WWE Raw 2

 Xbox
  • Publisher: THQ
  • Release Date: Sep 15, 2003
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 26
  3. Negative: 2 out of 26
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  1. Game Informer
    73
    Its engine has nothing on "WrestleMania." I'd inch last year's "SmackDown" ahead of this game, too. Raw 2 is like a hardcore match: thrilling but sloppy. [Nov 2003, p.162]
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  2. GameSpot
    69
    Just doesn't feel like much of a step forward in the series. Instead it feels more like a big step sideways.
  3. Official Xbox Magazine
    68
    There's a strange delay as characters to from one move to another, and matches with more than two AI opponents can take as much as half an hour because of constant interference. [Dec 2003, p.120]
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  5. GamingTrend
    68
    Anchor did the wrong thing in slightly refining the already crappy gameplay instead of either totally refining it or totally rebuilding from scratch. Another big mistake was leaving the AI kick/pin cycle in the game. It gets aggrivatingly annoying.
  6. Operation Sports
    65
    It has a lot of potential, but falls short yet again. If you have an Xbox and a Playstation 2 and you want a wrestling game, then wait until November when the new "Smackdown" game comes out.
  7. Playboy
    63
    Thankfully, this sequel has just enough features to keep us in the ring. [Sept 2003, p.33]
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  8. GameSpy
    60
    While significant improvements are obvious in most aspects of the game, the ghost of the original title's schizophrenic gameplay still haunts Anchor's latest.
  9. GamePro
    60
    A strong four-player Season mode does not a great wrestling game make. Raw 2 is a poor showing for a decent franchise. Its detailed Season mode is its only real virtue, and even that isn’t half of what it could have been.
  10. G4 TV
    60
    A great-looking game that takes "WWE Raw," and adds some impressive new features without correcting some of the control and AI issues from the first game. If you can deal with that, then you may have loads of fun with the game's better play modes.
  11. Play Magazine
    58
    All the characters have a cartoony look to them, and few of the faces look like the people they're supposed to represent. [Nov 2003, p.107]
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  12. GMR Magazine
    50
    The gameplay is still plagued with glitches and flaws. [Dec 2003, p.82]
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  13. TotalGames.net
    50
    Another disappointment is the hardcore matches, where instead of the huge selection of weapons we were looking forward to using and abusing, we were presented only with a couple of chairs.
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  14. eToychest
    50
    The "create a wrestler" feature is not as deep or detailed as "Smackdown 4" and presumably "Smackdown 5" will be.
  15. Gaming Age
    50
    A painfully average game with excellent production values, hampered by clueless AI and a schizophrenic approach to detail. Just like "Monday Night Raw" over the past 18 months, when you think about it.

Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2003
3
#3 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2003

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 32 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 32
  3. Negative: 6 out of 32
  1. Jediknight0330
    Dec 22, 2022
    6
    I put so many hours into this game growing up. It will always have a special place in my heart. But if I'm being honest, it's not that good ofI put so many hours into this game growing up. It will always have a special place in my heart. But if I'm being honest, it's not that good of a game. SmackDown! series is definitely better. Now for the positives. Create A Superstar is really in depth. You can edit out official WWE superstars appearances. You have a backstage outfit and in ring outfit. Arena lighting is some of the best I've ever seen. Season mode is in depth as well. You can attack a superstar in their locker room, set traps, steal, encourage, allies and enemies, etc. Now onto the cons. In season mode, the popularity system could be better. You'll have the women fighting for the WWE championship constantly. Divas manage to all stay in the 80's to high 90's while superstars like Big Show can hardly win a match. Championships aren't shown in the entrances. Instead, they're holding it backstage on the way to the ring or arriving to the arena in a limo wearing the World or WWE championship. A.I. is atrocious at times.

    Soundtrack 9/10 (same as Here Comes The Pain)
    Roster: 8/10
    Gameplay: 5/10
    Season Mode: 6.5/10    … Full Review »
  2. breadcrumbs97
    Apr 16, 2020
    8
    I've spent countless hours on this game. The Create A Wrestler is the best I've ever seen as of April 2020. The lighting in this game isI've spent countless hours on this game. The Create A Wrestler is the best I've ever seen as of April 2020. The lighting in this game is masterful. Season mode is so fun. Gameplay lacks though. The AI is bad at times. Title changes can be from a disqualification. It needed work but I wish we got a Raw 3. This is a childhood favorite of mine.… Full Review »
  3. evolution98
    Oct 8, 2017
    9
    The best wrestling game on the original Xbox.

    I bought this game for a very cheap price and it was well worth it. This game gets a lot of    The best wrestling game on the original Xbox.

    I bought this game for a very cheap price and it was well worth it. This game gets a lot of hate and it doesn't deserve it.

    It is a HUGE improvement over the original WWF Raw game in every way.

    The graphics and wrestler models look way better than WWF Raw and look slightly better and more realistic than WWF Smackdown: Here Comes The Pain. The entrances look fantastic but some wrestlers are missing their proper themes like Mark Henry, Matt Hardy, Kane, Rob Van Dam, Christian and Chuck Palumbo. They were probably altered to avoid copyright issues. The create a wrestler and tag team is the best customize-able mode next to WWF No Mercy on the Nintendo 64. It improved on match types. It has all the matches you expect with many changeable options such as pay per view, 10 count, disqualification, match time and referee. The roster is a massive improvement. It is near perfect for 2003 albeit missing a few notable wrestlers. It is the only Xbox wrestling game to have a season mode and its really good. You can do whatever you want, whenever you want with different outcomes. There are many belts you can go for. Then finally the gameplay. It is really good. The controls are responsive and tight. You can perform finishers on the turnbuckle, ropes and perform normal finishers. You can perform two finishers. The wrestling mechanics are decent but nowhere near as polished as Here Comes The Pain.

    The main flaws with the game are the terrible AI, lack of good unlockables, repetitive season mode, dodgy animations and glitches.

    It is essentially No Mercy on a sixth generation console. It's a really good wrestling game and it doesn't deserve the hate. Here Comes the Pain is better. If you are a huge wrestling fan, get this game.    … Full Review »
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