Raw 2

[sub780lime]

well this comes out tomorrow, so what do we think

[Frank Gunn]

I think it's too bad that they don't just remake 'No Mercy' for the XBox. From the looks of things, there will never be a wrestling game that good ever again.

[Triple HHH]

Originally Posted by Frank Gunn

I think it's too bad that they don't just remake 'No Mercy' for the XBox. From the looks of things, there will never be a wrestling game that good ever again.

I think so too. Even the new Wrestlemania game for the GC is getting fair reviews, but the reviewers also mention the greatness of No Mercy a lot.

I haven't been following Raw2's development, but some of the graphics do look impressive. I heard the gameplay is a little sluggish though.

[sub780lime]

So far Raw 2 is much better than 1, looks a lot better, but i would still prefer Wrestlemania 19, but only have an xbox

[Ruined]

IGN gave it a 9.3 iirc.

[StinkPalm]

dont say there will never be a wrestling game as good as No Mercy ever again! have hope. it was a different company that made No Mercy. it was AKI. they also made games like WCW vs the World, WCW/NWO Revenge, Wrestlemania 2000, and Virtual Pro Wrestling 2 (japan). No Mercy was the last wrestling game they made in the US (actually i think they made a cell shaded game recently). im confident that if they make another WWE game that it will be waaaaay better then No Mercy.

anyway........back on topic. i been trying to get my hands on a copy of Raw 2 to rent. i just refuse to spend $50 and be as disappointed as i was with Raw 1.

[IKEA_boy]

Originally Posted by StinkPalm

it was AKI. they also made games like WCW vs the World, WCW/NWO Revenge, Wrestlemania 2000, and Virtual Pro Wrestling 2 (japan).

AKI also developed Def Jam Vendetta and Ultimate Muscle.

[Ruined]

I still have to give props to Anchor for making the most realistic and deep fighting game of all time (UFC Tapout 1 & 2). Hopefully WWE Raw 2 continues in that tradition, and from what I've heard it is quite deep. I'd much rather have Anchor behind my wrestling game than any other company.

[StinkPalm]

Originally Posted by IKEA_boy

AKI also developed Def Jam Vendetta and Ultimate Muscle.

yea ultimate muscle is the "cel shaded" game i was thinkin of. though i cant say i really knew about def jam. either way........i think they should return to WWE. im really in need of a GREAT wrestling game like No Mercy again. i dont want rappers or cartoon characters.

[Frank Gunn]

I picked it up. I think it'll be going back once Smackdown comes out, though. Surprisingly, for me, the gameplay is the highlight thus far. The season mode is kind of bizarre, what with no text or voices.

There's no excuse for no Mankind mask in the CAW. I'll have to wait until they get some FAQs up before I can say for sure, but I'll be damned if I could put a decent Mick Foley together. Bummer. Doesn't he still have ties with the WWF?

And I can't stress to these developers enough: They call them finishing moves for a reason. I'm already tired of having some little bitch like Billy Kidman kicking out after getting Pedigreed. I don't care if I've worn them down or not.

There's this fun little feature, too, where the computer pummels you, pins you, you pound the buttons to kick out, but you're too tired to get off the mat, so the computer just pins you again. Repeat until you're sick of mashing the buttons to kick out. I'm too old for that pound-the-buttons business.

And the music! Christ, you can't play this game with the music on, it's far too grating. But if you turn the music off, it turns each wrestler's intro music off, too. Real smart, guys.

No Mercy still reigns supreme, unfortunately.

[StinkPalm]

hmm.........i played like one match so far and i cant say i like it too much. just something dont feel too right. so far im happy i didnt shell out a whole $50 cuz that would have sucked!

[Triple HHH]

Talk about vastly different opinions, Gamespot.com gave it a 6.9, in contrast to the favorable score from IGN.com. The review does hit on a lot of good points though. I found myself nodding in agreement without actually playing the game, but I could still understood their complaints.

Originally Posted by Frank Gunn

And I can't stress to these developers enough: They call them finishing moves for a reason. I'm already tired of having some little bitch like Billy Kidman kicking out after getting Pedigreed. I don't care if I've worn them down or not.

I hate it when games do that. In Raw 2, you can do a finishing move right off the bat now. Although it may sound cool, it really cheapens the impact of doing a Pedigree or Rock Bottom when you can do it anytime -- and the opponent simply gets up like nothing happened. In No Mercy, your opponent was FLATTENED for the most part after a finisher. [not to mention twitching ]

There's this fun little feature, too, where the computer pummels you, pins you, you pound the buttons to kick out, but you're too tired to get off the mat, so the computer just pins you again. Repeat until you're sick of mashing the buttons to kick out. I'm too old for that pound-the-buttons business.

Gamespot's review also mentions this flaw/glitch. The computer did 11 pins in a row, and you sit there helplessly trying to get out.

No Mercy still reigns supreme, unfortunately.

No Mercy features are very simplified compared to today's wrestling games, but to this day they still haven't been able to match the beautifully solid game design of it. Little details like automatic focus shifts where you immediately face the last guy who hit you (Raw 2 is missing this) and counter-moves were nice innovations that made its way into wrestling games thanks to AKI. I still have no idea why THQ and AKI split and went their seperate ways. Doesn't really make sense, considering No Mercy and Wrestlemania 2000 were mega-sellers.

[Sycowulf]

Well I now have in my posession both Raw 2 and Wrestlemania XIX... And I must say Raw 2 is some of the worst shit i have ever played. Game is ok, graphics are decent, but that bug with the pinning gets real old real fast. On the other hand Wrestlemania XIX seems to have a great engine, and plays very well, but it lacks a decent career mode. It only has a weird mode called "Revenge" where you try to ruin wrestlemania for vince.

