WWE video games have, for the final couple of years, mimicked the corporate itself in seeing one thing of a renaissance. The place the precise programming at WWE has seen an uptick in high quality because of its long-running storylines and elevation of latest skills, its yearly video video games have equally seen an increase in high quality, because of a powerful basis laid with WWE 2K22, and the additions made in WWE 2K23. We now have WWE 2K24 which, amongst different issues, hopes so as to add extra on prime of the sturdy foundations of its predecessors, whereas additionally bringing with it totally new tales for the profession mode, in addition to different options.
In terms of its core gameplay, WWE 2K24 doesn’t actually change something. Similar to WWE 2K22 and 2K23, 2K24 additionally provides you the choices of sunshine assaults, heavy assaults, and grapples, all of which may combo out and in of one another. Whereas the shortage of any main adjustments to the system would possibly disappoint some, it’s value noting that the core gameplay in WWE 2K24 is a number of the finest we’ve ever seen from the franchise. Nearly the whole lot else from WWE video games of the previous, together with positional harm on our bodies, is again in full drive as properly.
“Whereas the shortage of any main adjustments to the system would possibly disappoint some, it’s value noting that the core gameplay in WWE 2K24 is a number of the finest we’ve ever seen from the franchise.”
The concentrate on fast-paced gameplay continues with the defensive choices gamers are given, starting from countering strikes on the press of a button with the appropriate timing, having the ability to counter a combo string by efficiently guessing what assault the enemy is utilizing, or simply plain outdated blocking and attacking. All of those offensive and defensive choices feed right into a signature bar that can be utilized for a few issues: a signature transfer, or a utility transfer. Whereas signature strikes are sometimes the core offensive possibility, because you instantly get to make use of a finisher proper afterwards, the utility strikes assist the final move of a match fairly properly.
Utility strikes may be fairly versatile, with their makes use of starting from one thing so simple as instantly getting off the bottom after getting hit by a giant assault, to extra attention-grabbing and enjoyable choices, like taking part in possum to then sneak in a fast pin in an try and steal a victory out of your opponent. Whereas these strikes might not contribute a lot to damaging your opponent, they definitely assist in sustaining a fast tempo all through a match.
Going by the advertising and marketing behind WWE 2K24, it will be straightforward to make the error of assuming that the brand new Showcase of the Immortals mode, which focuses on celebrating 40 years of WrestleMania, is the flagship single-player mode this time round. When it truly involves taking part in the sport, nevertheless, this couldn’t be additional away from the reality. Very like final yr, MyRise stays the place one of the best single-player points of WWE 2K24 lie, adopted intently by different modes like MyGM and Universe modes.
“Very like final yr, MyRise stays the place one of the best single-player points of WWE 2K24 lie”
The Showcase of the Immortals mode this time round appears like a particular step down. Whereas the subject material is inherently attention-grabbing, (the yearly WrestleMania reveals are one thing of a significant occasion for skilled wrestling followers, in spite of everything) the execution of the mode is the place the sport falters. As an illustration, the Showcase mode is insistent on making an attempt to be one thing of a tutorial, which adversely impacts the makes an attempt at cinematic storytelling in a number of the earlier matches within the mode. For a very good instance of simply the place Showcase mode falls brief this time round, I believe it’s helpful to take a look at the final time a WWE recreation celebrated WrestleMania, all the best way again in WWE 2K14.
For context, WWE 2K14 had a 30 Years of WrestleMania mode the place you bought to wrestle by way of a number of the most iconic matches of the pay-per-view occasion all through the years. These matches featured non-compulsory targets that gamers might strive, and these targets had been typically there to simulate the occasions of the particular match, and will vary from smaller moments like a punch thrown at a sure nook of the ring, to larger set piece moments, like Edge spearing Mick Foley by way of a burning desk.
WWE 2K24 tries its hand at the same tribute to WrestleMania, and whereas it does succeed generally, most of the time, it has the tendency of grinding issues to an absolute cease to be able to impart a poorly-paced and poorly-scripted historical past lesson. Again when WWE 2K22 was seamlessly transitioning between real-world footage of a basic Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio Jr. match, it was actually cool. Sadly, regardless of the top quality of the match, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat versus “Macho Man” Randy Savage doesn’t lend itself too properly to those transitions. And contemplating simply how slow-paced older wrestling matches are typically, fairly than cool, the transitions begin feeling annoying because you’re simply dropping management over a match you had been in any other case taking part in at a a lot faster tempo.
