WWE2K15 Review
Finally… The WWE Has Come to Next-gen Consoles.
But first, a bit of backstory. Did you know I was the TWF World Heavyweight Champion from ~1999–2001? (TWF= Trampoline Wrestling Federation).
Of course you didn’t.
My friends and I would take out my parents’ ladder from our shed, set it up beside my trampoline, and then do exactly what the commercials explicitly told us not to do: We Tried This At Home.
So to say I’m a wrestling fan is a fair assessment. I’ve been following it on and off for the better part of two decades, but my wrestling video game fandom was less dedicated.
I haven’t really sunk my teeth into a wrestling game since the Nintendo 64’s brilliant offerings, WCW vs. NWO: Revenge, WWF No Mercy, et al. I’ve tried the PSone and PS2 offerings, usually rentals, but I’ve never fully bought in.
It’s Time To Play The Game
I’m relatively unfamiliar with 2K’s systems, graphics, changes, and direction that the WWE franchise has taken. Admittedly, I’m also missing a hands-on experience of how the wrestling game genre has evolved, despite having read about years past. Context is important and I want to make sure it’s known where I’m coming from.
That being said, I’m well-versed on what’s been taken out or left out of WWE2K15 from previous years, and the laundry list is actually kind of astounding.
Enough Is Enough and It’s Time For A Change
Many creation modes (Create-a-wrestler, create-a-title, create-a-diva, etc) are all missing. “I Quit” match, Inferno match, ladder match, and dozens of other staples from 2K14 are removed for the current-gen PS4 and XB1 releases.
This is a bizarre and unfortunate situation, and there’s been a lot of online vitriol spouted towards 2K games for their attitude of “Ship it now, patch it later”.
Who knows how they’ll increase and improve the value of this game in the long run, but as it stands right now, the game simply feels empty. Just like the dead-eyed stares of your created wrestler, emotionless and vapid, WWE2K15 looks amazing on the surface, but simply doesn’t have enough depth to justify the purchase.
The graphics are incredible, and the facial capture technology for the superstars they got (about half the roster) all look AWESOME. Like, hyper realistic. We’re nearing uncanny valley here, peeps.
I loved creating a wrestler and then taking him (or her) through the trials and tribulations of a WWE career, and this year seemed like a boyhood dream come true when I watched all the hype videos on IGN from 2K.
I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news, though. It’s pretty bare bones and very obviously rushed. Aside from that, there are some outright terrible design choices.
The hype videos and promo for the game touted a 15-year WWE career, but if you become the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be, and you win the WWE Championship after, say, 2 years… The game automatically simulates the last 13 years and force you into retirement.
No matter when you win the title, you’re automatically forced to retire and your career is over. What?
I said, No matter when you win the title, you’re automatically forced to retire and your career is over. What?
Whoever thought this was a good idea is, objectively, a jabroni.
And That’s The Bottom Line
The whole thing just feels like a ripoff. The trimmed down modes. The announced paid DLC packs. The recycled commentary. The preorder “bonus”. No part of the game makes me feel like my 59.99 was a justified purchase, and I can’t in good conscience call this game a Hit because of that constantly sinking feeling. It feels like 2K lied, cheated, and stole from us.
I can’t say I’ll never eeeeeeeeever play another 2K WWE game because the foundation for next-gen has been built, and I see potential with the franchise. Simply put, I can’t recommend this iteration, since potential is the only thing it has.
