It may be better than last year's disaster, but I wouldn't recommend it.
WWE Smackdown vs RAW 2009 has great graphics. It may not be excellent but considering the limitations of the DS, it's quite good. The gameplay has definitely improved from last year's. It's not all stylus action and 2009 finally includes the D-pad. You use the D-pad to move and choose which grapple moves you do but you use the stylus for rubbing the screen back and forth and drawing circles for grapples. There are much more match types such as ladder matches and tables. Due to the limitations of the DS, the tag team match has again not been included. The season mode is now an RPG like game. You start from the bottom, being a nobody and start trying to climb the ranks by winning matches and eventually championships. Now, there is a Create-a-wrestler mode, where you obviously create your own wrestler.
Now the bad,
Although there is now entrances and music, there is NO commentary and no background music while playing matches, this creates and extremely dull atmosphere and there is no 'feel' to the game. Controls are immensely hard to start off and newcomers will have a hard time getting used to it. There are approximately 30 wrestlers in the game, from Jimmy Wang Yang to John Cena to the legendary Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker. In season mode, you'll find yourself fighting the same wrestlers week in and week out. There are only about 10 (including you) per brand. This means you'll be fighting the same 9 wrestlers over and over again. For me, I had to fight Hardcore Holly and Mr. Kennedy simultaneously week after week after week. Gameplay becomes really hard throughout season mode and you'll eventually find yourself getting beat up by wrestlers you've beat before!
In conclusion, I do not recommend this game. Unless you area die-hard WWE gaming fan that loves a challenge, this ones not for you. This game is extremely hard and although it's an improvement, it's not quite good enough. Maybe next year THQ.
6.5/10