Oh it's TRUE, it's DAMN true.
One of the most anticipated events for Wrestling fans is certainly the release of WWE 2K. Yuke's and Visual Concepts then return to the scene with WWE 2K18. By now it must be said that it is really difficult to "perfect" a series if on balance, the competition has practically disappeared from the radar. Already last year, although we liked the title, we found some critical issues. The only real novelty was the Brand Extension, or the separation of the Rosters of RAW and SmackDown. The gameplay and game modes had remained unchanged and certainly some customization and extra superstars did not add anything significant to the gaming experience.
Fans have been clamoring for a proper Wrestling title for several years now. Not that the 2K series is bad, on the contrary, but having the same title in your hands for four years now certainly does not encourage the purchase of the next chapter. The time to rest on our laurels is over, will Yuke's and Visual Concepts be able to bring a breath of fresh air to the series with WWE 2K18? Find out in our review.
Stay Safe!
Let's start first with an important novelty, 2K Sports has finally decided to focus only on the current gen versions: PS4 and Xbox One. As then also done with NBA 2K18, WWE 2K18 will subsequently also land on Nintendo Switch. So sorry, PS3 and Xbox 360 owners, but it was time as well. In recent years, having wanted at all costs to bring WWE 2K to old gen, has represented a huge limitation for the development of the game. In graphic terms, the steps forward had already been glimpsed last year, but with WWE 2K18, we can finally talk about innovation.
The superstars have been finely modeled, some uncertainty is still present in some movements and facial expressions, especially the female ones, but ultimately, the level of detail achieved is truly remarkable. The models that impressed me the most are those of: Brock Lesnar, accompanied by the faithful PAAUL HEYMAAAN, of the "Demon King" Finn Bálor, Triple H, Roman Reigns, The Phenomenal AJ Styles, Randy Orton and of "The Monster among men" Braun Strowman. I purposely omitted Seth Rollins, this year's image man. Well, unlike the others mentioned, and also considering the Lunatic Fringe, Dean Ambrose, the care taken in the creation of the faces of the two athletes seemed inferior to me.
Lots of content, but no big news
Like the basketball simulator, NBA 2K18, also WWE 2K18, has a considerable amount of content. Unfortunately, there is no real story mode, but the efforts have all been focused on my Career. Here we will be able to create our promised young star, customize her in all respects, thanks to the rich and deep editing system made available by Yuke's and Visual Concepts and start our climb up to the top of the WWE. We will therefore start from NXT, which has produced many talents in recent years, thus trying to reach the main main events.
We will not only have to assert our skills as a fighter, but among many things, we will have to try our hand at the microphone, selecting the phrase to say in front of the public and above all interacting with other fighters of the Roster, between athletes of the present and of the past. It was in the dialogues that we encountered the biggest problem of the Career mode. The writing, not only of the wrestlers, but above all of the characters and events, seem to be written by a child. Jokes that are too comical, dialogues bordering on ridicule and often devoid of complete meaning. Nothing to do then with Vita di Quartiere presented this year in NBA 2K18.
And it is a contradiction, in a sport / show in which the ability to the microphone and the ability to speak, interact with others are essential elements to be a wrestler. It is really a pity, as we would have expected a better job, especially because the ideas, at least on paper, were there and were really promising. A clear step back has been made in the management of uploadsEach section of the great tutorial we will be covering in the NXT Performance Center features constant uploads. Plus the whole tutorial system feels a bit patchy, uninteresting, and very, very boring.
The progress is also all about collecting VC, credits essentially to unlock items, new moves and skills. The other way to unlock the new moves and not only is through the Loot Crates, divided into bronze, silver and gold and can be purchased with VC or will be obtained by playing the various modes. These Loot Crates will also give you access to tons of items, combat outfits, improvements such as increased stamina duration and temporary upgrades that will give you a distinct advantage over your opponent.
