Anyway, the bout turns into a back-and-forth match, both men exchanging power moves (there are 1,200 to 1,500 moves in the game apparently) and punches - reversible via the triggers like last year, which feels a touch more effective than before - until we activate Rampage Mode. Unique to the Powerhouses, build up enough momentum and you can embark on a 20-second rampage of irreversible power moves. While your opponent can get blows in, anything you try - suplexes, slams, power bombs - will automatically succeed, leaving your rival near-enough out for the count. And so it proves here. One pinfall later, and the crowd rises to salute the Undertaker. Next, we go for a contrast: the high-flying Rey Mysterio against the brawler (superstars who are experts with their fists) John Cena. And this is where it gets a bit tough.
Mysterio is useless at basic attacks. OK, he's smaller than many wrestlers, and you're supposed to use his aerial moves (and these are impressive and effective) to take people down instead of fists-and-feet scrapping, but... shouldn't he be able to kick Cena in the stomach without hobbling away clutching his foot? It's a boot in the guts, after all. Cena, meanwhile, seems to have improbable powers of recovery - despite being massacred in a two-player bout against Sandman, he wouldn't be pinned, despite being down for nigh on ten minutes. While that fits in with WWE's portrayal of Cena as some sort of near-unconquerable hero, it frustrates when translated to a videogame. Tuning may be in order.
Other matches follow. Randy Orton's showman style works well - we use his taunts to renew our momentum, and take finishers from opponents. Lashley is dominant. Every move - from basic punches to elbow drops off the top rope - is rammed with impact. We think these are hugely important, lending a freshness that the series has been lacking. But even the most standard match feels more involving than before. We're definitely more optimistic about SmackDown 2008 than we were about SmackDown 2007. We'll keep you posted.
