This pretty much reeks of being a cash-in game for Wrestlemania hype.

What can it really offer that the SvR games don't?

@The_Foo: Legends! Lots of them, it seems!

@The_Foo:

Heaps of so-called Legends, battling it out in a crazy, non-sensical "what if" environment that's going to be its Story/Career mode.

I'd naturally buy this myself, but unfortunately most of the Legends I know of still work the independed circuit and despise WWE.

Of course, I'm sure Benoit won't be included, despite not being able to be held accountable.

Anyways, it'll be interesting to see if its any better then that god awful legends game that I can't remember the name of, and to see what legends are included in this.

Oh, and The_Foo, people have been asking for a WWE Legends game for quite some time now.

Are they STILL making this shit? WWF No Mercy on the N64 was the last and only good wrestling game.

Will it play like the old N64 games? If not then its a waist of money

I'm not a troll but the last good wrestling game I've played was Def Jam Fight for NY. The best wrestling games I've ever played were the WWF and WCW games on the N64.

All the smackdown and raw games are terrible. I'm hoping the TNA game doesn't follow in the WWE's footsteps.

I'm sure it's going to just use the Smackdown vs. RAW engine which is really disappointing. I don't follow WWE at all anymore, but I do occasionally play their games, but I don't really enjoy them.

Legends of Wrestling by Acclaim had the right idea, but holy shit those games were terrible. They had some of the best roster of wrestlers I've ever seen though. Being someone that grew up in the eighties I love the idea of playing a current gen video game with all of the wrestler I watched as a kid.

This is great news. I stopped watching wrestling right around the time The Rock and Stone Cold got huge, yet I still buy the games almost every year. Each year I tend to know less and less of the roster, and started to wish more and more for a legends game.

I know that each year there are a few legends, but I wish they could all be in one game. Mr. Perfect, Hogan, Hart, Ultimate Warrior, Yokozuna, Bam Bam, old-school Undertaker, Big Boss Man, Steiner Bros, Money Inc., etc. Basically all the bigger names from the late 80's-early 90's.

@toefer: Actually, Ultimate Warrior and Vince really hate each other, so I don't see Warrior being in.

A good move by THQ. A heck of a lot better than putting wrestlers in cars and making them drive around. "Legends of Wrestling" was a solid idea and the lined up some very good talent, but they were hampered by the enormous impact WWE's intellectual property has on the public's understanding of wrestling. With the WWE IP in this game, it has the opportunity to be a really comprehensive retro wrestling game. They really need to bust out an awesome roster. I don't mind if its filled out with some current wrestlers, either. Lets just go hog wild and get main eventers, midcarders, jobbers, the whole deal. If they really do a lot of fan service with recreating classic matches, it could be very fun. One thing I want though are multiple costumes. Like, include the Undertaker, but do his early look, his "Ministry" look, the biker gimmick, and his current look. That's something THQ hasn't always been good on, but will be essential here. Oh, and maybe toss in some homages to retro wrestling games. Like have an unlockable mode that plays like WWF Superstars games.

@Ashkihyena: I agree, but I'm hoping they can find a way. WWE has put out an Ultimate Warrior DVD in recent years, so unless their relationship got worse since then, there might be a chance.

I should also add, I hope this game would include classic arenas, like WM9 (which I know was already in a game), but also anything with the red/white/blue ropes.

@toefer: Thats true, but I got that DVD, and oh man, do they really trash him, especially Bobby Heenan, it really didn't put Warrior in a good light.

I mean, we can hope, but I'm not holding my breath, same with Owen Hart being in as well. It'd be nice, but it probably won't happen.

@Manny: Sir. Fire Pro Wrestling has something to say to you.

I bought Fire Pro Wrestling Returns for 10 bucks off amazon. Best wrestling game since the n64 era games I have ever played. Brought that 4 player "wtf how did I just do that" back onto my bigscreen. Damn that games the best 10 bucks I have ever spent on software. Should have came with a couple cases of beer though.

@Ashkihyena: I agree about Owen. It'd be nice, but I don't see it happening. Not to mention, I'd feel horrible fighting matches against his character.

I borrowed the DVD from a friend last year, and it really put Ultimate Warrior in a bad light, but I can't say I disagree with how he was portrayed.

Guitar Hero IV: Legends of WrestleMania?

@Derigor:
I agree some of the best wrestling games were on N64. I still love WCW/NWO Revenge

So which iteration of the undertaker will be in the game? Will there be 1-6 available? hint, everytime he undergoes a costume change, the dude playing him gets changed.

Nobody liked WWF Warzone on the PSone?

@Slap Bet: lol

@ChimDeathmonkey:
Fire Pro Wrestling for PS2. Cheap and AWESOME!

@Slap Bet: I have to say "Real American" would be a great track for DLC

On a completely unrelated note, All Pro Football 2k8 is now retailing at my local Best Buy for $9.99 - I plan on waiting for it to drop to $4.99.

@toefer: I'd play it.

@Mr. Garcia:
Thanks, I will try it out!

