PLATFORM: PC, PS4/5, XBOX ONE/SERIES (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: 11TH MARCH
After picking up the WWE license from long-term developers Yuke’s and debuting with the not-so-warmly-received WWE 2K20 a couple of years ago (but hey, it wasn’t that bad when you consider how quickly it was put together…), the folks at Visual Concepts made the decision to skip 2K21 and take some extra time to recreate the game’s engine and make a raft of improvements to a series that had become rather stagnant in recent times. It’s incredibly pleasing to see that the team’s efforts have absolutely paid off…
One of the biggest changes can be seen in the game’s control scheme, which might take a bit of getting used to if you’re familiar with previous WWE games. Two buttons are used for basic strikes and attacks while another is used to grapple your opponent, and the three are used in conjunction with each other to perform a variety of moves. In addition, each wrestler is now able to use up to 30 fighting game-esque button combos, meaning there’s heck of a lot of potential attacks available to you at any given time. It also gives a more arcadey feel to the gameplay, which is helped even further with the new dodge / counter / reversal system, and the move away from the more serious simulation-based aspect of recent titles is very much in keeping with WWE’s flashy and over the top brand of entertainment.
All of the expected match types are available, with options to accommodate up to 8 wrestlers in any given match. WWE originals like the Elimination Chamber, Royal Rumble, Money In The Bank and Hell In A Cell are all there, along with staples like TLC, last man standing, extreme rules matches and more besides. There’s even a large backstage area to accommodate brawls in which you can throw people off ledges and bash them into cars. The rules for each individual match can be customised in a variety of ways so you can pretty much set up whatever you fancy, and the gameplay itself is nice and smooth and completely bug-free, which will be music to the ears of those who were less keen on the previous instalment.
2K22 doesn’t stop at just letting you put random matches together, though. Alongside the standard “Play” mode, there are five additional modes that all offer something different to each other. Rey Mysterio’s career is the focus of this year’s “Showcase” mode, in which you’re able to play through twelve of his most memorable matches. Meeting objectives in each match unlocks new wrestlers and arenas, as well as occasionally transitioning from gameplay to real-life footage of the match you’re currently playing through, complete with a voiceover from Rey giving you some insight into his thoughts about the events of the actual match. Short and sweet (probably much like the man himself), it’s a nice inclusion but might not be something you’ll go back to after finishing once.
The other modes, however, all offer a tremendous amount of value. “MyRISE” allows you to play through a male or female created wrestler’s career where your character’s story changes based on the decisions you make, rather than following the totally linear stories found in previous games. Instead, you’ll seek out new storyline opportunities, win matches, upgrade your attributes, gain new fans and make a name for yourself in a lengthy mode that ultimately sees you becoming the best of the best. “MyFACTION” is 2K22‘s answer to FIFA‘s “Ultimate Team”, with players using cards to form a team of four male and four female wrestlers and using them in matches to earn points which are then used to buy new cards, upgrade existing ones and add booster items. Completing challenges associated with each card / wrestler can eventually evolve the card, raising its level and making that wrestler more effective. With various tiers, difficulty levels and weekly “towers” to work through, it’s a really addictive and seemingly endless mode that constantly rewards you for your efforts.
Elsewhere, “Universe” mode allows you to play through a “living” WWE promotion, either by following a single superstar of your choosing or in a wide open sandbox mode where anything could happen. TV shows and PPV events are generated by the computer, with outcomes and storylines decided by the wins and losses of the participants. You’re able to customise parts of the weekly shows, such as how it looks, the available roster members and the championships they compete for. It gives you a huge amount of control over how the shows will run, but if you want something even more involved then “MyGM” gives you the chance to be the General Manager of an existing WWE show (you can even choose NXT UK if you want to) and compete with the GM of a rival show. From drafting your roster and managing multiple aspects of your contracted Superstars’ careers to booking matches, setting up rivalries and even choosing the road crew who take care of things behind the scenes, every aspect of the show is under your control. There’s a lot of depth in the management side of things, although it’s limited in terms of the matches you’re able to book, with a maximum of three singles or tag matches allowed per show which means there aren’t any opportunities for creating over the top cards full of insane match types. Also on a slight downside, you’re not able to run your own show indefinitely as each attempt at MyGM mode is capped at a certain amount of time (up to 50 in-game weeks). Nevertheless, this is very much a welcome return for a mode that’s been absent since 2007, and gives a tantalising glimpse at what might be possible in the future.
On top of all this, 2K22’s creation suite has been vastly improved over previous years, and may well be the best one seen so far in a WWE game. There’s a huge variety of imaginative pre-made attires and masks and accessories, as well as plenty of options to alter existing outfits or even create your own original designs from scratch, right down to the type of material and stitching used. After refining every last detail of your wrestler’s appearance, you’ll need to start thinking about creating a moveset from the colossal selection of moves and holds – there are so many to choose from that you could easily spend several hours tweaking your repertoire. And then there’s championship belts, entrances, arenas, shows, Money In The Bank briefcases and highlight videos to consider as well! If you’re a fan of character customisation, you’ll absolutely be in your element with what 2K22 offers.
The roster does feel a bit outdated (around 30 of the included Superstars no longer work for WWE…) and there’s still the odd bit of jankiness here and there (most notably with things clipping through the ropes / canvas / clothing), but Visual Concepts have done a really admirable job of getting the WWE 2K series back on track. A huge amount of content, enough modes and customisation options to suit whatever mood you’re in, no identifiable performance issues whatsoever, excellent visuals (even if some of the trailers might have suggested otherwise…), and plenty of extremely addictive modes to while away the hours with. If you’re on the fence after 2K20, have no fear – 2K22 improves on things in pretty much every way possible and may well be the best wrestling game of the last decade or so.
