Developers 2K caught a lot of attention with their release of WWE 2K14 in 2013 and have taken the coveted helm of WWE games. The results have been divisive to say the least. We have seen four years of releases that have followed the new era of professional wrestling in a consistent manner, but usually, there are some factors (some out of control of the developers) that stop them from being able to give us that full experience.
Whether it is cut superstars, removed features, or WWE’s corporate offices regulating the game down from what it could be, there are a mountain of flaws that have plagued the series since its departure from Yuke’s/THQ. There seems to be a couple of hints that suggest that WWE 2K18 might disappoint despite the return of many beloved features and options that were removed as the franchise switched to the new generation of gaming.
The game is riddled with shiny new overhauls that come off as a distraction from the main issue at hand: the loss of trust from their dedicated fan base after years of mistreatment from the developers.
Now they are up at bat again and are looking to blow us away with updated graphics, a deeper single-player story mode, and a more responsive A.I. as they look to replicate the feel of the WWE. This is commendable, but there are a few facts that get glossed over and distract from how WWE 2K18 might prove to be a huge disappointment.
15 They Are Focusing On The Graphics Too Much
One of the most coveted features from other 2K titles such as the NBA 2K franchise has featured some amazing graphics that simulate real-life NBA action and progress the sports game genre. So when screenshots of the game started to circulate the internet, fans were ecstatic to see better sweat physics, a shift in color palettes to a more realistic one, and brand new character model scans that are finally getting close to looking like the real thing. Sure, it is something that is a welcome addition, but it is still a clear case of too little, too late. On top of this, it would appear as though as they completely and entirely focused on the new graphics, they forgot to add some depth to the game in terms of modes and features.
14 No CM Punk
Of course, this is one of those things that the WWE 2K18 development staff has no control over, but it is still a huge knock on the legacy of WWE and leaves a huge hole on the roster. Maybe this sounds like wishful thinking from an uppity mark, but there has to be some way that WWE and CM Punk can at least come to terms to get his character back into the game for good. It is not just because CM Punk is one of the most popular wrestlers of all-time, but he was an absolute staple of the main event scene for almost a decade. As anything goes in the WWE, anything is possible, and there is no doubt that it would be a huge money-making opportunity. Imagine the possibilities of a reunion between the two even with their checkered past.
13 Custom Entrance Music Is Not Returning
Customized entrance music for created WWE Superstars was one of the best features of the THQ WWE games like Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 and added a very important layer of personalization with unlimited possibilities. Whether it was just making fantasy entrances with ridiculous themes or attempting to recreate old wrestler entrances with retro themes, it was a crucial addition that fans loved because of the depth it created. The main case for this feature being removed is the apparent restrictions of media usage rights on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, which seems to put it well out of reach for the near future. But as it was mentioned before, anything is possible in the WWE and if this feature came back it would finally allow us to at least put “Cult Of Personality” on our created CM Punk wrestlers.
12 No Promises
Most people that watch the trailers and screenshots for WWE 2K18 have been dazzled by the new graphics and seem to have forgotten that there are still a lot of ignored factors that should be in the game. One of the largest one is the lack of movements, and the underutilization of a variable factor in their wrestling moves. For example, in NBA 2K17, there are hundreds of options for how a player shoots a basketball, while WWE 2K17 only features a few different types of the same DDT or suplex. It just seems plain lazy to not include the ability to customize a certain move by using a pose system of sorts, or including multiple motion captures for the maneuvers at the very least.
11 Trying Too Hard
This may be an unpopular opinion, but perhaps the overhauled graphics of the WWE 2K franchise might be a step in the wrong direction. Upon viewing the grand entrance video for The Miz being accompanied to the ring by real-life-wife Maryse, there is a glaring shift in color to monochrome-type levels that seems to dampen the colorful nature of the company’s extravagant spectacle. The stage looks dull and their skin, while very realistic, is a strange gray. Judging by the rest of the footage that has been released, this may not be the case with other characters and set models, so take it with a grain of salt.
10 Lacking A Huge Modern Star
Something that has been confirmed by most video game outlets (that have been covering the early access versions of the game), is that the roster is fairly limited. For example, Drew McIntyre is limited to a DLC role in the upcoming release. This is a shame considering that he is the NXT champion as of the writing of this article, almost a full month before the game even gets a chance to release. Frankly, it is insulting since Drew McIntyre has been in the WWE games since WWE 2K14 already. DLC is already a cheap way to cash in on content that should be packaged with the game — do they need to do with with obvious fighters too? Ridiculous.
9 It Might Be A Rehash Of An Old Game
There are some eerie similarities between WWE 2K18’s creative suite and WWF No Mercy for the Nintendo 64. This is actually a pretty good thing for a lot of fans of the old game and its arcade style gaming with extra customization in the game. However, some who wish to see a game that focuses on the realism of making a simulation game that is much better will be disappointed to see extra features like “8-Bit mode.” It is about time that fans and developers start to take off their rose-tinted lenses and look towards the future of professional wrestling and give us a completely different way to simulate some of our best fantasy matchups. This is a small dosage of nostalgia at the expense of the opinion of their progressive fans.
