WWE 2K22 review: A fine return to form with outstanding improvements – Eugene Sowah

It’s been almost three years since 2K and Visual Concepts’ wrestling simulation series went on hiatus, but the long wait is over as WWE 2K22 is finally here, with the series making its debut on the current-gen consoles.

Visually WWE 2K22 looks fantastic with almost every character looking like a perfect recreation of their real-life counterpart.

Some of the retro characters do look a bit off like Ric Flair or Brett Hart but overall the game’s character models are spot on.

Character models have captured each of the Superstars characteristics, they literally perform every mode as they would in real life.

The developers have even paid attention to the finer details like how each character climbs the rope, kicks out of a pin and more. This level of accuracy extends to the arenas which also look stunning.

The soundtrack is said to have been exclusively produced by Machine Gun Kelly and it is a great collection of classic wrestling tracks mixed with chart hits.

There’s something for everyone and I was really happy to hear Wu-Tang Clan on the soundtrack. But saying that, it could do with a few more songs on the soundtrack or the ability to let players import their own music.

Commentary has always been an important part of Wrestling, it works well here with veterans like Michael Cole making an appearance. Their reactions can be a bit delayed during packed matches like Fatal Four way.

WWE 2K22 features a new control scheme that is really intuitive and accessible for all players.

There is a heavy emphasis on precise timing for counters and reversals, but the game does a great job of explaining everything to newcomers.

They have included a bit more button mashing over the power bars but all the control mechanics really flow well and allow for much more strategic matches.

WWE 2K22 features loads of modes for players to get stuck into and even caters to those fans who don’t want to get their hands dirty in matches.

Play mode is where players will be doing all their combat, it features all the classic matches from Royal Rumble to Hell in a Cell.

Showcase is a single-player, objective-based story mode that lets players take part in detailed recreations of classic matches.

This time around WWE 2K22 focuses on Rey Mysterio’s legacy with each match being like a mini-documentary featuring archive footage and commentary.

The objectives are great, highlighting major points within the match. I love the attention to detail for all the historic matches.

Showcase mode is a fine return to form, but I do feel they missed out on a few key matches from Rey Mysterio’s history like his 2006 Royal Rumble win. Universe returns with a massive addition that adds an extra dimension to the mode.

Originally this mode would allow players to control the WWE calendar and pick who faces who at which event to create your own Universe.

This classic mode returns with the small omission of the promo and match preset gone. But other than that it still works the same.

The new addition is the Superstar mode which will allow players to pick one character and essentially control their career.

This new mode is a great addition as it allows players to dictate how their superstar’s life in the WWE will unfold.

Players have full control over all of it and the UI makes it all easy to understand.

My Rise mode is where players can experience the journey of a WWE Superstar, starting out as a rookie, working their way up to the top.

This will feature a custom made wrestler and for the first time, players can pick a female character.

Players will pick different responses that will have consequences on their careers. It’s great how reactive this mode is in relation to your wins, defeats and all other activity.

I wasn’t too keen on the constant checking of the social feed as it can become really repetitive.

MyGM mode will see players take the roles of one of the big managers, where they will have to manage a budget while competing for ratings with other networks.

It really takes some imagination and knowledge of wrestling to know what will work and where to gamble.

MyGM mode is an emotional rollercoaster full of risk and reward, and a great alternative for those wrestling fans who are more business-minded.

MyFaction is a first for the series, where players will collect cards to create a team of four to battle other teams. If you’ve played the My Team mode in NBA2K then you will know what to expect as it’s basically the same thing.

Customisation is the main point of this mode and the game encourages players to experiment with combinations.

Cards are purchased using the in-game currency after gaining them from different types of play. It’s great to see the series add another style of play to the game.

WWE 2K22 features an extensive amount of characters ranging from different eras and it is fantastic to see the huge representation of women’s divisions.

The UI makes it simple to decide what character to pick as they have been separated into different wrestling archetypes.

Each wrestler once again comes with their own rating and the Payback system returns. But if players don’t want to use one of the legendary fighters then the character creation is top-notch.

Character creation has so much depth, giving full control over how your character looks and performs.

The game also uses a face detection system that allows you to import real photos to use, allowing players to recreate themselves in the game.

Players will literally be able to define all the finer details such as the circumference size of each individual eye, cheekbone structures, jawlines and more.

There is so much here to play with, fans are going to have a field day coming with all kinds of creations

WWE 2K22 goes even further to let players dictate how the crowd reacts to them, their personal traits and even signs that the crowd will hold up.

The developers have really pulled out all the stops in this regard and I’ve never seen a WWE game that grants this much creation complexity.

This level of control extends through the entire game giving players the opportunity to create their own belts, shows, arena, matches and more. It’s really astonishing how much they’ve packed into this game.

Verdict

WWE 2K22 is a return to former glory with developers Visual Concepts really paying attention to what didn’t work in 2K20.

The massive overhaul to the gameplay mechanics is a huge improvement making this one of the most enjoyable and accessible wrestling games I’ve played.

The diverse modes add an extra dimension to the overall experience and will ensure the longevity of the game.

WWE 2K22 is out for the Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and PC