“Pro wrestling is finally cool again,” is how Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson recently summarized it on the WWE show SmackDown. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE for short) is currently riding a wave of success: sold-out arenas, a billion-dollar deal with Netflix and a change in leadership ensure a significantly fresher product. And that just a few weeks before the big anniversary show WWE Wrestlemania 40.
So there couldn't be a better time for WWE 2K24 to come out. Last year, developer Visual Concepts and publisher 2K Games received a lot of praise for the completely redesigned predecessor. This year we're going into more detail – but is it enough to make “WWE 2K24” an absolute must-have for wrestling fans?
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Wrestlemania showcase
“WWE 2K24” celebrates 40 years of Wrestlemania in the form of the showcase mode. As in previous years, you play matches here and have to complete given tasks such as move combinations within the fights. In this way you advance the action and are also rewarded with beautiful changes from gameplay to video sequences.
Compared to last year, “WWE 2K24” is a little tamer. The objectives are simpler overall, but above all much less detailed than before. This eliminates the need for complicated positioning and alignment of your opponent in many places. However, there is still occasional fumbling.
In addition, the gameplay portion is significantly lower. In some matches you hardly have to do anything, but you get lots of atmospheric videos. The showcase therefore serves as an ideal introduction to “WWE 2K24”. But for the coming years, Visual Concepts has to come up with something new. The idea behind the showcase is noticeably wearing thin.
More details at every (ring) corner!
The countless small and large adjustments and changes within the game show that there is another way. The most noticeable thing here are certainly the new match types.
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Ambulance and casket matches basically follow a very similar principle: transport your opponent into the coffin or ambulance and lock them inside. “WWE 2K24” solves the locking of the doors both times with a button-mashing mini-game, which can be quite annoying, especially in multiplayer and on the higher difficulty levels. Otherwise, the expanded interaction options are convincing in both cases: For example, we can fight with our opponent on top of the ambulance, throw our colleague down or even jump down from above. In the casket match we can climb onto the coffin or perform actions on it.
As special referees, we have to cut a good figure as referees. If we make too many mistakes and count pin attempts too quickly, we will even be replaced by an AI ref. The special referee mode proves to be surprisingly well thought out and offers options such as a “false rope break” or even a “screwjob” including a break in the submission hold. The Gauntlet Match, on the other hand, offers a number of variations and is a fun elimination style match type.
The scope is right!
Otherwise, “WWE 2K24” is a real beast when it comes to the scope of the game. The roster is more than 200 superstars strong and includes talents from the current generation, but also lots of legends that you can unlock in the showcase. The roster is (somewhat) up to date, even if younger new signings such as the Authors of Pain are missing and CM Punk, who returned at the WWE Survivor Series in November, is included in the first DLC package.
For example, you can rely on stars like cover hero Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Becky Lynch, Rhea Ripley or Seth Rollins. When it comes to legends, Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, the Undertaker and Bret Hart appear, among others. Compared to last year, Adam “Edge” Copeland (now with the rival promotion AEW) or Goldberg (no longer under contract) are missing. Overall, the roster is still more than solid. Especially in connection with the already announced season pass and the community functions, no one will be able to complain about a lack of talent.
When it comes to game modes, you don't dare to experiment and expand the existing options sometimes more, sometimes less. Fundamentally, however, many things remain very similar. A good example of this is the MyRise mode: This is again split into two campaigns – this time “Undisputed” and “Unleashed”. With a wrestler you created yourself, you work your way through a chain of smaller stories and can upgrade your star with earned talent points and optimize his moveset.
MyRise is peppered with sometimes obscure stories and insider gags. For example, we clashed with Xavier Woods because we collaborated with The Miz and Gigi Dollin on copying his YouTube show Up, Up, Down, Down. MyRise is entertaining, but we lacked a spark of genius here and also a better presentation. The backstage shots are comparatively stiff.
More work was undoubtedly put into the MyGM mode. As usual, you manage one of World Wrestling Entertainment's TV shows and put together feuds and matches in order to achieve the best possible ratings. The goal is the Hall of Fame. This time the whole thing is underpinned with a “manager” system: On the one hand, your stars now have an experience level and can be promoted accordingly. This means they generate better matches and more viewers. You can get new talent via the extended talent scout. It is also possible to poach wrestlers from the competition.
The sandbox mode MyUniverse, either for the entire promotion or just one superstar, is primarily expanded to include new possibilities for your own storytelling. This gives you more creative freedom. Last but not least, there is the trading card mode MyFaction, which has been supplemented with new ranking modes, but unfortunately also contains many microtransactions.
Lots of details, known issues
What is already noticeable at this point: “WWE 2K24” does not offer one big innovation, but rather a multitude of small adjustments. And fans of the subject in particular can work their way into this. For example, they are happy about the possibility of taking off the “straps” from their suits with Kurt Angle or about the fact that they can now use commentary desks as an additional level.
The weapon behavior has also been revised: we can now throw chairs, tables and other objects – and that's wonderfully funny. Optional blood now leaves stains on the mat, makeup runs in Showcase mode. “WWE 2K24” may not be particularly innovative at first glance, but it offers excellent fan service.
When it comes to the match itself, the few big innovations are noticeable: For example, we now throw bombs at each other in duels and the associated mini-games. In tag team matches, we now direct our AI partner, who sets up a table or attacks the opponents. The computer adversaries act better, but are sometimes a little uncoordinated and aimless.
The controls aren't perfect either. Picking up the weapons already mentioned always occurs with a small delay. And in general, the action seems a bit sluggish and slow in its weaker moments. This is also reflected in the AI referee, who doesn't count as quickly and dynamically as we would like. The same also applies to the Polygon spectators in the stands. Their behavior still seems too generic and not context-sensitive enough. Their shouts aren't really pleasing either.
Further tests on PLAY3.DE:
However, “WWE 2K24” no longer makes any major leaps in terms of presentation: what is noticeable are the improved animations and transitions between counterattacks. The facial expressions and faces of many stars have also been expanded. At the same time, however, the graphics engine continues to struggle with the representation of hair and some legends also look strangely proportioned.
Even if the surroundings such as the soundtrack and the menus seem modern and coherent, you can also see that with “WWE 2K24” you are slowly reaching the limits of what is technically possible. Something has to happen here too in the coming years!