Road to Glory
Among the novelties that find space in WWE 2K18, we have the "Road to Glory”A new online experience that allows players to compete in the ring. You can then fight in tons of daily matches and special PPV-style events to earn stars, power-ups, parts for your Superstars and VCs. Plus, with each level up, you can customize your My Player character. This mode pushes players to do their best to gain access to PPV events, defeat their favorite WWE Superstars, and earn rewards. The netcode seemed almost free of uncertainties, allowing us to carry out meetings smoothly.
Then there is no shortage of fast performances, you will be the one to establish the stipulation (14 possible choices) we will be able to select up to eight wrestlers unlike the classic six, the Universe mode (we will take on the role of the WWE GM) which, although it does not present any news, gives us great sensations and satisfactions, thus living an episode of RAW or SD, shaping at our will, storyline, rivalry and events. It is also possible to face the meetings in person or by simulating them, making the experience more managerial. There is a lot of regret that Career Mode has not been curated as we would have expected. But it must be said that given the large amount of content, getting bored will be impossible. The Roster of fighters present is really huge, nearly two hundred athletes to choose from; some of them will need to be unlocked, Shawn Michaels, Goldberg, Razor Ramon, Stone Cold to name a few.
Burn it down
If from the graphical point of view the improvements are evident, the gameplay of WWE 2K18, however, has not changed particularlyis. This is what we have already known for a few years. Slow pace if we face 1VS1 or couple matches, which then tend to revive if there are more opponents in the ring, especially if they are agile. For novices, the system might not be immediately immediate, but after a handful of hours you will be able to manage at least the most common moves.
Among the major innovations, we therefore have the possibility to lift the opponent in four different ways and to move him to your liking. We will then be able to complete a move or interact with environmental elements, for example a support stake for the ring to perform devastating maneuvers. Furthermore the submission system provides for the possible choice between minigames, using the analog sticks and never appreciated by the community or by selecting the pressing specific keys.
These are what's new in WWE 2K18 in terms of gameplay. The defects remain, there is always a certain intricacy in the movements, in contrast to what happens in real shows, in which speed, agility and dynamism are very important elements. Great difficulties will occur once on the mat, partly because of the speed with which you have to press R2, the timing is never the best, to make the counter move, partly because, regardless of the state of health of our athlete, it will seem always a pain to get up. I also noticed that the damage suffered is greater, while if our opponent is now stunned, he miraculously manages to counterattack even though he no longer has any remaining strength.
There is still work to be done
WWE 2K18, thanks to a graphics engine rewritten from scratch, manages, at least from a graphic point of view, finally to appear in great shape. The polygons are excellent, though a step backwards was taken on the hair of the athletes. In fact, only a few strands will tend to move. A clear remnant of the old gen that will surely be improved in subsequent editions. While the effects of wet / sweaty skin are spectacular. We also report a good quality of the textures and finally the arena appears to be more alive than ever. The spectators behave in a convincing way, depending on what is happening in the arena and are very close to what has been seen for a few years in NBA 2K.
From a technical point of view, the game still has a certain woodiness of the movements and commands, especially to perform counterattacks. Also, minor bugs and glitches occurred in the early stages of our experience. The soundtrack is good, with soft songs like You Never met A White Boy Quite Like Me by Kid Rock and more “metalheads” like Down With the Sickess by Disturbed. The only flaw? A little 'few 11 songs, but compensated by the ability to select the entry music of our favorite superstars to listen to even in the menus. Less inspired, however, is the commentary entrusted to Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Byron Saxtor.
NB The “Burn it Down” in the entrance by Seth Rollins is inexplicably missing. It will also be a shortcoming, but I honestly do not understand it.
Final comment
We would have expected a clear step forward with WWE 2K18 and instead it did not happen. The almost monstrous graphics, unfortunately, are contrasted by a still dated technical sector and too woody gameplay. To keep the shack standing, however, a good amount of content takes care of it (the Universe mode in front of everyone) which also manages to make us turn a blind eye to the obvious shortcomings of the dull career mode. Yuke's and Visual Concepts are therefore called to a rapid change, because the community is now tired of receiving an update and nothing more for three years now.
