2KSports’ latest WWE game is another home run.
BY: JACOB POLITTE
Managing Editor
“WWE 2K20” was objectively terrible. The gameplay was clunky, the graphics regressed, and everything about the game itself felt stale and uninspired. It was exceptionally bad for a once revered video game franchise, and so poorly received that 2K took what ended up being an over two-year break to figure out its next step. That next step was “WWE 2K22” which was released in early March 2022 after months of delays. It was a much needed improvement, and was one of the better offerings from 2K in quite some time.
WWE 2K23, released March 17, continues to improve upon its predecessors, and in particular addresses one limitation that 2K22 had. In particular, the MyGM mode, where you book and promote your own brand on a weekly basis, greatly improves from last year’s offering. The allure of the mode is essentially running the business side of things, and unlike last year, includes the ability to book more diverse match types, more championship titles for your roster to compete for and even features more brands to compete against. In a way, the mode is more challenging because of these aspects; superstars are more subject to injury and the money a brand has to work can’t accommodate every superstar, match or even event. If anything, a successful MyGM season relies heavily on booking well-balanced shows and paying attention to one’s fiscal budget. Not every disgruntled superstar can get the $100,000 bonus they demand or the pay they’re asking for. There is still room for improvement, but 2K23’s MyGM is miles ahead of last year’s offering.
The game’s Universe mode is, as usual, also a bit confusing and a bit of a waste of time, but it also is essentially MyGM without the limitations of financial aspect. Players may be less stressed with this mode.
It’s also worth saying that the game’s “Showcase” mode, which this game centers on the iconic John Cena, isn’t a letdown like last year’s mode involving Rey Mysterio. But it is a lot more frustrating, and a lot of that has to do with the mode’s strangest twist: instead of playing as John Cena, you’re trying to defeat John Cena in every single Showcase match. John Cena had a reputation for no-selling an opponent’s offense throughout his full-time professional career, and the game acts the same way; in almost every single match, Cena is extremely difficult to beat. It’s certainly a unique choice, and the unlockable arenas and superstars are rich in detail. But players should be prepared for how difficult it is to obtain victory.
Where the “Showcase” mode falters, the “MyRise” mode once again thrives. That mode, where you take a superstar that you create and usually have them progress from the bottom to the top of the company, is a ton of fun, filled with fantastic and inspired storylines with a lot of variety. The modes’ many choices actually affect the stories that you’re playing through, and how your character is perceived. And the mode itself is once again extremely creative.
Like the showcase mode, there’s a bit of an unusual twist for the male story: the created superstar you make is an accomplished independent wrestler who comes into the company, gets saddled with a lame, dumb gimmick that kills your career (a sort of meta joke, as WWE prefers to rename people when they sign them to a contract so that they own your likeness and name), then get fired from the company and have to return the independent scene to work your way back up the industry like many other superstars have before. For the women’s story, a sort of legacy tale plays out, where a second-generation performer attempts to navigate their own path in the company. It’s not as exciting, but it’s still a lot of fun.
As for the gameplay itself, the graphics don’t appear to have changed much on a surface level, and like its predecessor the game is still a lot less glitchy than many previous entries in the series. The game’s extensive combo system is still a bit challenging to deal with, especially during the Showcase mode where certain objectives can only be met by performing combos perfectly. But punching and kicking alone won’t fill your stamina meter that allows you to perform your signature and finishing moves. The combo system needs simplifying, but it’s a necessary evil during gameplay.
A new, welcome addition to the series is the implementation of the WarGames Match, and the experience of playing the 6 or 8 person, two-ring tag team cage warfare bout is well worth the price of the game on its own. The former World Championship Wrestling creation finally makes its video game debut in a stellar way after being embraced by WWE in recent years, and it’s infinitely playable.
As with every addition of the game there are a few inaccuracies when it comes to the talent and arenas that are featured, although the former isn’t really the fault of the game developers. That’s because the characters in the game change their personas rather frequently; because of this, the game feels a bit outdated in some ways. It’s not a massive issue, especially this year, which features arenas and gimmicks that were seen as recently as November, or in the case of gimmicks, even January. It’s also worth noting that an extended roster is on the way, with multiple groups of downloadable characters still to come.
WWE 2K23 is a masterclass of a professional wrestling game despite the room for improvement that hopefully will continue next year. While time will tell how the game holds up, it’s safe to say that it is the new benchmark which all games in the series going forward should look to emulate.
For that reason, The Montage gives WWE 2K23 5 out of 5 ring bells.
