WWE 2K23
Review
Hitting the big time
by Howie Howard
reviewed on PC
Is pro wrestling really just entertainment?
Yes, Pro Wrestling is great entertainment! And this entertainment has featured on our smaller game screens for some time starting with WWF Smackdown on Playstation 2 back in 2000. After some trademark issues, a couple of years later, the World Wrestling Federation became the WWE, and after the F turned in to an E, its accompanying game franchise name because WWE Smackdown. In 2014 WWE 2K14 was born and here we are twenty-three years after the start with what some consider to be the best pro wrestling video game on the market.
As this long running and storied wrestling game franchise continued to grow it branched out from being a proprietary PS2 game to being able to be run on all of the major game consoles. In 2018 WWE 2K made its debut on the PC after which developer Visual Concepts became the lead developer in 2019. The only year the franchise failed to field a game was in 2021. That was the extra year 2K needed in order to recover from its disastrous and buggy 2020 new game engine introduction (and possibly delays due to the COVID pandemic). After the game was sorted out for the 2022 iteration, we now have the pleasure to talk a bit about the newest version, WWE 2K23.
The WWE 2K22 edition of the game was a great production that contained many new features. Just like most all yearly serial arcade / sports / manager games, the goal for WWE 2K23 was to improve what needed improving and to add a couple of new features. Even though the previous year’s game was regarded well, it is always nice to add new features along with polishing the graphics and game AI. All of which Visual Concepts seems to have done. This year's entry into the WWE video game franchise contains a couple of new modes along with other parts that were definitely polished. There's even a feature in the game where you can go to check machine performance. It is a title that will be sure to please pro wrestling enthusiasts around the world. Plus, the game is optimized so that you won't need a supercomputer to be able to see your superstar progress.
Game Modes...
The WarGames Mode is making its debut in this new WWE 2K23 edition. WarGames should be very interesting for wrestling warriors because it consists of 3 vs 3 or 4 vs 4 multi-player game play. The great part about this scenario is that the action takes place inside two side-by-side steel cage rings. Word from the developer is that programming the action for two different rings was not easy because of difficulty synchronizing the action across two different game areas. Simply plopping down two rings next to each other didn't work and new programming needed to be accomplished. From what we can see the developer was successful with their WarGames Mode effort.
ShowCase Mode is the mode where wrestling super-star John Cena is featured and no, you don't control Cena. ShowCase has players enter the ring against John as one of his greatest opponents! When you beat John at his own game then you move into the role of another Cena opponent and try to keep the win streak going. As the interactive sports documentary action progresses John Cena himself narrates the key moments and talks about the toughest opponents, he had in his amazing 20-year WWE career. Be forewarned because beating John Cena is not easy and it is not because he's a great wrestler, which he is - it is because each of his opponents have different signature and special moves that need to be learned before each new fight.
Universe / Superstar Mode is essentially WWE in a sand-box mode of play. In Universe you can create your own wrestlers and can be put in charge of superstars from a large roster of WWE wrestlers. The Creation Suite lets you customize your experience, and you can design your own feuds, weekly shows, championships and premium events! In essence Universe Mode allows you to design the various wrestlers and venues contained in WWE wrestling. You can also enjoy the career of a single wrestler that you create or pick from the roster. There's a whole lot present in Universe Mode.
In MyFaction Mode you collect and try to upgrade cards of WWE superstars and build the best faction online. You can compete to build a dream team of superstars and chose legends from both the past and the present. There's a whole lot here to keep the game player busy and it can be accomplished offline or totally in real time online. There are live events and more and it can be very exciting!
MyRise Mode allows you to take a wrestler on his or her path to glory in the WWE. The Lock is the male version of MyRise. The Legacy is the female wrestler’s journey through a narrative based world where you make all of the decisions on the shape of their career. The story is based on being the offspring of a former WWE champion. As a second-generation WWE superstar trying to manage the expectations of the family name you will be expected to defeat legends past and present as you try to secure your spot at the top of the sport. In MyRise it's your turn to be a wrestling hall of fame athlete.
In MyGM Mode you are the general manager of one of four WWE brands such as NXT, NXT 2.0, RAW, SmackDown or WCW. Then pick a manager that you created or chose a personality such as the infamous WWE celebrity Stephanie McMahon, Kurt Angle, Mick Foley, Xavier Woods or others. Then compete against the three you didn't pick, and they become CPU controlled mangers.
The first order of business as manager in MyGM is to draft a team of wrestlers from a roster of 200 or more athletes if you design your own or access the online collection of fan created wrestlers. After that, set up your wrestling venue including grand entrances for each wrestler, schedule each weeks wrestling card and more. In MyGM you can show off your wrestling business savvy and use various strategies in order to create a show that fans will love. It's not about wins and losses when running a wrestling brand in the WWE, it's all about the pomp and circumstance that is professional wrestling. Add in some good feuds and a lot of exciting action and your fan reputation will grow until you are deemed to be the best GM in WWE!
The final smackdown!
Folks, the new WWE 2K23 is such a massive yearly game enterprise that has brought the goods yet again for 2023. This is a great game franchise and Visual Concepts and 2K Sports have delivered. I hate to admit that even though I played the PC version, my game pad expertise wasn't up to par to begin with and I struggled to perform all of the many required finishes and special moves. However, as I slowly got used to the controls by using the great included tutorial that is narrated by Xavier Woods, it became easier. Being able to deliver John Cena's smashing "Attitude Adjustment" finishing move or Triple H's trademark "Pedigree" is something that every WWE game wrestler should strive to accomplish. Practice does make perfect and the same holds true for real wrestlers along with in-game make-believe ones too.
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9.1
fun score
Pros
The game mimics real life WWE pro wrestling like no other! It's all here with exciting wrestler entrances to some very smashing finish moves
Cons
Can take some time to learn the moves