Final verdict, Wrestlemania XIX = fun, Raw2= Just as bad as Raw 1

[JdW]

The entrances are excelent and the create-a-player entrances are even better! haha big props for adding the custom titantron and music! aww yaa

[sub780lime]

there are things i like about this game and things i dont, the controls are still the worst feature, i like wrestlemania much better which resembles no mercy a lot more. the graphics are pretty, though some people look really like their real world counterpart and some arnt done so well. i like the season mode, very entertaining, especially with some friends, ive been playing with 2 of mine and we have had some fun. but know im trying to get a title, and having the hardest time.

ive noticed some interesting bugs, besides the pin one which i havent run in to that much, the interference one, why is it that your enemies, even your greatest enemies when they interfer in your match, automatically beat the crap out of your opponent, makes no sense. second when i pin in a tag match, my partner gets in like hes going to keep the other guy away, but instead he runs to me pinning, and motions like hes trying to pick something up, what the heck is up with that.

over all about a seven point 5 for me

[elwood731]

I don't understand this. If everyone keeps screaming for No Mercy like gameplay, then why doesn't THQ just go back to that old engine? Spruce up the graphics, add lots of special features, like a CAW, season mode, story mode, REVENGE mode, etc. Add all the match types. And release it on all three systems. It seems so simple and easy. Just do it. Game companies are weird...

[Frank Gunn]

Yeah, Elwood, it's pretty strange. When it comes to other games, most people don't pine for the days of the Nintendo 64. You have an entire segment of gamers clamoring for gameplay that's over five years old. I wish THQ would pay heed before they sic another mutt like Raw 2 on us.

[IKEA_boy]

Originally Posted by elwood731

It seems so simple and easy. Just do it. Game companies are weird...

Even though I'm not a big fan of wrestling games, (the only one I know I own is Fire Pro D for Dreamcast,) I'd hate for any of these games to go multiplatform. This holds true in just about every genre for me. I'd rather a game be specialized for one console and not streamlined for all three. Use that system to it's potential, create a good control scheme for that particular controller, etc.

[Ruined]

I'm guessing THQ wants wrestling fans to collect all three?

[elwood731]

Originally Posted by IKEA_boy

Even though I'm not a big fan of wrestling games, (the only one I know I own is Fire Pro D for Dreamcast,) I'd hate for any of these games to go multiplatform. This holds true in just about every genre for me. I'd rather a game be specialized for one console and not streamlined for all three. Use that system to it's potential, create a good control scheme for that particular controller, etc.

While I agree to some extenet, I just mean I'd rather see them concentrate their efforts then spreading them so thin. You could get the basics down and then go back and optimize for each system. Give the XBOX a mixable soundtrack, throw in some GBA support for the GC, etc. But just do what the fans want.

[IKEA_boy]

But you'd still have three of the same game, each with different strengths and weaknesses. I'm probably in the minority, but I'd rather have one game and not have to worry about that.

[elwood731]

But having three different games still gives you different strengths and weaknesses. Smackdown, Wrestlemania, and Raw all have their strengths and weaknesses. Smackdown has the best presentation, Wrestlemania probably has the best gameplay, and Raw has the best graphics.

As an example, I am glad Sega does not make different football games for each system, but just makes ESPN Football and adapts it to each system. It means more effort goes into the game.

[Frank Gunn]

Definitely with Elwood on this one.

[Crow T. Robot]

Originally Posted by elwood731

But having three different games still gives you different strengths and weaknesses. Smackdown, Wrestlemania, and Raw all have their strengths and weaknesses. Smackdown has the best presentation, Wrestlemania probably has the best gameplay, and Raw has the best graphics.

As an example, I am glad Sega does not make different football games for each system, but just makes ESPN Football and adapts it to each system. It means more effort goes into the game.

I agree.

You said above about gba-gc link support,I would love to see a good 2d wrestling game one day

I Keep seeing the words "REVENGE MODE" that's in one of the games i think WMXIX is that some feature that is something like WCW/NWO REVENGE had?

[Frank Gunn]

Revenge Mode is bad news. In lieu of a season mode, they threw in some kind of half-assed action-adventure mode, where you whale on anonymous thugs. Enough to ruin 'Wrestlemania XIX', in my opinion. They definitely should've known better.

[sub780lime]

in reference to having one game multiplatform, i wouldnt want to see this entirely, but i do wish we could stick to one kind of control scheme. why cant raw have a button to run like wrestlemania, stuff like that just gets annoying when ,your going back and forth. also i like the special setup in Wrestlemania much better, id rather build up special that way. while i do think raw is much better than before, the hits you do in raw 2 arnt insane like raw when it comes to your voltage meter. in raw if you did the same hit twice for heaven sakes your meter would go back to blue or something, it made the game terrible. raw has done a much better job. but you can still make a unique game using the harddrive, the superior power for graphics on xbox while keeping one steady control scheme, i dont think its really necessary to make it different.




My friends idea, which of course will never happen but i thought an interesting idea. he said that the games should be linked, with raw like a show game, where you play the game through on raw and smackdown, but every 8 shows or so you have to switch over to wrestlemania to do the paper views, there would be no point to this but i thought it interesting

[sub780lime]

well i won the royal rumble and then....Got a title match at Wrestlemania....and then the game ended that season, ran the credits and said better luck next time, so i go into the season mode again, and im in year 2, yet i dont have the title, i dont get it