Annual sports activities video games at all times face the identical situation: What do you add to an already refined (and profitable) components for a person effort to face out from the pack? Numerous collection’ have needed to deal with this downside, resembling NBA 2K, EA Sports activities FC and now, following its current revival, WWE 2K. Final yr’s massively in style WWE 2K23 is with out query nonetheless an especially good wrestling sport package deal, so cynical gamers could conclude that this yr’s upcoming entry, WWE 2K24, isn’t a vital improve. However from what I’ve performed to this point, WWE 2K24 has added sufficient thrilling gameplay-focused improvements that it is undoubtedly price your consideration. Let me speak to ya…
Though the following sport on this lengthy line of releases will naturally replace and modernise the roster and cosmetics of WWE, 2K24 nonetheless requires headline additions to hold its hat on. This yr they arrive within the type of 4 model new match sorts: Particular Visitor Referee, Casket Match, Gauntlet Match, and an Ambulance Match. Solely the latter was out there for me to pattern throughout a hands-on demo, but when its high quality customary is something to go by then I’m very excited to play the others.
For the uninitiated an Ambulance Match entails two superstars pummeling the snot out of one another underneath hardcore guidelines till one is weakened sufficient to be loaded by the opposite into the again of an ambulance, concluding the match. At first, this performs out like every other conventional no-holds-barred bout, however concludes with livid button bashing in an try to shut each ambulance doorways, locking your opponent away and awarding you the victory. The ambulance is parked at ringside, which results in the car getting used within the motion; you possibly can ascend the truck after which throw your opponent off the highest to a rapturous response from the commentary crew. It’s a easy spin on the components of a WWE hardcore match, however one introduced with an ever-present spectacle. And, a minimum of from my expertise, the mode constantly delivers a dramatic conclusion as you desperately struggle to both shut the doorways or escape.
Though I didn’t get to pattern the opposite aforementioned modes, the care the Ambulance Match has obtained (primarily in presentation) bodes nicely for the opposite new match sorts on supply. I’m barely apprehensive in regards to the casket match, although, contemplating it seems to be largely only a slight tweak on the ambulance match design based mostly on the premise (quite than being dumped into the again of an ambulance, you load your fallen opponent right into a ringside casket).
Together with the brand new additions all earlier modes from 2K23 make their return. The one notable returning match kind I received to pattern throughout my hands-on was an up to date Backstage Brawl which, regardless of now providing four-player help, initially disenchanted. Your entire play zone of the backstage space at first seems unchanged; it was solely when exploring that I found the all-new environmental interactions, resembling a wacky working elevator, smashable glass panels, and – simply my private favorite – a 20-foot drop into an enormous, conveniently positioned searchlight. The world is now suffering from new interactable methods to punish your opponent, but it surely nonetheless looks like one other step could possibly be taken to boost the mode additional, significantly in how fights conclude (you merely simply KO them, which not often feels satisfying) and the intro and outro presentation, which is at the moment is non-existent.
Each the Ambulance Match and the up to date Backstage Brawl are extraordinarily hardcore in nature, and this gave me ample time to play with maybe my new favorite characteristic: Throwable weapons. Harking back to the newest Hitman video games, now you can hurl your ringside weaponry at fying thud worthy of Agent 47’s finest improvised weapon pictures. I heaved microphones, kendo sticks, trash cans, and even ringside steps at my opponents and at all times with out fail legitimately laughed out loud. Contemplating wrestlers have been throwing ring steps and different such weapons for many years, I can’t consider it took so lengthy for this to look in a sport, but it surely’s an especially welcome and humorous inclusion.
Hardcore guidelines apart, the core gameplay of WWE 2K24 is sort of equivalent to not solely final yr’s grappling motion, however 2K22 as nicely. It’s comprehensible although, as a result of it actually does really feel like developer Visible Ideas managed to nail the right stability of sports activities leisure in its first try post-refresh, and since then the studio has solely wanted to make small, good iterations. This yr the notable additions to the core wrestling techniques are buying and selling blows and tremendous finishers, with the latter being an extended overdue reward system for affected person and dominant gamers. Tremendous finishers are made out there if you financial institution all three of your finisher slots, encouraging you to not solely construct to a dramatic, leveled-up model of a famous person’s ending transfer, but additionally – because of the time it takes to construct – create a greater tempo to your primary occasion struggle.
Tremendous finisher examples I used to be capable of execute included Seth Rollins’ springboard model of the Stomp, and a high rope, avalanche Riptide executed by Rhea Ripley. Enhanced and ‘lethal’ variations of iconic strikes (recurrently reserved for large events in WWE) now being out there for affected person gamers is a crucial inclusion, as they not solely replicate the drama and spectacle of WWE, however in addition they add a long-term danger/reward technique for gamers, encouraging you to choose your spots and bide your time way over anything has beforehand. It is a very welcome addition, particularly when the components is so acquainted.
Buying and selling blows, the opposite beforehand talked about addition, additionally furthers the agenda of replicating the drama of a WWE bout, however maybe much less efficiently. At sure intervals (generally after a light-weight assault, different occasions after a reversal – it was arduous to get readability on this) you and your opponent will enter a turn-based punching mini-game that requires you to carry and launch a button inside reducing home windows. This continues till somebody fails 3 times, giving their opponent a bonus. This performs out as an especially WWE-like alternate of blows that, on tv, at all times encourages viewers participation. When it comes to presentation within the sport, this once more matches the agenda, however not like tremendous finishers, I by no means actually felt glad or like I actually achieved something. Time will inform how this feels when it comes to usefulness in the long run.
Presentation-wise, WWE 2K24 makes all of the iterative steps you’d count on, with additional enchancment in replicating the sights, sounds, and superstars of WWE. Nothing significantly screamed out to me as an enormous enchancment, however from my small pattern, it undoubtedly felt like commentary was marginally improved, as have been refined particulars in object animations and interactions. There’s additionally now a second digital camera angle choice, permitting you to level your perspective in direction of the ramp like you can in WWE video games of yore, and the collection’ current competitor; AEW: Battle Endlessly. This may all appear insignificant, however once more these are the iterative steps required to construct on an already polished providing and transfer ever so nearer to that purpose of representing the final word WWE online game package deal.
Final yr I mentioned (maybe controversially – particularly to the purists!) that I really believed WWE 2K23 was one of the best wrestling video games had ever been. From what I’ve seen to this point, WWE 2K24 builds strongly on that profitable components and I can’t think about that opinion altering, a minimum of not this time round. In the end these iterative upgrades will seemingly lead to what I think about shall be a near-perfect wrestling sport for followers of the collection. It would simply fall wanting creating its personal particular person legacy, like No Mercy or Right here Comes the Ache, however the collection in its present state feels prefer it’s just one revolutionary characteristic away from turning into the pinnacle of the wrestling sport desk.
Dale Driver is an Government Producer of Video Programming at IGN and a lifelong WWE fan/apologist who acknowledges his Tribal Chief. Be completely bored by following him Twitter at @_daledriver.