WWE 2K20 took a toll on me mentally. It’s one of the worst titles I’ve ever played and it’s riddled with bugs, probably due to WWE’s precarious situation at the time of release where they were losing all the time. The WWE 2K saga needed a change, so the writers decided to skip the 2K21 version. But there’s no harm that doesn’t happen for good, both in real life and in video games. The wrestling company had to deal with a scandal that caused CEO Vince McMahon to quit his job. Due to this situation, the position was left vacant for a new person to take charge of the organization of the clashes, which had always been his responsibility. Through this came Triple H, which dramatically increased the quality of the shows. At the same time, Visual Concepts managed to perfect the game and after a successful WWE 2K22 they are coming back with an even better WWE 2K23.
For a long time, I was convinced that this was the end of this saga, since it had never been able to meet the expectations set by previous games like Smackdown! (Here comes the pain, know your role and shut your mouth). There were a lot of complaints that they were bringing back the WWE General Manager game mode, which hadn’t appeared in any title since Smackdown vs. Raw 2008. Last year he came back, but he still wasn’t perfect. It seems that the creators took the criticism into account and used it to add many improvements: new match types, creation of mid-level championships (with their own title for each show), and the possibility to compete until with 4 players or managing generals. Another big new feature is that at the end of each PPV event, or live premium event (as they call it now), there is the option to choose a random bonus from three possibilities. They can be passive or instant and provide a huge advantage to your team. Unfortunately, the biggest problem I saw in last year’s game remains: you can only schedule 4 matches per show (not including PPVs), so it’s hard to schedule all the matches and rivalries you wish.
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For this we have the Universe mode. In this game mode you can schedule all the matches you want and even influence the results if you want. It’s pretty much the same as last year: you can play a specific fighter or manage as many shows as you want. What’s new is the rivalry system, which adds more depth to this mode.
Even so, not every game mode in the world (there are others, which I’ll mention later) can save the title if the fights in the ring aren’t good. WWE 2K20 had neither decent game modes nor good wrestling. Terrifying images of specific bugs still wake me up screaming in the middle of the night. Fortunately, WWE 2K23 is pretty good in all aspects. The game models are quite varied and there is something for all types of players. Inside the ring, the dynamics are a mix between simulation and arcade (and I say that as a positive thing). It is smooth and easy to understand for new players. Press a button for lighter hits, another for heavier hits, and a third for the grappling hook. What type of attack or hit it will be is determined by pressing one of the buttons again and moving the joystick in different directions. Therefore, there is a wide variety of “movements” that can be performed. Even with that, it seems harder to block an attack, and the fights aren’t so much about drastically reversing the tables, which I think is better. A big improvement in matches is that you no longer have to pound your fingers pressing buttons trying to get out of a win in to fall (although you also have the option in the settings, if you prefer). As the Motörhead song says, what matters is the game and how you want to play it. Also new in this year’s release is that you need to calculate the perfect moment to push the right stick up when the cursor is over a square. The more tired and injured you are, the faster and smaller this square becomes. The fight itself is fun, but it has some minor issues. Sometimes the characters teleport a bit to take the hits and other times they punch the air for no reason. However, this doesn’t happen very often and doesn’t interfere with the overall experience.
John Cena has always been WWE’s biggest draw. Personally, I have never been his fan (in the world of wrestling) and never will be. It’s probably because of the character that was created and not because of who he really is, but I’ve always been more of the “Dinner sucks” camp than the “you can, Cena” camp. This year I can enjoy the Showcase game mode, whose protagonist is precisely Cena. Instead of him always winning straight away (the most common thing throughout his career), they focus on his big losses. There’s a little bit of everything: from his debut, when he faced Kurt Angle, to the ECW match against Rob Van Dam or against The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. In my opinion, some defeats are missing. CM Punk doesn’t appear, for obvious reasons, but none of his long runs against JBL, for example. Also, the matches are not in order, but jump forwards and backwards in time. The most different element in this mode is that we don’t play as Cena, but against him. Unexpected, I know, but the idea of being able to beat up different versions of Cena appeals to me. It combines a healthy dose of video game and movie footage, but while it’s an entertaining mode, I think it doesn’t quite reach the level of last year’s version with Rey Mysterio.
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Something that reaches the level of last year is the best game mode: MyRise. This is career mode, which continues to be similar to the previous title: it lets you talk to people behind the scenes and continue the main story or deviate from it. This year there are two different stories, one for the male character and one for the female character. The male version is called “The Lock” and is about a character who competes all over the world on the independent scene and has just joined WWE. There they give him the character of The Lock, which he doesn’t like at all. The story is about choosing between being what managers want you to be or breaking the norm. The female version is called “The Legacy” and the protagonist came to WWE because her aunt was a superstar and is in the hall of fame. This girl is not appreciated by those who have worked hard to get to the top, because she is there thanks to the influence of her family. Your options are to follow in the footsteps of your loved ones or make a name for yourself. Both stories are entertaining and there are plenty of subplots that can be unlocked through mobile messages or talking to people. Some conversations also unlock content, such as the old WCW version of Triple H, named Jean-Paul Levesque. The only problem I see with this mode is that the female voice actress didn’t quite convince me.
Another thing I don’t really like is the (rather useless) attempt to add a definitive team play mode: MyFaction mode, where you can buy card packs and unlock fighters. Last year you couldn’t even play against other real players. This year you can, but only in friendlies. I don’t quite understand who this game mode is for, other than card collectors.
All in all, it feels like the WWE 2K saga is back for real. This year’s release is light years away from the disaster that was WWE 2K20, and what’s more, it’s also an improvement over last year’s release. WWE 2K23 is highly entertaining, combining different game modes and fantastic in-ring action. Wrestling fans got what they’ve been waiting for for so long.