Match gameplay
One of the game's most prominent features is the enhanced tag team match.[3] Additions in the match include new ways of tagging the player's tag team partner such as the hot tag, which can help save the player in the match if they are in trouble, and the forced blind tag, where the illegal partner can tag his or herself into the ring. The legal player's tag team partner has more of a part to play in this match and will aid the player by holding an opponent on the ropes while on the apron (pictured), and pulling down the ropes for an opponent who is dashing towards them, sending them out of the ring.[6] Teams will now share their own momentum meter, attributes and double team finishers.[4]
SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is the first WWE video game to include the Inferno match, a match where the player has to set their opponent on fire. It is similar to the real life match which takes place with the ring surrounded by fire coming from gas fed pipes. To win the player must increase the temperature of the ring by performing more devastating moves. As soon as the temperature reaches 500°F (or in the EU version 300°C), the player can then begin to set their opponent on fire. To set a person on fire, the player raises the temperature to the maximum and drags the person towards the ropes, provided that the opponent is badly injured.[7] However, this match is not available for the Nintendo DS or Wii.
Several matches absent in previous games also returned to the series. The backstage brawl, where players can battle in either the locker room or the backstage "Gorilla position" with a variety of weapons at their disposal, returned and replaced the parking lot brawl match featured in the last game.[8][9] The Gauntlet match is a newly featured match selection in the Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 series where one superstar takes on three others one immediately after the other.[10] The General Manager mode and Create-A-Championship were removed from this version.
Both the Wii and DS versions now include new match types, such as the Steel Cage and Ladder match, with the DS version also featuring tables and TLC matches.[4]
Fighting styles, a major feature from the previous version, were removed. Some abilities used there were kept and enhanced with each wrestler possessing six out of twenty different abilities that would aid the player in specific areas.[7] New to the game is the inclusion of signature moves, moves secondary in importance next to their finishing moves. When in full momentum, the players can choose to store a signature move instead of performing a finishing move which they can perform later.[11]
A new semi-auto targeting system was implemented into the game, which will generally automatically target a particular wrestler the player wants to attack but can also be controlled in-game by the player.[12]
Japanese company TOSE took over from Amaze Entertainment in development for the Nintendo DS version.[5] Unlike the previous year's game whose gameplay was focused exclusively on the handheld's stylus, this year's edition instead uses by default the D-pad for movement and the left shoulder button for finishing moves. The DS version's gameplay is now similar to that from the other consoles with full movement control around the ring for the wrestler and a stamina meter to build up for a finishing move. Grappling, attacks and submissions would still be controlled by the stylus.[13]
Game modes
Road To WrestleMania: In this new mode, players can choose from five superstars to play as in single-player storylines: Triple H, CM Punk, The Undertaker, John Cena, or Chris Jericho.[14] The storylines featured in the mode are tailor-made to fit the chosen wrestler's character with each cutscene made exclusively for the wrestler.[4][15]
Career Mode: Unlike the Road to WrestleMania mode, all superstars and divas featured in the game are eligible to play including wrestlers created by the player in Create-A-Superstar mode. The main aim of this mode is for the player to fight their way up the rankings for a particular title of their choice, in match types that they can also choose. After each match, the player's character is awarded attribute points based on the style of wrestling the player used.[16]
Nintendo DS: Fully inspired by the TOSE-developed game,
Create modes
The series features a new Create Mode: The Create-A-Finisher feature.[3] In it, the player has the ability to chain a selection of up to 10 out of over 500 animations to make unique finishing moves along with the choice to speed up or slow down the animations.[6][18] Created finishers are limited to moves starting with both wrestlers standing face-to-face [18] The Create-A-Finisher feature is not available on the Wii or DS versions of the game.
The other major new addition to the game's create modes is the "Highlight Reel", where players can record the last 30 seconds of an ongoing match, and edit the clips together afterwards with custom camera angles and added visual and sound effects. Players can save up to 20 files and can upload them for online users to see, and custom reels can be used as an entrance movie for a created superstar.[19] The mode is featured only on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Both Create-A-Finisher and Highlight Reel have replaced the Create-A-Belt feature, which was taken out due to its lack of support from fans.
