October 22, 2007 - Admit it: it's killing you. We're mere weeks from the release of WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008, and there's still so much you don't know -- so much you want to play (24/7 Mode!), see (Flaming tables!) and do (Anything with Kelly Kelly!).

At IGN, we wish we could sympathize with you, but we can't. We get to play SVR '08 everyday. Ha-ha.

However, the good folks at THQ aren't as coldhearted. They were nice enough to pass along a detailed breakdown of SVR '08's brand new Tournament and Hall of Fame modes along with a handful of screens.

Go on. Get your headlock on.


Tournament
Go, CM Punk!
Go, CM Punk!
The SmackDown! vs. Raw series has always been first and foremost about the fans, so when players asked for the return of tournament-style gameplay, we gave it to them. In WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008, we're taking last year's popular PSP-exclusive Road To WrestleMania Mode and expanding it to give users even more tournament types as well as options to create their very own brackets for participation.

The main components of the mode are the King of the Ring and the brand new Beat The Clock Sprint tournaments. Inspired by the historic reign of RAW Superstar King Booker, the King of the Ring tourney throws players right in the middle of a single-elimination battle for the crown. If the player can outlast the 15 other Superstars, he gets to choose a WWE Diva as his queen and is treated to a special coronation ceremony that is truly fit for a king. The Beat the Clock Sprint is a unique tournament that was featured in both SmackDown and RAW programming this year and is the perfect addition to WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008's Tournament Mode. The bracket consists of one round of singles or tag team matches with up to 16 participants, where the object is simple: the Superstar who beats their opponents in the fastest time will be crowned the winner.

Pick your poison.
Pick your poison.
In addition, players can build their very own tournament experience by selecting our Create Tournament feature. Players have the option of tailoring King of the Ring, SmackDown vs. Raw, Road to WrestleMania and Money in the Bank brackets to their liking, even putting WWE Championships on the line. And for the first time ever, users can create and name their own custom tournaments, with up to 16 Superstars, where the winner takes all.