New Raw 2 Info and Screens

[BreakABone]

Well, I got this from XBA and the kid got it from some other forum so eh

http://www.boomspeed.com/y2jitg/raw2.jpg
http://www.boomspeed.com/y2jitg/raw22.jpg

[GameKinG]

Best? Get AKI.

[TheGame]

Originally posted by GameKinG
Best? Get AKI.

Ha... then get EA baby ;)

anyway... Aki did great games for the N64 era, but there is a huge possibility that Raw could be a better game than all it's N64 predecessors.

Just look at the platform for starters, Xbox can do things that N64 couldn't even dream of doing. The features list for this game is the best ever, period, no arguements. The gameplay is still questionable... we can't judge til we play it :p

[Bond]

Well, the graphics are definitely shaping up nicely.

But I think the gameplay will be the key, as Justin said.

[BreakABone]

Hmm well the graphics do look nice and weird at the same time. Is it just me or does it look like the Rock got a black eye and Hogan looks several shades darker than he is.

As for what I could read from the article, it seems in terms of modes, the game will still be a ways off from SmackDown and probably getting close to WrestleMania XIX, I found it odd they haven't mentioned a HIAC match up yet. Also there seems to be no backstage fighting in the game.

It's interesting they state they got permission from the WWE to use blood (Why would you need permission, it's not like the WWE has a wholesome family image to keep or anything), but they don't know if it will be in since they don't want to put blood in for blood sake unless it looks good.

And could someone explain to me what they mean by a season mode more akin to sports games,

[Joeiss]

Woah... Those graphics look really, really good.

[Professor S]

If they don't overhaul the engine, it won't matter how good the graphics are. TRhe stamina bar added needless comlications to what would have been a very nice game engine. The simpler the better. Wrestling games should be about beating your opponent, not the engine.

[TheGame]

Originally posted by BreakABone
Hmm well the graphics do look nice and weird at the same time. Is it just me or does it look like the Rock got a black eye and Hogan looks several shades darker than he is.

That's all because of the lighting these pics were captured in.

Hogan is a dark man, and Rock just has shadows on his eyes. IMO, if it wasn't for you, those "flaws" wouldn't have been noticed by me. From the looks of it, it is still the best looking game coming to the market. (with Smackdown in second and WMx8 in third)

As for what I could read from the article, it seems in terms of modes, the game will still be a ways off from SmackDown and probably getting close to WrestleMania XIX, I found it odd they haven't mentioned a HIAC match up yet. Also there seems to be no backstage fighting in the game.

Hmm... WMx8 didn't have backstage fighting either... and Smackdown only had it in certain matches.

From the looks of it, there is no HIAC, which is no problem imo. I mean, WMx8's slam into the gate three time thing got tiresome real fast, and smackdown's... well, lets just say big show would break his neck doing the crap he did in a Smackdown HIAC match I had.

Raw is the only game of the three focusing on reality, not arcade-like gameplay, so if they couldn't pull off the HIAC realistically they wouldn't/shouldn't put it in the game.


And could someone explain to me what they mean by a season mode more akin to sports games,

http://www.gametavern.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3428

"In Season mode an event will come up such as Smackdown (new arenas eh?) and you'll see the lineup of matches including yours. Your character will be able to choose from 10-15 actions to be performed during each of the matches that you're not in. Actions such as resting, encouraging a particular wrestler, manipulating and stealing items such as Stacy Kiebler's panties will all have direct and indirect consequences for your character. Keep messing with Triple H by interfering in his matches and breaking into his dressing room and not only will you make an enemy out of The Game but the crowd and other wrestlers in the WWE will start to regard you as either a heel or a babyface. This won't necessarily be a bad thing, just a fact of life. What's to say your antagonizing efforts against Triple H won't make you a friend to The Undertaker or The Rock? It might be wise to help them out whenever you get the chance that way you stay in their good graces until the next Pay Per View event. The point is, doing something during other superstars' matches will literally open up hundreds of branches of storylines during Season mode and you'll get cinemas --created in the game engine-- showing the consequence of your actions. You can kiss up to and piss off every superstar and everything between those two extremes and do it to each individual character in Raw 2. The beauty of it is, each action will mean something. The beauty of Xbox indeed.

Squeezing four human players into such a setup is going to be a tricky part of the equation. At the very least you and three of your buddies will be able to hop into the same season at the same time, in real time and mess with each other's matches the same way you'd mess with CPU controlled matches. Running into a match, manipulating CPU wrestlers against your buddies, all of that stuff should be in there. One element that hasn't been settled is the issue of presence. Is your season going to be held back if some or none of your buddies can't show up? We'll have the answer for that soon enough.

You'll be able to start factions and forge alliances and pick fights as you see fit during Season mode so that your WWE eventually may look nothing like what's on TV. The other characters in Raw 2 will have their alliances and dispositions based on whatever is happening on the TV shows a few weeks before the game is released. As you poke and prod and start s**t during your season all kinds of new friends, enemies and alliances will become possible. You could be the catalyst for Rock and Undertaker becoming allies in the above example, all because you stoked their shared hatred for Triple H.

The promise of the all new Season mode kind of makes the custom soundtracks, backstage wrestling and improved create-a-superstar mode seem like chicken feed. But they'll all be there and each of those enhancements will only make the new single player season more exciting. "

It's more like a sports game because every match is important and other wrestlers have a life too. Unlike in smackdown where only three matches are shown a night and the Computer doesn't have enough AI to remember that you interfered in thier match.

Oh and BAB, lets not cancentrate on the negitaves about the game, how bout some positives... like the custom soundtrack thingie. That should maske the CAW more fun than any other game off of the bat. Also, assuming some wrestlers don't show up in the game (Austin?) you could easilly re-create them.

[BreakABone]

Hmm never did see that Justin had a reply dedicated to me, might have to get back to that later on. Anyhow, here are some new tidbits on Raw 2 from the THQ conference in Las Vegas.

-There will be no blood in Raw 2.
-"Raw 2, game play is still very much simulation based, grappling. They did take to heart the fans complaints about the games engine. "
-It really doesn't look like Stone Cold Steve Austin will make it in the game, only time will tell.
-The official title is Raw:Ruthless Aggression

http://www.gamingring.com/community/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=30;t=000039