Smackdown! Killer? (WWE RAW 2 (Xbox))

Member Name: skylight

Product:	WWE RAW 2 (Xbox)
Date:	19/03/05 (447 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Best Create A Wrestler Mode to date, Nice graphics

Disadvantages: Weak story mode, Ugly control system

WWE Raw 2 was released in October of 2003 exclusively for the X-Box. Boasting better visuals, bigger roster and unique story mode could this be the best wrestling game ever? In short, no. But I'll get to that later. First off you have the exhibition mode which is notably more sparse than Smackdown's!

For match types you get Single, Tag, Handicap, Cage, Hell In A Cell, Ladder and Hardcore. In Smackdown! you get a lot more match types including the Elimination Chamber and Last Man Standing. As you can see the exhibition mode offers less match types than Smackdown! The game features 60+ WWE Superstars including the likes of Triple H, The Rock, The Undertaker, Kane and so on. The roster is bigger than Smackdown's. The best bit of the game is the create a wrestler mode. It outclasses Smackdown's by some way. Not only can you create your wrestler but you can also add your own entrance theme. Got a favourite record? Make it your entrance theme. Everything in the create a wrestler mode is scrutinised from lighting to pyro.

Then you have the Season Mode and saying it's a dissapointment is a huge understatement. WWE Raw 2's Season Mode is probably the worst of any WWE game. Basically it goes like this you have 3 shows a month consisting of Raw, Smackdown! and a Pay-Per-View. At the screen you get to see the "card" which is the matches. You can choose to Interfere in a match, attack someone backstage, call someone out to the ring, steal from their locker etc. Options are limited basically. But that isn't what kills the Season Mode what does this is what actually happens. Nothing. You attack someone and they aren't there want Trish Stratus as your manager? Oh what do you know she isn't there. Attack someone and 9 times out of 10 they won't be there. Another problem with Raw 2 is the conttrols which are atrocious the collision detection is rubbish and the wrestlers move really .....slow..... This grains on you and really hurts the game.

WWE Raw 2
Graphics/Sweet graphics the best on any console a bit misty at times/8
Sound/All the WWE entrance themes are in there/8
Gameplay/Horrible ugly controls make this pretty unplayable/4
Lifespan/Lots to do but can you be bothered due to the games ugly flaws/5

Verdict
In conclusion despite the nice graphics and create a wrestler mode the game is simply not as good as it's Playstation 2 and Gamecube counterparts. Could have been so much more but let down by ugly controls and a horrible Season Mode this is defenatly worth staying away from especially as Wrestlemania 21 is around the corner for X-Box owners. 5/10.

Summary: