I know, I know. After I saw WWF
Raw at E3 last year, I came home and wrote up all the glorious details. When the game was
released some six month later, all of us were shocked. What happened to such a great game?
It looks like a classic case of being the only kid on the block where else were
wrestling fans going to turn? Its not what we like to see, but the backlash has been
so significant that THQ and their developer, Anchor, understand they are under scrutiny,
and so far Raw 2 is looking better than ever.
Promising a much better story
mode, and packing wrestlers from WCW (including Hulk Hogan and nWo), there is now a lot
more to the game. In addition to the enhanced single player story mode, a multiplayer mode
allows you and three of your friends to hit the mat on a quest for superstardom.
Thats right up to four player seasons will no doubt enhance the gameplay
experience.
Traditional
multiplayer packs modes like King of the Ring, Triple Threat, Fatal 4-Way, and Battle
Royal. An enhanced Create a Superstar mode will allow you to put your own characters into
the game, and should feature more customization than ever. In addition to standard
customization features, you can now design a custom intro for your superstar wrestler
including music. Rip tunes to your Xbox hard drive and use them to enhance the presence of
your custom superstar.
The
look of Raw 2 has gotten even better. Wrestlers look just shy of perfect, and the movement
and interaction in the ring is very natural. The audience goes nuts in reaction to bouts,
and everything in the arenas looks just like the televised version. In fact, duplicating
the televised version of the WWE is a major focus of the game, and so far Raw 2 looks to
be right on track.
Certainly
we cant get quite as hyped about this installment of the Raw series as we were last
summer, but I can confirm that THQ and Anchor have heard your complaints about the first
game and are committed to protecting their reputation. If Anchor can do as good of a job
with Raw 2 as Yukes is doing with Smackdown! 4, we have nothing to fear. Well just
have to wait and see, but with a little good will World Wrestling Raw 2 should be the
Xbox-owning wrassling fans game of choice.