WWE Raw 2

"Raw 2 was simply Anchor'd down"

First Impressions
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This game simply looked alot better months ago and I really thought that it would've topped PS2's smackdown. When I booted the game up, i was tense. The first thing I wanted to do was a match to check out the intro's and gameplay.
I set up the first match between The Rock and Goldberg, and all I have to say is the entrances are the best, along with tons of detail all over the screen. The only thing wrong with the intros is the miniscreens that show the raw logo, as they were all the same and were cheap 4 second loops. I figured that if it was gonna be so simple to just make that, why couldn't they have it for all the wrestlers as well. Maybe next time.
In the ring, being a SD player, it took me awhile to adjust. I got the hang of it though on the first match, which is a good thing. I also enjoyed the variety of moves and the simulation speed gameplay.
After beating goldberg, I went directly out without a victory screen or having the beat up the loser ability as promised before.
After seeing the gameplay, I was tempted to see the season, but first I wanted to make my CAW before I start. Going through the CAW was a disapointment in the appearance aspect. Making the face felt so generic and didn't have a feel of variety there. Along with that, the tops and bottoms didn't impress me as well. However, as I got to making the Profile, I had a thought of a lot of depth involved in this game.
Getting to creating the moves, it was done as expected which is good. I was tired because this is where you have to create an endless list of moves. Then came creating the entrance which had lots of options including a custom soundtrack. All was good untill I saw the moves I could do to the ring. Most were too fast, didn't have a view of the titantron and were pretty basic.
Now that I created a grappler, it was time for the season mode. I didn't really like planning my day out instead of being able to do it match by match. I did like the amount of options though. I decided to check them all out.
Most were pretty good I thought, but I was missing what they said, mostly because its MUTE. Then came my match to a horid remake of the RAW VS screen. No sound, and basic pics. Not good. After the match, I wasn't allowed to attack my wrestler in a cutscene which disapointed me.
The thing that shot the season down was the second day when I released all the cutscenes were the same. Worst yet, I had enemies that helped me win matches. Finally, the story mode was bland and repitative in less then 5 matches. The PPV VS Screens as well were affected and makes me wonder how other games accomplishes having better screens then this. The gameplay however made this game somewhat enjoyable till you get bored of the same thing over and over. Maybe THQ will find a developer that actually has time and devotion to what should've been a great product. Instead, it may have beaten Raw 1, but it didn't beat my expectations.

Gameplay - 8/10
A great improvement upon the previous RAW. However a lacking AI that's also unintelligent hurts the gameplay. A referee that does the same job as the screen going 1-2-3 also seemed to basic.
Graphics - 10/10
Uses the Power of X, yet was too lazy with some minor, but noticible parts of the game
Music - 8/10
Using your custom soundtracks help the music catagory to a 10. Having no commentary as well as not even having text for the story mode, just a major killer.
Lasting Appeal - 5/10
it's been less then a week and my attention has drifted off of it. it had me by the balls the first few days, but after going through one season and realizing that this is it, you sort've wished that Anchor would've done better
OVERALL SCORE - 6/10
The reason for the low score is not the game itself, but the fact that it was very disapointing. Everyone knows it, I know it, Gamespot knows it, even THQ knew it. It set high hopes, was givin plent]y of time to reach those expectactions but feel short badly in the end. Hopefully others learn from the mistakes of Anchor.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 09/20/03