May not shock the world
It’s understandable that the best entry for a particular annual franchise is from decades ago. Whether it’s the 2000s or not WWF No Mercy or 2003 WWE Smackdown! This will bring painchances are that whatever your favorite WWE licensed game is, it doesn’t have a number in the name.
Despite that, we hit what is likely the most important element of the main series with WWE 2K20it’s a glitch, horrible mess. Apparently so bad that 2K’s in-house developer, Visual Con Concepts, did the unthinkable and skipped a year on the series. So here we are with WWE 2K22they think hits are different, but is hits different enough?
WWE 2K22 (computer [Reviewed]PS4, PS5Xbox one, Xbox Series X)
Developer: Visual Con Concept
Publisher: 2K CZK
Released: March 10, 2022
MSRP: $59.99 (PC, PS4, Xbox One), $69.99 (PS5, Xbox Series X)
On the surface, we’re looking at exactly the same game. The customizers are the same, the user interface is still an annoying tagline and it still plays an initial playlist that’s too shallow for you when you’re interacting. I suppose that can be comforting. If you’ve played WWE titles for the past half-decade, you’ll feel like you’re wearing a familiar pair of tights.
However, a lot of work was done on the game’s engine. I want to preface this by saying that if someone were to ask me what my priorities are for a better WWE game, an upgraded engine would be somewhere near the end. Well, I’m basically saying it feels like WWE 2K22 throw the child in the bath water. It still has to convince me to give up all the custom wrestlers I’ve built 2K19 just to make them again here.
Again, when you look at the icing rising to the top, the tools for customizing your experience either haven’t changed spectacularly or are oddly scaled down. Are you hoping for a return to the input music? Prepare to not only be disappointed but also crushed as the custom frontends can also be fully exploited.
In the past, you could stitch other wrestler entrances together to create an entrance that matches your design. You can also modify the lights and fireworks if you’re feeling sassy. Now, you just need to select the entire entrance that you are after. You can then change the movies playing on all screens in the entire arena as if anyone noticed those movies. I’d say the whole system has been cut down so thoroughly that we’re now at the bare minimum.
Many other custom sets are still unedited. On the one hand, they are quite powerful to start with, but on the other hand, they are in dire need of new navigation tools. I don’t know why I can’t apply a search filter when setting up the wrestler’s moves. I should be able to easily browse WWE 2K22’s choose Frankensteiner without having to scroll through the list to find confusing names like “Flying Frankensteiner” or “Slick Frankensteiner.” This problem has been around for years and has never been resolved.
However, the time has come for me to admit that what has been added WWE 2K22 is actually pretty solid. While actual wrestling still carries the odd philosophy that pro wrestling is a sport that should be emulated, it plays better than ever in 2K CZK series. You can certainly feel the modified physics at work, and they make grappling with well-known competitors much more satisfying.
There’s a sense of fun about the usual physics; a lot, for that matter. It can make backstage fights or ladder battles annoying as items are splashed around. There will also be moments where the entrance doesn’t stick to a particular wrestler and they hang in the air. More surprisingly, snaps and hits will sometimes land when they shouldn’t or miss for no reason. My screaming in front of the screen isn’t that bad, it’s just a habit of embarrassing itself.
I feel it did a better job of porting what I intended to do into the game. I no longer feel like I’m fighting the game to get someone over the table or beat them in front of the fence. When I try to tell my wrestler I want to throw their opponent outside of the ring, they usually do that. It’s not even close to perfect, but it’s a necessary step to achieving it.
AI has been improved in WWE 2K22, which I fear will be ignored. A lot of the matches against computer-controlled opponents in previous WWE titles often start to feel formulaic, as that would be constrained to a series of moves and no interest in execution. this is outside. While I was never under the illusion that AIs were as innovative as human competitors, they responded better to what I did and were more likely to try different tactics when the ones that did not work. they are using inactive.
The modes that have been added are also appreciated. Mostly, I’m interested in MyGM mode, the new form of GM mode has been absent since then WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008. It’s a fascinating little activity where you’re working to perfect your booking skills and build your talent pool.
I wish that you could control your own program in MyGM mode. You can create and customize your own programs and PPVs. If you’re like me, self-promotion is pretty much the main benefit of WWE Game. The Universe mode that lets you do this in a fun way is still available, but again largely unchanged. It would be great if future titles merged the two modes to make it easier to put all your customizations together in one place.
As much as I will admit that WWE 2K22 As an improvement, it doesn’t sound like a step in the right direction. Instead, it feels like it’s kicking itself out, dusting it off, and going right back to the philosophy it’s followed; that WWE the game should be some kind of competitive simulation. Whether you feel that’s the correct thought or not will be subjective, however, I feel that recreating the thrill of the performance may yield better results.
At the same time, I hope. I think with two years to work they could have solved some of the legacy issues that still linger in the game, but I’ve dealt with these before and there’s no reason why I shouldn’t. do more. I’m just here dreaming that their next priority will be tightening the screws, not just gluing new decor to the wall.
Going back to the criteria I gave earlier: yes WWE 2K22 convince me to rebuild my custom list? Hesitant, I guess. The gameplay in the ring is practically solid, and the MyGM mode is a bit of an addictive little management. I want to hope and believe that 2K and Visual Concepts will take the foundation they’ve created and ultimately build a wrestling game that’s more than just a bunch of compromises. However, that’s exactly what I’ve wanted for years, but they just keep going.
[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]
