Developer: Yuke's, Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Playstation 3, Xbox 360
Tested on: PlayStation 4
WWE 2K15 – Review
Wrestling fans rejoice! WWE 2K15 marks the debut of the series on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, besides the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 release. The box features John Cena with the signature ‘never give up’ on his biceps, but maybe that is what 2K should have done with the franchise, and just give up. Things looked good when the publisher picked up the license after THQ went under, and WWE 2K14 was received well, but with this year’s release it looks like they weren’t able to deliver the same quality.
Story
As seen in NBA 2K15, WWE 2K15 has a ‘MyCareer’ game mode, in which players are able to create a superstar, and follow him from trying out to the main event at WrestleMania and Hall of Fame. Getting there is done through playing matches as either face (popular with the crowd protagonist) or heel (rule breaking antagonist). Player actions have an effect on the branching story, with new rivalries as the story unfolds. Although this is a nice addition for hardcore fans of the genre, it isn’t that attractive if you’re not personally invested in the wrestlers.
Graphics
WWE 2K15 is reported to run at 1080p 60FPS on playstation 4 and Xbox One, and 720p 30FPS on the older generation. Cutscenes look very crisp, and with the same facescanning technology as in NBA 2K15 being used results in lifelike and recognizable wrestlers. The dedication to making the game as realistic as possible with motion capturing adds to this feeling, with plenty of moves to keep fights interesting. Collision detection on the other hand is quite the opposite story, with wrestler models and objects glitching through each other, glitchy ropes, and some nasty sliding of wrestlers.
Sound
WWE 2K15 boasts a soundtrack curated by John Cena, with said wrestler collaborating with Wiz Khalifa on 2 (cringeworthy) tracks. Althought the tracklist is quit short, coming in at just 10 tracks, it features a variety of top tracks by artists like Flo Rida, Rudimental and Knife Party. You don’t even need to own the game to enjoy the excellent music (and Cena’s collab), since the soundtrack has been released for digital download. Over the forty days of motion capturing real wrestlers, audio was recorded as well, making sure that every move is accompanied by an authentic sound. Which is, again, nice for the dedicated fan, but indiscernible for the more casual crowd.
Gameplay
Depending on the gamemode, the objective is to get your opponent(s) to tap out, pin them down, or straight-up knock them out. Setting up a match starts with choosing what kind of match to play, classic one on one, triple threat, 6-man and many more, with even more options like no holds barred, hell in a cell and table after that. There is certainly no lack of choices there, although the roster itself is one of the least diverse in the series.
A match starts with a new chain wrestling mini-game (on current consoles only) which is basically a wrestling themed rock-paper-scissors game which involves pressing a face button corresponding to a certain hold, while your opponent does the same. The outcome is the result of pure luck. From there you can get or keep the upper hand by rotating the right analog stick to a sweet spot, eventually transitioning to the next phase. Through well timed punches and counters you can wear out your opponent’s three-tier stamina meter, with certain moves becoming available as the match progresses. Although usually a match flows pretty well, it can be hard to turn the tide when you’re on the receiving end of a punishing since timing a dodge or counter is pretty hard. Moving in and out of the ring feels natural, and being able to pick up and use a variety of objects expands the gameplay.
Although many options and gamemodes are available, one feature that is inexplicably absent is a tutorial. For newcomers to the genre, WWE 2K15 is not a good choice. Not only is there no playable tutorial, the only explanation for the mechanics and controls are lists of special moves, abilities and skills, with a VERY limited controls screen. Which makes it even more hilarious when the ‘gameplay’ manual (both on the main menu and pause menu) just leads to a pop up with a link to the 2K website.
Furthermore it might be easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of options, from game balancing sliders and toggling the displaying of blood, to unlocking managers, attires, wrestlers and more by completing objectives. It’s all in there somewhere. It is even possible to make a custom entrance for wrestlers or toggle weight detection, which takes a superstar’s strength in account when lifting heavy objects. Another glaring obvious annoyance is the camera, as it isn’t controllable by the player. This leads to some unacceptable situations, like not being able to see what’s going on because the fight is taking place behind the ring or missing your counter cues because the referee is standing right in front of the action.
Conclusion
Although the latest installment the WWE franchise has made some improvements as far as realism goes, casual players won’t really notice that much of a change compared to previous games. The addition of the new chain-wrestling minigame adds nothing to the experience, and the reduced roster isn’t favorable either. Some features show the effort put in, like 2K Showcase mode, while others are severly lacking, like being unable to create female wrestlers, or just a slightly more in depth combat system beyond timed cues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02r1zOd5-2Y
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