“It will be straightforward to make the error of assuming that the brand new Showcase of the Immortals mode is the flagship single-player mode this time round.”
Fortunately, the brand new MyRise mode storylines are fairly implausible, and greater than make up for the boring Showcase mode. This time round, the ladies’s storyline revolves round a wrestler and co-founder of indie wrestling federation TBD, referred to as The Captain, will get concerned with WWE and its machinations. The boys’s story revolves round Cody Rhodes’ unending makes an attempt at “ending the story” by beating Roman Reigns to get his arms on WWE’s final prize: the WWE Undisputed Heavyweight Championship. Each storylines additionally function loads of side-stories that vary from enjoyable distractions to downright hilarious. For instance, an early story within the girls’s storyline had me stop a cult masquerading as a respiration and meditation app from taking on the WWE roster.
In fact, the opposite most essential factor a couple of wrestling recreation is its roster, and WWE 2K24 doesn’t disappoint on this division. There are many WWE Superstars for gamers to select from, starting from fashionable stars like LA Knight and Roman Reigns, to Legends like Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. There are additionally a couple of enjoyable incarnations of some Superstars, akin to “Elite” Cody Rhodes, mainly a Cody Rhodes motion determine that involves the ring and wrestles like an everyday particular person. There are additionally a number of alternate choices for wrestlers just like the Undertaker, Kane, and even The Rock, starting from their early incarnations to extra fashionable ones.
Sadly, the MyFaction mode nonetheless feels as nugatory and superfluous as ever. Very like the previous few occasions we’ve seen the mode, MyFaction nonetheless appears like an try by 2K to additional monetize WWE 2K24 in the identical vein as different sports activities titles by the writer. Fortunately, there isn’t actually something within the mode that might drive you to play it, and if dream matches are actually one thing you need to do, the Universe mode is a lot better suited to long-term play than MyFaction will ever be.
“In fact, the opposite most essential factor a couple of wrestling recreation is its roster, and WWE 2K24 doesn’t disappoint on this division.”
In terms of simply having some enjoyable on a sofa with some pals, the variety of match sorts in WWE 2K24 doesn’t disappoint. Alongside match sorts we’ve come to count on from a wrestling recreation, like singles, tag matches, triple menace, deadly 4 means, and even some gimmick matches like cage matches or the Hell in a Cell match, there are a good variety of new additions to the listing. Two of the brand new sorts, Casket and Ambulance matches, each revolve round making an attempt to shove your opponents into containers, which may both be a casket, or an ambulance, because the match’s title would possibly indicate.
These gimmick matches add a good bit of selection to what would in any other case find yourself being only a collection of normal matches. Owing to their gimmicky nature, you gained’t actually end up going to those match sorts that usually, which in a means mimics the final move of WWE programming. Casket matches, Ambulance matches, and even backstage brawls are typically few and much between, giving them an air of being a really particular occasion when a storyline calls for such a match kind.
The addition of those new match sorts additionally ties in fairly neatly with the single-player recreation modes on provide in WWE 2K24. MyRise, for instance, will throw in one among these matches now and again to be able to boost a selected rivalry. The place these new matches get really helpful is in Universe mode, which primarily places you in control of reserving reveals and making your personal storylines. Relying on how intense issues can get, a Casket match typically makes for a wonderful technique to finish a protracted and bloody feud.
“Fortunately, the brand new MyRise mode storylines are fairly implausible, and greater than make up for the boring Showcase mode.”
The opposite new match kind, Gauntlet, whereas being a welcome addition, doesn’t actually add a lot to the sport that couldn’t already be achieved by simply planning out a Universe mode occasion properly sufficient. You’re primarily pit towards a collection of wrestlers to beat one after one other, being pressured to hold any accidents and harm you would possibly accrue over to your bout with the following opponent. Gauntlet matches may be fairly enjoyable, however in addition they generally tend to get fairly tedious.
General, WWE 2K24 is one of the best that the franchise has been, particularly in its extra fashionable incarnations. Nearly the whole lot concerning the recreation is larger and higher than its predecessors, starting from the absurd dimension of the roster, and even a number of the new match sorts like casket matches and ambulance matches. WWE 2K24 is kind of simply essentially the most feature-complete a WWE recreation has felt in fairly a while. Whereas it’s nonetheless not all the best way there but, a number of the story creation modes from WWE 2K14 for instance can be an absolute blast to mess around with within the recreation’s present iteration, however the stink of video games like WWE 2K20 appears to have been definitively left behind.
This recreation was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