I've never really liked the 'fire pro wrestling' games, i had lots of problems with controls. With that being said i absolutely _LOVE_ WWF No Mercy (and wcw/nWo Revenge) games, which i bought my N64 for. I miss them so much..

@The_Foo: Maybe it could have some sort of... update to the gameplay this year. That'd be spectacular.

Oh who am I kidding. THQ's gonna keep milking this dead cow until the end of time.

Fire Pro Wrestling Returns for the PS2. Best $15 ever spent. There are save files floating around with realistic CAWs of nearly every WWWF/WWF/WWE/WCW/ECW/TNA/ROH/CIMA/IWGP/*insert promotion here* wrestler in existence. Movesets are I GUARANTEE YOU deeper than anything found in an SvR game (or any THQ wrestler for that matter). Trust me, you won't regret it.

I really don't understand all the Smackdown hate. Sure, the N64 games WERE great. A long time ago. They were miles ahead of the old Smackdown games that were much more arcade than realistic. But the more recent Smackdown games pretty much play the same way as the N64 games. You have your strikes, grapple buttons with the ability to hold and position the foe, aerial attacks, ground grapples and weapon attacks, all done in similar ways to the N64 games. In the Smackdown games, however, you get a sense of speed and impact far more satisfying and real than the wrestling in an ocean of molasses pace of everything in those old games.

The core Smackdown gameplay (Screw the Wii-mote version last year. Played one match and sent that crap back to Gamefly) has been great for quite awhile now. At this point, it's usually the match types, game modes, and other feature sets that make or break the game, because the gameplay's pretty much great.

This will be a very welcomed change. Like some others have said, i haven't really watched wrestling much these past few years. I really stopped watching it once the rock and stone cold were gone. I used to watch it alot back in the day with Hogan, Warrior, Legion of Doom, Demolition, Yokozuna, Million Dollar man and so on and so on. So if they would put all them legends plus more, i would buy it.

I smell shitty cash-in. Between THQ's laziness and WWE constantly sticking their nose in the process we're probably going to get a Smackdown clone that has incorrect/no entrance music, Lillian Garcia (ugh) doing the ring announcing instead of Howard Finkel, horribly inaccurate movesets, and gaping holes in the character roster due to WWE's grudge against certain past employees.

Prove me wrong, THQ.

@NinjaMarion: Smackdown has lost its soul. It use to be so much fun playing Smackdown 2 with friends. The tag team matches, having your friends randomly run out to the ring and help you, it was great. But they've taken that out to try and be more 'realistic'. I don't want a damn fatigue system, I dont want to hit a guy three times then be out of breath. I want my friends and me to be able beat the crap out of some chump with some tables, ladders, and chairs!

I'll admit there is a hell of a lot more customization for your character but whats the point when you're mostly just playing by yourself?

They might just need a name change from the SDvR. I seem to remember reading that CW (or whatever that network is called now) didn't renew Smackdown's contract and it will be going off the air soon.

This could be good, but I'm more interested in the TNA game right now.

@KaneRobot: I'm sad to say I almost agree with you, because I've been waiting for this sort of game for a while, and I really hope it doesn't suck. (For one thing, they need all the classic music).

Given THQ's recent financial woes, and their newfound dedication to good games, I'm hoping this one works out. Also, so far it's only announced for PS3/360, so we don't have to worry about simply getting an "enhanced" PS2 version.

I used to love the Smackdown vs. Raw series until they changed to that analog stick move scheme in the 07 version. Now its too confusing ro just pick up and play after not playing it for a few months. Reminds me of how hard it was to try to get back into the Xbox Raw 2 games after a break for other games.

If the Legends game plays like SVR 07 or 08 I won't be touching it.

I also profess my love for FPWR, one of the best wrestling games I've ever played. The only disappointing part of the game is that I can't use Edits in the match maker mode. I only know the current big japanese stars and Wrestlers from the FMW days so that leaves about 250 other wrestlers I don't know making the Match Maker Mode extremely dull.

@Arklop:

CW didn't pick it up but Mynetworktv (the left over stations that upn used to occupy but weren't part of the WB\UPN merger deal) did and will be moving to that station this fall.

@InfernoT: Well yeah, I don't want hyper-realistic either, which is why I turn off that horrible fatigue meter first thing. Smackdown 2 was leaps and bounds better than the first, and was pretty good at the time...may even still be pretty decent now simply because it's a different style, since it was while the SD games were still arcadey. No Mercy, however, was a lot more on the realistic side, which is why the constant "SMACKDOWN SUCKS! GRAH! BRING BACK WCW / NWO REVENGE!" cries are kind of stupid. With the fatigue turned off, Smackdown Vs. Raw or Smackdown Vs. Raw 07 play pretty much exactly like the N64 set would have played if the series was allowed to continue and was given new features.

I just prefer the games from recently that straddle that line between arcade and realism more than the ones that are more arcade or a 10+ year old game that's been pretty much recreated through the evolution of the SD series. I HATE the super realistic stuff like the fatigue meter, having to spend 3 hours per game day doing squats to keep your character in shape, having to do the airport minigame where you have to try to get through the airport without having to sign any autographs because you're too jetlagged and hungover, etc. But there's plenty I didn't like about the early, arcade Smackdowns, specifically, the fact that the opposition could get right up from a moonsault from the top of the cell while you lay there dying for a half hour. Or even getting up from being thrown off the cell before you even have the time to jump down on them in the first place.

