Ever since the somewhat abysmal WWE 2K20 dropped years ago, 2K Sports and Visual Concepts has been pushing hard to improve the brand any way they could. Fortunately, they’ve stayed the course, and the past couple of years have been pretty wonderful for the WWE 2K brand.
But now we’ve come full circle, as WWE 2K24 has managed to wipe away any painful memories of that trainwreck. What was once a plethora of collision glitches and really terrible gameplay has since turned around into one of the best wrestling games out there. Its impressive roster of wrestlers, including past and present superstars, along with varying modes and mostly top-notch quality make it a champ to behold in the ring.
That’s not to say it’s flawless, as some missing changes to earlier modes and occasional collision detection quirks do stop its momentum in spots. But don’t let that fool you – WWE 2K24 is a must-play for wrestling fans, if you smell what we’re cooking.
Time to Play the Game
One big aspect to WWE 2K24 that makes it work so well is how refined its gameplay is. While there are occasional moments where you don’t quite grab someone the way you expected, being able to execute special moves is a blast; and the finisher system is fantastic, even giving you an option to go all-out with a “super finisher” with enough stored energy. The mini-games are also fun, making it easier to either score or kick out of pinfalls.
Of course, you can wrestle friends online and locally as well, adding to the overall fun. Online play works reasonably well, though there are hiccups that occur now and again. Nevertheless, if you need a pre-PLE activity to partake in with friends, you can do it here. And with dream match-ups, nevertheless.
Create-a-Wrestler is back and better than ever, and modifying and building your dream (or nightmare) wrestlers is an absolute snap. What’s more, you can share sliders easily if you want others to make your creations as well. That means if you want Brock Lesnar back in your game, well, that isn’t too hard to do. (I’m just trying to add Sasha Banks in here somewhere personally.)
There are more match types, which are phenomenal. The ambulance match is good fun, along with trying to stick your opponent in a casket – even without the Undertaker! There are also Special Referee and Gauntlet matches to try out as well, along with staples like Royal Rumble and more.
Some modes don’t really have new features, however. As great as MyFaction and Universe modes are, they don’t have enough fundamental changes to move them forward in terms of evolution. They’re still great, but we knew that last year. Fortunately, MyRise still lets you dig in with your creation, complete with cutscenes that tell a great story; and 40 Years of Wrestlemania lets you relive some of the best matches out there, if you’re not feeling too privy to tell your own just yet. And, of course, MyGM lets you run WWE however you see fit.
You Want a Loaded Roster, Playah?
Not to mention that the game does all this with one of the most loaded rosters out there. While some wrestlers need to be unlocked, there’s no shortage of legends, current stars, and even NXT up-and-comers to choose from. For instance, you can make Andre the Giant come out and end Roman Reigns’ run in no time flat; or even pit “Stone Cold” Steve Austin against Hulk Hogan and settle the legends’ argument.
I love the NXT roster as well. Watching Thea Hail on the main brand never gets old, and you can also create others to join the party as well.
There are missing favorites, like C.M. Punk and Jade Cargill, but they’ll be added via DLC in the months ahead, along with several others. So don’t fret. And if you’re impatient, hey, just make them.
Overall, this is truly impressive work on the WWE’s part, even if certain folks are missing. No matter, you’ve got a lot to do here.
How’s the Presentation, Jabronie?
As for the game’s visuals and sound, they’re definitely the best the series has seen.
Aside from occasional gaffes, the game runs smoothly and looks like an emulation of a WWE presentation, complete with wrestler intros, pyros, crowd noises and more. The crowds actually look more realistic this time around, and the animations are razor sharp. The only complaint I really have is that some wrestler models are a little out of tune compared to others. That’s something I hope a patch will fix down the road.
In terms of audio, Corey Graves and Michael Cole (sadly, without the antlers he just wore on Raw) provide decent, if somewhat repetitive, comments. That’s not bad, mind you, as they play it out like you’d see on a telecast. The ring noises and wrestler voices are exceptional, and the music intros suit each wrestler just about right.
Overall, this game has come a long way from four years ago, when we were more concerned about whether our legs would wrap around a turnbuckle properly without a referee growing a third arm. (Yes, WWE 2K20 was that much of a mess.)
And That’s the Bottom Line
While there are some problems that could use ironing out and some changes missing with certain modes, WWE 2K24 is jam-packed with wrestling goodness. The roster is insanely good; the gameplay works fundamentally well; and the presentation is as close to a WWE broadcast you can get, mind some minor problems. Plus there are modes and match types aplenty, as well as the ability to create your own superstar.
It’s nice to see the series make the proper comeback it deserves. I hope the trend continues into next year and beyond. Because who doesn’t like a story seen through to completion? (Besides Roman Reigns, obviously.)
GAMERHUB RATING: 4.5 (out of FIVE) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to 2K Games for the review code!
