Now we all know that graphics are only part of the equation. If the sound isn't there, it can ruin an otherwise good game. I'm happy to report that the sound is stellar. Hits from a trashcan sound like a trashcan. Same thing if a Kendo stick is used. You really hear the impact of punches and kicks as well. The entrance themes are all up to date for when the game was released and the other music is top notch. You know it is good when  you can just sit and listen to the soundtrack of the game without playing it and really enjoy it.

New to SvR this year is the Roster Editor. Here you can switch up wrestlers between the differen brands and even have the option to unlock the WCW brand and classic belt. This means that as championships change hands on T.V. you can keep up without having to play a match everytime.

Something else that is new is the Highlight Reel. Here you can take video of a devastating move or series of moves and edit them together to create an entrance or share online.

There is also Career Mode, where you can take your chosen Superstar or created star (more on this in a minute) and simply go through to win each championship. This is harder than it sounds because regardless of your superstar, your stats are at the bottom of the scale and the only way to raise them is by competing in matches. Be prepared for some frustration untill you get some wins under your belt.

Create a Wrestler is again part of SvR '09. In terms of creation, not much has changed and there are still clipping problems. You can also create a finisher that is unique to your created wrestler. This amounts to stringing together as many as 10 moves and finishers. What there doesn't seem to be is a way to import created wrestlers from earlier SvR games, which would totally rock.

Finally, a word should be said about the online component. It is truly great. You can very quickly host a match or find one to participate in. There is no lag and the response time for playing online is stellar. Another nice thing is that you can download a pack that gives you new costumes for some the wrestlers as well as Evan Bourne, Ted DiBiase (so you can form Priceless and Legacy) and Super Crazy. I sincerely hope they keep giving you the ability to update the roster this way.

Control wise if you've play SvR '08 or '07 you know what to expect. If you're coming from an earlier game, such as SvR '06 (like me) be prepared to do some practicing as the computer AI is much better this time around and WILL hand you your ass if you don't know what you're doing. But, the controls are fairly easy to get to grips with and once you've found your flow, watching a match is pure bliss as everything is VERY fluid. The upshot of better AI is that tag matches are a joy to play because your partner will run interference while you pin your opponent instead of just standing around as in previous games.

Ultimately, if you're willing to put in the time to learn the controls, you will find a varied and deep wrestling game that will keep you in its thrall for many nights.

9.0 Graphics So very close to perfect, but there are some minor clipping problems with the larger wrestlers. You really feel like you're watching a show. 9.0 Sound Top notch voice overs with one exception and amazing soundtrack. Hits sound like the actually hurt. Amazing job. 9.0 Gameplay It is very easy to get into with hints to help new players and they have tweaked the difficulty setting so that you start getting a challenge around hard, with normal still being fairly easy, but then again I've been playing since '02. 9.9 Replay Value Out of this world. Between the branching story lines present in Road To Wrestlemania and the wide array of Create a Wrestler choices, Roster Editor and Highlight Reel, you won't get bored any time soon. 9.3 Overall The only competitor was TNA's Impact and SvR lays the Smackdown on its Roody-poo Candy ASS!!!