WWE 2K23 Review

Last year's wwe 2k22 Was a very important release for the franchise, successfully overcoming the tumultuous mess of the launch wwe 2k20, while also including some major new features such as the inclusion of MyGM and MyFaction modes, vastly improved visuals, redesigned entrances, and much more. WWE 2K23 isn't an overhaul on the same level as last year's game - instead it builds on the foundation that WWE 2K22 offers to deliver a more meaty and mature experience that's definitely worth your time.

Inside the squared circle, the gameplay will feel pretty familiar if you've played WWE 2K22. The biggest change is the addition of a new pin meter that swings back and forth instead of being centered around button mashing (though you can go back to the old system if you want), and in our opinion, it's a welcome feature that adds a bit more unpredictability to pin attempts. Some of the more subtle improvements this year include the ability to lure opponents into "occum" attacks, along with a significant array of new animations for moves and transitions, and these upgrades add to what Tak2K has delivered with the WWE series so far. The most fluid and enjoyable gameplay experience ever.

Speaking of fluidity, 2K has done some really great things in WWE 2K23 (MyRise aside) when it comes to menu design and fast loading times, giving the game a true AAA quality feel. This obviously extends to the gameplay presentation as well, where last year's graphical enhancements are reinforced once again. This is especially evident in the entrances, where the character models, video trons, arena design and lighting are all given a spotlight... you'll be forgiven for getting a few goosebumps from time to time during some of these scenes. Will be done!

Outside of the ring, WWE 2K23 has made major improvements again. One complaint we had with last year's game was that, while the game modes were enjoyable, they felt a little over baked. We'd argue that's still the case in 2K23 to an extent, but certainly not to the same extent. Ultimate team-style MyFaction adds online play for the first time this year, though in limited form, MyRise introduces two story modes that are luckily more narrative-driven than last year, Universe mode lets you get more creative with cutscenes allows, and MyGM continues to be our favorite way to play 2K's WWE game these days, featuring many more match types and unlimited seasons as you try to outdo the three other GMs you're in. can do.

As mentioned, there are still areas of improvement that can be made to all of these game modes, such as MyFaction providing more meaningful reasons to show your cards, and Universe better implementing AI to help Develops more immersive rivalries. A similar thing can be said about the John Cena-centric Showcase mode, which is great in terms of real-life footage and how the game changes, but its objective-heavy focus can get tiresome at times. Happened last year. , Overall, we're really pleased with WWE 2K23's selection of game modes, which are guaranteed to keep us busy for potentially hundreds of hours.

Of course, we shouldn't forget that WarGames was also made for WWE 2K23, the first time this match type has ever appeared in a WWE game. It immediately became one of the most enjoyable options on offer, letting you compete in 3v3 or 4v4 matches in two rings with a steel cage built around them (with plenty of weapons you can bring into the mix). Are). The great thing here is that 2K has clearly put a lot of effort into making WarGames a memorable experience - everything about this match type feels meticulously well designed.

As fun as it is, there are still some minor downsides to WWE 2K23's gameplay across the board, and they're the same old limitations we've been used to for years. It's easily the best version of that engine we've seen to date, allowing for incredible out-of-your-seat moments at its peak, but collision detection issues can still crop up when wrestlers are in animation. get stuck, and the arms are sometimes a little tighter than they should be.

What we'd really like to see become a major focus next year is sound design. The way the music is implemented is nice, but the fake-sounding crowd noise (especially during the entrance) can take you a bit out of the immersion, the commentary is sometimes too forced, and MyRise The characters in the stories often sound like they're sitting at home reciting their lines into a cheap recording device, even when they should be standing in the middle of the ring!

There are a few other nitpicks we could point out, but we don't want to dwell on them. The positives with WWE 2K23 massively outweigh the negatives, and we're having the most fun with a WWE game since the PS2 glory days of SmackDown! Here comes the Pain. If you bought last year's entry you might feel like it's worth skipping the 2023 version, but in our opinion this is one upgrade that really deserves your hard-earned money.

conclusion

WWE 2K23 builds on last year's already impressive effort, arguably the best wrestling game Xbox fans have ever seen. The gameplay feels more intuitive and enjoyable than ever, almost all game modes have received welcome improvements, Wargames is a great addition to the array of match types, and it's ultimately the best enjoyment we've had with the series as well. Have done a decade. It's still a little rough around the edges in some places, but you'll have a lot of fun caring.