WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 for PlayStation 2 is a professional-wrestling game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ. Released in November 2008, it brings WWE's Raw, SmackDown and ECW brands together in an entry built around recreating television-style matches with a large lineup of WWE Superstars and Divas. It follows WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 and is the fifth game released under the SmackDown vs. Raw name, with the 2009 roster and presentation placing it firmly in its late-2000s WWE setting.

Matches are fought from a third-person ring-side view, with players using strikes, grapples, Irish whips, running attacks, submissions and aerial moves to wear down an opponent before attempting a pinfall, submission, count-out or another match-specific victory. Wrestlers have signature moves as well as finishers, so building momentum matters before trying to end a bout. A semi-automatic targeting system helps direct attacks when several wrestlers are involved, while weapons and ringside action broaden the possibilities beyond a standard one-on-one contest.

Tag-team wrestling is the game's central addition. Partners share momentum, attributes and double-team finishing moves, making coordination an important part of a match rather than simply a way to change wrestlers. A struggling competitor can make a hot tag to bring in a fresh teammate, and partners can assist from the apron by holding opponents or interfering at the ropes. The PlayStation 2 version also supports local multiplayer, including larger groups when a multitap is used, making exhibition cards suited to matches with several participants.

The match selection covers familiar WWE formats alongside the series' first Inferno match. In that contest, the ring is surrounded by flames and players build the temperature through offense before attempting to send an injured opponent into the fire. Backstage Brawl returns with locker-room and Gorilla-position environments, while the Gauntlet format asks one wrestler to face a succession of rivals. Standard singles, team and multi-wrestler encounters provide the framework for choosing the rules, participants and championships that fit a desired WWE card.

Road to WrestleMania replaces the earlier Season mode with focused storylines for John Cena, Triple H, The Undertaker, Chris Jericho and CM Punk, plus a cooperative path starring Batista and Rey Mysterio. These routes combine scripted scenes with assigned matches on the way to WWE's biggest annual event. Career mode takes a broader route: players can use roster members or created wrestlers, pursue a chosen championship and earn attribute points based on how they wrestle.

Creation tools remain a major part of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 on PS2. Create-A-Superstar lets players assemble an original competitor, while Create-A-Finisher allows standing, face-to-face sequences to be linked into a custom finishing move. The game also includes wrestler and team-management options, created entrances and a roster editor for altering brands, alignments and exhibition title assignments. Some features differed across the 2009 releases: the PS2 version does not offer online play or the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360-exclusive Highlight Reel mode, but it preserves the core wrestling, storyline and creation systems for Sony's second console.