Review for WWE 2K18. Game for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, the video game was released on 17/10/2017 The version for Nintendo Switch came out on 06/12/2017
Also this year, as happens with most sports titles, we are facing the new chapter of an annual series: here we are therefore grappling with WWE 2K18, the only game in the sports series based on Wrestling. Before trying it, we thought for a long time about the innovations we would like to see in this new chapter, such as an improvement in the technical sector and the combat system.
Will the developers be able to improve a product that, unlike the first chapters, now seems to be in decline? Well we spoil the surprise immediately by saying "no", in fact there have been some improvements, but they are not enough, and it is perhaps also an accomplice the absence of real competition, as it happens for other sports titles which, thanks also to the competition with other Software Houses, manage to amaze the public every year with many new features.
Road to WrestleMania
The aspect we focused on most when starting WWE 2K18 was certainly the opportunity to pursue a Career in the world of Wrestling. We therefore proceeded to create our Wrestler, which unlike previous years allows us a greater freedom of choice, so as to be able to shape our fighter according to our preferences, also choosing specifically all the animations for the entry and victory, which can then be modified by continuing in the career.
During your career, in fact, you will earn points that will be useful for the purchase of crates or for the purchase of modifications for your character. Once your Wrestler is created, you will be catapulted into "Performance Center" where you will be greeted by Matt Bloom, who will provide you with the basics of combat in a fairly intuitive tutorial. You will then be released in the backstage, in which you can move freely, exchange a few words with the other Wrestlers, and then go to Barron Blade who will tell you about your career and the NXT championship.
From here begins your journey towards the summit which will not be limited to simple meetings, but will also be based on "self-promotions", thanks to which you can have your say to the audience by verbally colliding with other Wrestlers. You will be the one to choose the lines that your character will have to say, but trying to remain consistent with the other answers given, so as to obtain more favors from those who follow you and at the same time “defeat” those in front of you.
Spectacular fights but ...
WWE 2K18's combat system left us particularly puzzled, especially as it tends to stick around extremely cumbersome and almost based on a "Script" that sometimes prevents us from reacting. In fact, during the fight, it will often happen to remain on the ground without being able to react, suffering the attacks of our opponent, and the only way to escape his grip is to carry out a counterattack using the R2 button, which however will guarantee success only if pressed with impeccable timing, which left us many doubts, in fact you only have a fraction of a second to press the button in question.
The whole is accompanied by a management of fatigue and damage by no means optimal, in fact it will often happen to massacre an opponent, to then make a mistake and magically see the opponent in form perform in the most disparate evolutions, sometimes even decisive for the outcome of the clash.
While we were deeply disappointed with the work done by the developers, on the other hand we can be happy for the variety of moves and shots available, which once learned will allow us to surprise our opponent with always different and lethal moves. Two different models have been introduced for submissions, one consists of the use of the analog stick while the other consists of repeatedly pressing some buttons, so as to allow the player to choose the one that best suits his style of play.
Also not to be underestimated is the presence of a Imposing roster available to the player, in fact, there will be many superstars and champions to use in all the modes offered by the game.
Various game modes
Unlike the gameplay, which didn't fully convince us, we were extremely impressed with the amount of content present, and above all by the many activities that can be done. In addition to the career mode that we have already illustrated, there are other modes including the WWE Universe that allows us to experience the WWE and manage it as we see fit. In fact, we will be able to participate and experience all the Raw and Smackdown events, also modifying various parameters, including the intrusion of other Wrestlers during or after the match, so as to make each meeting more exciting.
However, the modality that has given us greater satisfaction is "Exhibition", thanks to which you can play any mode present in the real WWE, including:
- 1V1
- 2V2
- Triple Threat
- Fatal 4-Way
- 6-Man
- 8-Man
- Handicap
- Royal Rumble
- Tournament
Each of these choices has many other modes within it. For example in the 1V1 mode we are offered clashes Normals, TLC, Iron Man, Last Man Standing, Steel Cage, Hell in the Cell and many others, each of which is implemented optimally and together guarantee tons of hours of fun. Among the other available modes, we also remember the presence of Road To Glory multiplayer mode, which allows us to clash with other players from all over the world. The mode works discreetly, although waiting and loading times often dampen all the adrenaline and the urge to play.
Animations and graphics not up to par
Thanks to the new graphics engine, WWE 2K18 definitely takes a big step forward from past editions, proposing defined and very realistic polygonal models when it comes to Wrestlers, while the hair problem always remains, in fact it is only a few strands that move, while the rest of the hairstyle does not undergo any movement even after jumps or sudden movements.
The new graphics engine however it did not seem up to us in many situations and especially in the facial animations, which from a certain point of view we would have preferred that they had not been introduced at all. During the Career, in fact, it happens to dialogue with other characters, and seeing unrealistic and often ridiculous facial movements made us put our hands in our hair, especially due to the absence of a real audio commentary, which unfortunately was not introduced. During the dialogues, in fact, you will simply see facial expressions with subtitles.
Another sore point on the technical side is the bad game optimization which in all versions often suffers from tearing and stuttering (especially in the career backstage) and the presence of bugs and glitches that often crash the game during career mode. Furthermore, as if that were not enough, the uploads are too long and are present practically everywhere, sometimes even before and after a simple cut-scene.
We are absolutely not at the levels of titles like UFC 2, which in addition to an exceptional technical sector offers an innovative and ad hoc combat system. We trust the developers for more substantial improvements in the next editions of the game, so as to be able to satisfy even the most hardcore fans.
WWE 2K18 is a product that brings with it a considerable amount of content thanks to the previous chapters and that tries to improve what was already good without completely succeeding. The game modes are many and varied, guaranteeing many hours of play, thanks also to the presence of the career mode which, although not without flaws, manages to entertain. We expected many more improvements on the combat system and on the technical side, which are the points that most made us turn up our noses, even if compared to past editions we must still admit the slight step forward made by the developers. The absence of a real competition, present in titles such as football, leads the developers not to overdo the news, thus proposing a product that will not fully satisfy the fans of the series, but which will still be able to entertain.
► WWE 2K18 is a Sports type game developed by Visual Concepts Yuke's and published by 2K Games for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, the game was released on 17/10/2017 The version for Nintendo Switch came out on 06/12/2017
