WWE 2K14 (2)

Oooooh yeah. WWE games, lemme tell ya something. To be the best, you got to beat the best. And you ain’t done that in many a year. Your games have been to the danger zone and never come back. Once upon a time, you were the best there was, the best there is and there best there ever will be. But your time is over. And this Sunday at Wrestlemania, I’m going to bury WWE 2K14!

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Sound familiar? That’s the kind of staged shoot before a match that made older WWE matches just so damn memorable. That larger than life persona, the titans from yesteryear who gave way to new superstars, an attitude era and an expansion into ruthless aggression.

It’s also the big selling point of WWE 2K14, as it takes players on a nostalgic dive off the top rope into yesteryear, starting at the very first Wrestlemania and working towards the modern day showcase of the immortals. If ever there was a reason to play WWE 2K14, it’s to relive some of the greatest moments in all of sports entertainment.

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And most of the time, WWE 2K14 excels at showcasing that idea. If you grew up on matches that saw Hulk Hogan attempt to slam Andre the giant into the ring, or Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels shave years off of their careers in a ladder match for the ages, then you’ve come to the right place.

The former THQ franchise, now under the direction of 2K Games is looking slick and dedicated this year when it time travels back. There’s an astonishing attention to detail, from the ring gear that Randy “Macho Man” Savage would wear to his Wrestlemania matches, through to the intimidation games and staring matches that these superstars would engage in before throwing fists and wrasslin’ one another.

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30 Years of Wrestlemania is a fantastic idea, that falls short thanks to the aging engine that Yukes has been using for several games now, with the excellence of execution not always matching the ambition of the driving force behind the latest game.

The uncanny valley syndrome is hitting harder than a solid left from the Big Show, and it’s high time that the franchise gets a new engine to power it, as the jarring visual effects can distract from an otherwise brilliant presentation.

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Wrestlemania matches have been studied in depth, with animations and TV effects matching the era in which they were created, while the long-time commentary team of Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler provide play by play commentary.

There’s some great audio from the duo, as they describe matches, but it wasn’t designed for multiple playthroughs and you’ll quickly tire of them repeating the exact same lines if you happen to be replaying your favourite matches.

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Much like WWE 2013, 2K14 features matches where you need to hit certain objectives in order to unlock some bonus gear. Historical objectives, such as nailing Kane with three Tombstone pile-drivers, or hitting the Rock with a Stone Cold Stunner. Some of these objectives play the mystery game, but fans who have seen those matches will instantly know what to do.

The objectives also help recreate those matches faithfully, with “Wrestlemania Moments” giving players the opportunity to do a QTE to help set up the scenario for the next portion of the match. As far as match stipulations go, they aren’t mandatory, but they are a welcome challenge that helps sell the Wrestlemania mode.

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There’s also a chance to rewrite Wrestlemania history, by playing as or against the Undertaker in a mode where you can either defend or beat is streak. Going up against the deadman is one hell of a challenge though, as you’ll find out when he pulls every single trick possible from twenty years of Wrestlemania out of his book, for a match that can be insurmountable.

Gameplay-wise, the game features a combat system that is about as predictable as a WWE wedding. Strikes, grapples and Irish whips still form the core combat experience, with those moves needing to be cycled through and performed in order to create a WWE match worthy of a pay-per view event.

You’ll need to build up your momentum this way, earning the chance to perform a signature or Finisher attack, with your ring position playing a crucial role in determining what move you use to dish out some punishment.

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Reversals also require even more precise timing than before, hitting a decent balance between the godlike reaction speeded needed in WWE 2012 and the less challenging reflexes from 2013. Hitting that right trigger, you’ll find that you have roughly 1/15th of a second to pull off a reversal, a move that requires careful knowledge of body language, timing and predicting your opponent.

When it works, it works beautifully and a little bit of practice could make your in-ring comebacks deadlier than a steel chair to the face. But man, it can be a mission to learn it properly. Some attacks come so damn fast, that you’re going to have to rely on sheer luck to reverse them, while the entire system fails miserably in triple threat and fatal fourway matches, when there is just too much action going on for the brain to adjust to accordingly.

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The AI could also use some work, as you’ll often find opponents rubber-banding between brain-dead doofuses and unstoppable phenoms when they get going. Even worse, tag team matches offer little to no support from your partner, with the AI preferring to wait it out instead of giving you a friendly hand.

A launch and catch finisher move rounds out the new tweaks to the gameplay, which becomes available once you manage to throw your opponent into a corner and hit the right  move sequence.

Beyond 30 years of Wrestlemania, the WWE Universe mode is back once again. It’s a lean and mean experience, which offers matches, rivalries and big main events while trying to create your own storyline. But it just feels hollow and it doesn’t do enough to really stand out, making the need for a proper career mode that much more wanted.

