AMN's Review Policy: Our reviews are written for you. Our goal is to write honest, to-the-point reviews that don't waste your time. This is why we've split our reviews into four sections: What the Game's About, What's Hot, What's Not and Final Word, so that you can easily find the information you want from our reviews.

What the Game's About
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 is another entry into the world of professional wrestling video game collection. With the WWE controlling most the talent in sports entertainment, there is an all-star lineup is a force to be reckoned with. The Undertaker, Batista, Triple H, and other famous faces can enter the ring to dish out the pain. Also making an appearance are the legends of wrestling, like Roddy Piper and Steve Austin.

Alternatively, you can create a brand-new character with the detailed player editor to battle from the bottom all the way up to the top with the new 24/7 mode.

What's Hot
The first, best thing to do in WWE 2008 is create your own wrestler. There are more options than you'll know what to do with at first. Make and 80's style heel or a modern looking baby face, the choice is up to you. With a mode this full featured, it can almost be considered a mini-game to create a character.

The feeling of playing against the stars and legends is quite authentic, thanks to the slick character models for the players. You can see every bulging bicep and deformed scar on the wrestlers' bodies. The created player costume pieces are just as detailed to make you feel like one of the pros. Campy storylines are placed within the 24/7 mode to give you the theatrical sense watching WWE on TV provides and the in-ring showmanship will remind you this is the next best thing beside getting personally discovered by Vince McMahon.

WWE 2008 is feature rich with every single match type possible. Ladder, HardCore, Royal Rumble, Tag-Team, and more are included in this game. You can get major mileage from the inclusion of these match settings. Better still is the online multiplayer where you can bring your created wrestler in the virtual squared-circle.

What's Not
For as many options as there are in WWE 2008, it doesn't feel like it. The major emphasis is on the 24/7 mode where you live the life of a promising young athlete. While it is all good and nice, it doesn't feel as all encompassing as something named 24/7 should. The mini-games to train your wrestler are simple but after completing them a few times, it just feels like you have to go through the motions to become a legend.

Move archetypes aren't as well developed as they could have been. Some are more appealing than others. Like the "dirty" fighters get to undermine the match but the "technical" wrestlers don't seem all that special. The idea is good but it floats on the surface rather than deeply ingrained into the core gameplay mechanics. It should be noted, however, that each wrestler has two fighting types so if you don't like one, you can try out the other.

All the famous faces have their famous voices behind them. Messages left by wrestlers are good but announcing is the issue. Unfortunately, they will sound like broken records. The announcers often repeat themselves during a match and in 24/7 mode, you'll hear a lot of the same remarks. The crowds and arenas in the backgrounds look terrible and actually detract how good the wrestler visuals look otherwise.

Final Word
WWE 2008 is a fine wrestling game. There are a lot of neat features that will give this game plenty of leg locks until the next edition is published. Far and away, the character creation is one of the coolest, in-depth features the game has. The wrestling gameplay is good and makes for a nice fighting title. All the trimmings of a WWE broadcast are in tact for the video game to make it fun for fans of the show.