8 Hall-Of-Fame Showcase Dilemma
Something that was instantly loved by the people who have become hardcore fans of the franchise’s short venture into new waters was the addition of the Hall of Fame Showcase mode. This mode made a unique way to give a tribute to some of the best wrestlers of a bygone era and featured video packages that highlighted the best moments of this treasured history. Frustratingly, this mode is (yet again) relegated to DLC. It is a shame to the wrestlers that paved the way for future generations won't get properly honored in the new release at launch. They will be sorely missed by the wrestling video game community, and it feels like another way to make a quick buck off true wrestling fans.
7 Still No Finishing Touch
A feature of wrestling games in the earlier generations like Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 was Create a Finisher and it was instantly loved. The strange super slams with crazy setups and multiple strikes to the groin along with fidgety body splashes might have been fairly unrealistic, but it was a welcome addition to the franchise because of the possibilities of adding new finishes or signature combinations. Even with all these fancy additions to the Create A Superstar mode in the game, there is still no customization of their finishing maneuvers. Now that the focus is back onto fun gameplay, these flourishes should absolutely be brought back into the fray. It might seem like something small in the grand scope of the game, but most hardcore fans will tell you it is a sorely missed aspect of the game.
6 The Commentary Still Sucks
2K was apparently adamant about making sure that the new addition of Corey Graves to the commentary team was going to add some fresh dialogue to the game and make a smoother transition between the match. This was apparently overhyped because gameplay of the game has revealed that it is still just as stiff as ever. Sadly, failing at making a better sound presentation is a huge blow to the new transition into modern games. Sure, their actual dialogue was written well but there is almost no energy behind the voices of the commentators and it sounds painfully piped in. The developers need to record some live commentary at an experimental house show or something because this will not stand.
5 The Music Is Curated By Someone Who Does Terrible Music
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson might be one of the most recognizable figures in all of World Wrestling Entertainment’s long and historical past but he is not a musical mind by any means. His short ventures into music have just been a handful of offbeat appearances on hip-hop songs and his classic heel promos as Hollywood Rock. Sure he is entertaining to no end, but his recently announced inclusion as music producer/curator for the game has been a questionable one at the very least. The Rock has yet to show any real prowess in music and he probably sets to change it but it is still something that might fall flat for this risk-taking title. Hopefully, it is nothing like the soundtrack for one of his Fast and Furious movies and features some music with depth.
4 Got One Legendary Team, Lost Another
On TV, WWE fans have been treated to the reacquisition of the Hardy Boyz. Their run has been fairly successful as their swansong (of sorts). Unfortunately, fans who are looking to recreate some legendary tag matches of the Attitude Era will be severely disappointed by the removal of the Dudley Boyz. Sure, it is just two wrestlers, but they were a crucial part of the impressive mid-card program of WWE’s yesteryear. They are no longer included due to behind the scenes negotiating that has prevented them from signing an agreement. Just like CM Punk, this is a huge removal from the game that has an impact that is immeasurable in almost every single way imaginable.
3 The Switch Version Is Watered Down
Once there was a huge announcement towards progressing the gameplay of the WWE 2K franchise there was an immediate rebuttal from the developers themselves that said the 8-player multiplayer would be in every game except for the Nintendo Switch Port. That immediately changes the landscape of the portable console and makes it seem inferior to the other consoles. It highlights the technical limits of Nintendo’s system and eager fans of both them and 2K will be heartbroken to experience such a downgrade from the rest of the world in this instance. Just the concept of having 8 wrestlers on the screen while playing on the go is an amazingly futuristic idea and should have been implemented at the cost of graphics at the very least in this case.
2 It Might Be Delayed
Speaking of the Nintendo Switch version of WWE 2K18, many sources such as online gaming forums believe that the game will be delayed like many ports on the system. This would prove to be a huge blow to the reputation of the developers of the game and could be catastrophic to the WWE 2K franchise. It could lead to failed sales projections and it might be the only WWE game to appear on the portable console in the grand scheme of things if it receives an in-depth set of updates and developer support. Even worse, if one was to see the past pattern of WWE releases on Nintendo consoles they would instantly recognize that they have been unfortunately sporadic and inconsistent in comparison to the treatment it has had on the Xbox and PlayStation.
1 Misleading Advertisements
Sure, all the footage, screenshots, developer diaries, and firsthand accounts have been overwhelmingly positive. But after years and years of supposed upgrades to the WWE franchise being consistently disappointing, true fans of the series have taken all of this information with a grain of salt. It could be a lost cause at this point and the window of opportunity may have passed for many faithful fans of the older games in the series. Sure, WWE 2K18 might be an impressive game, but if the past was to define the future it would be another disappointing installment that fails to reach the expectations of the dedicated fan base. This is not to say that they are lying to us, but it would definitely not be the first time that they misled us to believe the game is better than it really is and it is the oldest trick in the book!