I just think those recent games have found a pretty good middle ground that pretty much emulates the style of the N64 ones with plenty of improvement, so I don't really see much reason for all the SD hate and pro No Mercy-ism.

@Arklop: Nah. They didn't renew on CW, but Smackdown's not getting cancelled. It's gonna be moving to MyNetworkTV

If Yuke's develops, I'm out. Horrible studio making shit games for years.

Classic wrestlemania matches?

So Mr.T is in it?

@ShaggyB: Seriously! The last wrestling game I enjoyed was for N64.

Anyone ever play the new SvR on the DS? I want to kill the people that made that game. It isn't even wrestling it's tap a random circle and see how bad you get your ass kicked.

@Len Bias Cocaine Surplus: Actually, that'd be pretty cool, that was the main event of the very first WM after all, well, he was included in it.

Honestly, this game is only going to be good if SVR 09 is good. There is no doubt that the same team at Yukes is probably working on both games. With that said, this is a shameless cash-in attempt without a shadow of a doubt and THQ has long mishandled this franchise. I would give two of my limbs to have AKI develop WWE games again. Smackdown games have all these features but the absolute worst gameplay. It's just appalling. Is this game now an excuse not to include any legends in SVR games?

I'm just so pessimistic right now. With this being the first year that THQ/Yukes introduce DLC into the franchise, expect to get ripped off and shortchanged, not just in SVR 09 but this new legends game too.

@Ashkihyena: Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I hope that the man on the right there, Cena is no way associated with the game, cause he sucks.

@Ashkihyena: I hope most current people on the roster aren't included (Orton, Cena, Edge, etc.) because they seem too new to be considered a legend.

Granted, I'm biased because I stopped watching wrestling a while ago, but I think The Rock and Stone Cold and Flair are among the most recent retirees to be considered legends.

I'd also include a few current people (HBK, HHH, Undertaker) that I think deserve to be included.

@toefer: I wish Orton was included, just because its a game full of legends, and well, he's a legend killer, but I don't want Cena anywhere near this game. Hell, I don't even want him near the regular Smackdown games I hate him that much.

Ugh, and I'm sure Triple H will get included, despite the fact that I hate him as well, but HBK and Taker I can understand since they've been well in the business for a long time.

@Ashkihyena: Oh, and Flair definitly needs to be put in, thats easily a given.

@Ashkihyena: If this game did include Owen and a couple of his good entrance themes (and we implicitly know that entrance themes are important in pro-wrestling), I might consider getting the game. How often does one's favorite, yet obscure, deceased wrestler get included in these things.

Since it's likely that at least part of the roster will feed off of the legends from past games, here's a quick list of those that have been in the previous games, ordered by most appearances:

Four times:
Bret Hart
The Rock
Roddy Piper

Three times:
Steve Austin
Mankind

Twice:
Andre the Giant
British Bulldog
Eddie Guerrero
Hulk Hogan (80s version)
Jim Neidhart
Jimmy Snuka
Legion of Doom
Sgt. Slaughter
Ted Dibiase
Undertaker

Once:
Bam Bam Bigelow
Brutus Beefcake
Cactus Jack
Dude Love
Dusty Rhodes
George Steele
Hillbilly Jim
Hollywood Hogan
Iron Sheik
Jake Roberts
Jerry Lawler
Jimmy Hart
Junkyard Dog
Kane
Mick Foley
Mr. Perfect
Nikolai Volkoff
Rick Rude
Tazz

In total, there's about 35 people listed.

@Gospel X: Well, we can all hope, but like I said, maybe not here, at least I think, his widow won't allow it sadly.

I'll probably wind up getting it, people have been begging for a WWE Legends game for quite sometime now, and they're finally delivering.

Since WWE also (and unfortunately) owns the rights to ECW and WCW, I'd like for them to include those legends as well, but we all know how Vince is about using wrestlers from rival companies, even if they are defunct.

@toefer: I hope Hollywood Hogan does get put in. Hell, I hope Nash and Hall get put in and make the nWo, favorite faction, ever, but, I won't hold my breath there.

We need the Iron Sheik. He will make them humble, old country way.

+ Watch video

@KaneRobot: BAWAHAHAHAHA!!! Oh lord, we don't need any of that now.

THQ, can you please get Aki Corporation to develop all future WWE games or at least get the rights to use their engine they made for the WCW/Wrestlemania 2000/No Mercy games. Those were the best wrestling games and Yuk's doesn't come close.

@KaneRobot: I'm convinced my father is the Iron Sheik.

I'm kinda on the fence about this. I think it'll largely depend on who develops it (likely Yuke's, but who knows?) and if it is Yuke's, how SmackDown vs. RAW 2009 turns out. Now I don't share the disdain for the SmackDown series that a lot of fans have. I love Here Com