass any judgment and it was good to hear those adjustments were made
My first really pro wrestling gaming experience was a 89 NWA game from Nintendo. Of course this was one will where if you had more skill, a jobber could beat Ric Flair
The only other I played was a PC WCW game and it was the same way. The only cool thing was it had some entrance music and hidden characters
Thanks for the input Switchfoot. I appreciate it
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
SvR2011
Oct 27, 2010 21:48:13 GMT -4
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2010 21:48:13 GMT -4
I have that WCW game for the NES, it's pretty fun to play but gets annoying when the computer characters kick it into overdrive and make it impossible to win.
|
|