by Zac - May 19, 2004

This much-improved sequel to WWF Raw is easily the best wrestling game on the Xbox. Of course, given its competition, that status does not require anything close to perfection.

Grappling Your Way Towards the Title

Xbox owners who are also fans of the wrestling genre must be a bit disheartened by now. The Legends of Wrestling series has been mediocre at best and the much anticipated WWF Raw was basically an alpha-version of a wrestling game sold for $50. Well, like it's predecessor, Raw 2 isn't finished either. Granted, unlike Raw, it has all the necessary features, but there seems to be a major lack of bug-testing that hurts an otherwise good game.

One of Raw 2's best features, at least on the conceptual level, is the Season mode. Unlike traditional career modes, which basically give you a series of matches to win leading to various title shots, Raw 2 features something fairly unique. In addition to the standard series of matches, you can attack wrestlers backstage (this will lower their health going into the next match in addition to potentially starting feuds), encourage wrestlers and thus make friends (friends can become managers or tag team partners), steal, set traps, go on dates, and manipulate other wrestlers into attacking your enemies. In addition, you can try to interfere in any match, although you'll often be stopped by security.

Unfortunately, two bugs hurt Season mode. One causes your enemies to constantly interfere and attack your opponent instead of you. No matter who you feud with, your enemy will constantly help you. A Season mode which would otherwise draw you in by giving you tons of options, including the ability to cost wrestlers the championship and start feuds, often becomes a bit of a joke.

The second bug involves the championship. The goal in Season mode is to win the World Title and the WWE Title to become the "Undisputed Champion." Unfortunately, you don't actually have to lose a match to lose the status of being the Undisputed Champion. For instance, twice now, I've been the Undisputed Champion going into the last match of the season. I won the match both times, but both times someone also interfered. The person who interfered became the Undisputed Champion. It's interesting, because not only did this person not pin anyone once he interfered, but he was beaten to within an inch of his life and thrown out of the ring. Unlike the first bug which just takes away the feeling of realism, this bug wastes hours of time.

Outside of the above bugs, Raw 2 is generally enjoyable. There are all the expected match types in exhibition mode, including Royal Rumble, TLC, Hell in the Cell, Cage, and Ladder. There are plenty of moves, the gameplay is a huge step up from Raw's, and the controls fairly simple. In addition, the Create a Superstar feature is very well done and has the most customizable entrances in any wrestling game to date.

The Best Looking Wrestling Game Ever

Visually, WWE Raw 2 is definitely one of the better games on the Xbox. Movements are well animated, the wrestlers have generous polygon counts, and the arenas look solid. However, graphically, the most impressive part of the game has to be the ring entrances. The lighting effects and pyrotechnics themselves are very well done, and push the Xbox hardware to the limit.

Good Music and Muted Enemies

Raw's audio does the job as well. While not as impressive as the visuals, all of the entrance music sounds good, and the ability to use songs saved to the Hard-drive as your own custom entrance theme is a plus. The crowd reacts pretty well too, although a lack of commentary may be a bit disappointing to some. However, no commentary is better than bad commentary, and the latter seems to be far more common than the former.

Some may also be disappointed with a lack of dialogue in the cutscenes. Season mode has a number of cutscenes, generally involving one of your enemies yelling. Unfortunately, they don't say a word, so you'll have to read lips.

Final Judgement

Raw 2 is easily recommended to fans of the WWE looking for a decent wrestling game. However, despite the eye candy, it's not too much more than "decent," so save your money if you're looking for something great.