In this year’s flagship Showcase mode, you can play through John Cena’s history of notable losses. While you can jump into WWE 2K23 and play any type of simple match you like, the game also offers a large, overwhelming array of game modes, each with its own quirks: Showcase, MyGM, MyFACTION, MyRISE, and Universe.Įach functions as a form of ‘set dressing’ placed over the game’s core combat, adding flavour to the stakes and providing different incentives to keep fighting – some more successfully than others. There are still some issues with precise grab controls, as it remains difficult to accurately sling opponents into ring posts, and some inescapable moves feel unfair – but these are minor issues that can be overcome with slight user adjustment. Reversal windows are still snappy, but they feel more logical and precise – and can be easily adjusted from the game’s settings. Improvements to free roaming also make it easier to enter and exit the ring, and to climb the ring posts for high-impact attacks. Hits feel solid, and combos add a flash of dazzle to the action. It certainly shows in WWE 2K23, which rocks an impressive level of polish. Over several franchise entries, Visual Concepts and 2K Games have worked towards perfecting movement and responses, refining and redefining move sets over a number of years. While controls haven’t undergone a notable revolution in the last few years, WWE 2K23 represents the end goal of years in development. You learn the basics, tackle them in action, and then you’re ready to rumble. Where past WWE games faltered with explaining the basics, 2K23 features a well-designed tutorial that doesn’t outstay its welcome. Whether you’re using custom wrestlers, or any of the 180+ WWE Superstars included in the base game, they shine in action, thanks to refreshed combat with a sleek feel, snappy input control, and much clearer instructions. They’re the icing on the cake of a robust, content-heavy game that spotlights a polished and snappy wrestling experience. Even a week on from the game’s launch, there are already some incredible creations, with realistic character models available for a variety of wrestlers – past legends who didn’t make the cut, custom CAWs, and of course, plenty of player-created wrestlers from competing promotion AEW like Kris Statlander (one of the most popular and good-looking uploads), CM Punk, Jon Moxley, and more. These improvements have extended to community creations. Every muscle on John Cena’s chest is in its rightful place. Jacy Jayne’s vinyl jacket shines with lively reflections. Alexa Bliss’ character model is also a dream, thanks to tightly-controlled hair coils – not to mention a stunning face. Wrestlers like Carmella get the short end of the stick with overly enthusiastic, bouncy waves – but then, you’ve also got Bianca Belair and Indi Hartwell, who rock perfect, sleek ponytails. While longer hair still tends to be stringy and spaghetti-like, it’s also been greatly improved. Muscles ripple and strain under the spotlight of Raw, Smackdown, NXT, and beyond. Visible sweat helps depict wrestler exhaustion. Where previously, some wrestler and CAW models were disruptive to matches, as any glimpses of the uncanny valley derailed the action, there’s now an impressive, realistic smoothness to every facet of the game – from character models to movement animation. These changes represent minor leaps in graphics and processing power, but make a whopping difference in gameplay. Queen Sylene – CAW Wrestler Image: GamesHub WWE 2K23 even implements notable changes to the game’s Create-A-Wrestler (CAW) mode, with updated character models and customisation options making each custom wrestler feel lifelike, and comparative to other characters in the game. And MyRISE is more compelling than ever, with two branching narratives to play through, and unique choices in each. The new War Games match type is a wonderful, high-chaos brawl-for-all. A fresh lighting rig makes every match feel more cinematic. While WWE 2K23 retains the bones of its predecessor for a successful, polished sequel, it also goes several steps further. Now, with WWE 2K23, Visual Concepts and 2K Games have proved it wasn’t a fluke. It overhauled the core mechanics of the WWE 2K series, refreshed the combat system, and launched with strong, coherent, plotlines. Perhaps as a result of this pressure, the game was a revelation. After several years of high-profile disappointments, and the launch of the bug-riddled WWE 2K20, it seemed as if WWE 2K22would be the last straw for 2K Games. There was a time, not so long ago, when the WWE 2K franchise was in genuine jeopardy.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |