WWF RAW was more than just a disappointment. It was a terrible, craptacular bore-fest that would have been proud to call the PSone's WCW Thunder its superior. Enter WWE RAW 2, the latest, and for that matter only the second, WWE game for the Xbox. The pressure of having a five-game-series like the PS2's Smackdown may not have been riding on RAW 2, but the pressure to give Xbox owners a solid, fun wrestling game was. The only question was, "How did Anchor handle that pressure"? Quite well, as far as graphics are concerned. While WWF RAW was never accused of being low on the graphical totem pole, many of the game's nay sayers pointed out that the superstars, well, just "didn't act natural enough". Thankfully, Anchor not only addressed and corrected the mannerisms of the wrestlers, but they even revamped the graphics engine to make them look better than they did in the first game. Superstars now gleam with sweat as they stand under a spotlight, and scream with much more emotion when taking hits or delivering them. Fingers are more fleshed out, the ring ropes look and act amazing, and Anchor even improved the pyrotechnics. Do the sounds and tunes compliment the gorgeous graphical makeover though? Yes and no. While the background music you will hear during matches is the typical THQ rock and roll mix, the entrance themes are (for the most part) spot-on. Although RAW 2 lacks the commentary that Smackdown has, this can be a good thing, depending on how much you like to hear the same general statements over and over again. The sound effects aren't bad, but they aren't perfect, as I've yet to hear an accurate audio representation of a chair shot. Of course, all that aside, many wrestling fans will purchase a WWE game simply for the opportunity to use the Create-a-Superstar mode to make their own brawler. If they bought WWF RAW with that intention, they were probably left with a bad taste in their mouth. Like 90% of this game, however, the CAS mode was drastically retooled, with amazing results. I can summarize this entire part of the game by saying that it's the best Create-a-Superstar mode I've ever seen in my life. Simply put, the ability to burn custom soundtracks and theme music to the Xbox hard drive is the best thing since sliced bread. With Anchor finally taking advantage of that, you will be able to hear your creation come out to the music you want them to, not the same, tired, recycled superstar music already in the game. The now-standard fan sign selection is available, along with a new feature that allows you to choose a home state and "call name" for your superstar, and yes, the classic "Parts Unknown" and "Boiler Room" choices are available. If this mode has one failing, however, it's simply that there aren't enough moves. Anchor took the easier road when it came to the moves list, only giving you, moves that superstars use. This is nearly unbearable compared to the thousands of moves available in Smackdown and Wrestle Mania. With a little more polish on the current moves, better, improved animation, and just more content overall in the move list, this could easily be a flawless CAS system that all wrestling games should try to emulate. No matter how many moves you have, none of them will matter if the game play is poor, and this is where the grade really counts, where RAW 2 deserves a "most improved of 2003" award. Based somewhat on the tried-and-true grappling system of WWF No Mercy, RAW 2's new control scheme is similar, but simplified, and for those of you who are keeping track at home, that's a good thing. It's much easier to perform moves this time around, without the irritating "paper-scissors-rock" system we saw in WWF RAW. At the same time the game maintains a fairly easy way to counter attack, if not somewhat "arcadey", by using less timing and more flat out B-button mashing. Although garnering a passing grade, RAW 2 by no means gathered flying colours. In Battle Royal matches the computer will always, without fail, attempt to break up your pin, even if you are pinning his opponent. This is both irritating and unrealistic. It's practically impossible to win a tag-team match unless you have the fast referee, and it's far too easy to win or lose Table, Ladder, TLC, and Cage matches. Overall, however, the greatly expanded variety of match types make up for this, especially Hell in a Cell, despite these aforementioned flaws in Table, Ladder, TLC, and Cage matches, it's still good to have them there. If you wanted more about the game play changes than just the lack of match types, never fear. The best part of the newly revamped in-ring-antics is that Anchor made the wise move to kill the old "crowd reaction and stamina" system as seen in WWF RAW, in favour of a much more sensible, easy-to-manage "momentum bar". Now you will only have to worry about your own, personal momentum and not have to hear your teammate yell at you for killing his buzz with a Power bomb. Although this is so much better than RAW's system that it's ridiculous. It still has the one major flaw, and that is if you beat your opponent senseless for forty-five minutes, his momentum can shift, he can stand again, and can have a chance to win the match. Instead of calculating overall damage that your opponent has taken, the game will simply make his momentum bar flash "Danger". You can never injure him worse than that point, so lowering his momentum and pinning is the quickest way to victory, and not doing so can result in a loss. Despite a few slight flaws, if you created a superstar with a custom theme entrance that you really enjoyed playing, what would you be able to do next? In WWF RAW, nothing. But in WWE RAW 2, Anchor has added a brand new Season mode that lets you take your created wrestler through years of matches, shows, and pay-per-views in an attempt to gain the WWE Title, World Heavyweight Title, either of the Tag Team Titles, or the Cruiserweight Championship. There is even the Women's Championship for the ladies. Anchor boasted that RAW 2's season mode would allow you total freedom to do whatever you wanted before, during, and after your match, and it technically does. It's done in a schedule way. Before each event, you will plan out your day's activities, from resting in your locker room, to attacking someone backstage, to interfering in a match. Although this does play out nicely and it's always fun to see a box fall on Chris Benoit's head right before his match with you, there is no text in any of the cut scenes during the season, not even when a superstar is on the microphone. There isn't really a good reason for this; it's just not there, which is strange when you consider that there are also no voiceover's of any kind. Even corny dialogue is better than no dialogue, but as long as you don't mind the lack of explanation in some instances, it won't matter. As it is, WWE RAW 2 for the Xbox has come a long way since it debuted, and while it may no longer be the Spike Dudley of the wrestling game world, it still has a way to go before WWE fans call this one the Big Show.

Pros:

• Custom soundtracks thanks to the Xbox Hard drive!
  
• Triple H actually looks like Triple H!
  
• Best. CAS. Ever.
  

  Cons:
  

  • Not enough moves.
    
  • Gameplay still needs to be tweaked.
    
  • Too easy to win or lose some matches.