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An exhibition mode allows players to set up their dream match, whether it be a Hell in a Cell bout between John Cena and Dolph Ziggler, or seeing Randy Orton take Mankind to the brink of defeat in an I Quit match.

The creation suite also remains as versatile as ever. I could play around with that mode for hours, as I created everything from derpy titans to midget abominations with more muscles than should be humanly possible. Throw into that advanced options to create your own entrance, stats, move-sets, narratives and finishing moves, and you’ve got a comprehensive tool kit that’ll make the game that much entertaining.

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Depending on your connection, online play could be an issue. As usual, there’ll always be a lag of sorts, making reversal timing that much more difficult, but seeing the bizarre creations that the WWE universe comes out with is more than worth it, for some truly off the wall matches.

At its core, WWE 2K14 is a celebration of everything that makes sports entertainment so much fun to watch. The rivalries and hype leading up to colossal clashes. The larger than life personalities, and their commitment to put their bodies on the line for fans of the industry.

For over 30 years, that and much more has helped define the WWE. But nostalgia can only take you so far, and it’s high time that the game franchise got shaken up with some new blood behind the development.

WWE 2K14 (11)

Last Updated: November 20, 2013

WWE 2K14
WWE 2K14 is a history lesson for the ages, but the excellence of execution is lacking. 2K Games has a solid franchise to work on though, provided that they manage to get some new blood in to help the franchise regain the ruthless aggression that made it a champion in the first place so many years ago.
7.9
WWE 2K14 was reviewed on Xbox 360
75 / 100

30 Comments

  1. Always Darryn with the sweaty burly men. Sheesh

    😉

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      November 20, 2013 at 15:45

      It’s kinda funny because that’s how I prefer my women.

      Reply

      • TiMsTeR1033

        November 20, 2013 at 15:47

        sweaty?

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          November 20, 2013 at 15:48

          And burly.

          Reply

      • Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)

        November 20, 2013 at 15:47

        You prefer your women to be sweaty burly men?

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Duke

          November 20, 2013 at 15:49

          HAHA

          Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          November 20, 2013 at 15:55

          LOL

          Reply

    • joniegub586

      November 21, 2013 at 20:19

      my neighbour recently got a stunning yellow Toyota Avalon Hybrid
      just by working online with a cheap laptop. like this http://www.Bay35.co?

      Reply

  2. John's (JJ's) Annihilation

    November 20, 2013 at 15:39

    Isn’t the graphics the same they used on the first one? Sure looks like it.

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      November 20, 2013 at 15:46

      WWE next gen game uses same old engine too! just with added sweat feature! hehe

      Reply

      • John's (JJ's) Annihilation

        November 20, 2013 at 16:10

        Ah crap man. Why? Cheap ass bastards.

        Reply

  3. Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)

    November 20, 2013 at 15:43

    This is just like CoD and Pokemon… Every year they release anew game that is the same as the previous, with just “Better Graphics”…

    Reply

    • EeboMan500

      November 24, 2013 at 00:19

      Please don’t compare Pokemon and WWE to CoD

      Reply

  4. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    November 20, 2013 at 15:46

    I definitely prefer 2k14 to WWE13. While the graphics aren’t that much different to the previous title, the animation is lot smoother now. It’s such a pleasure to play. Also, I like the fact that the camera is positioned a little further than the previous titles, so it doesn’t feel as claustrophobic.

    But, I agree about multiplayer – the online code is atrocious. If you’re not booted out of a game, the matches are very laggy, and for a fighting game that’s a big no-no.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      November 20, 2013 at 15:47

      It’s hard for me to understand how a fighting game can be laggy. Online FPS yes because you have 32 people running around but a fighting game?

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        November 20, 2013 at 15:49

        It baffles my mind as well… :/

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Duke

          November 20, 2013 at 15:53

          Perhaps the crowd and the sweat causes the lag?

          Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    November 20, 2013 at 15:46

    Haven’t played a wrestling game in a long time. It’s always fun to play co-op. Might check this out.

    Reply

  6. Lardus-Resident Perve

    November 20, 2013 at 15:54

    “making the need for a proper career mode that much more wanted” – been ranting about this for years. Now that I have NBA2K14 and have how capable 2K are of making a “sport simulation RPG”, I have hope for next year, but will skip this year again.

    Reply

  7. Jonah Cash

    November 20, 2013 at 15:56

    Oi!!!

    Reply

  8. oVg

    November 20, 2013 at 16:08

    Why is every gif that I see of this game a bug? Their bodies are always contorting everywhere. Horrible game.

    Reply

  9. UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

    November 20, 2013 at 16:54

    I honestly can not believe this is still a thing…

    Reply

  10. ZOMBIES

    November 22, 2013 at 23:04

    games yes no

    Reply

  11. ZOMBIES

    November 22, 2013 at 23:06

    we2k14

    Reply

  12. ZOMBIES

    November 23, 2013 at 00:01

    loves boobs

    Reply

  13. ZOMBIES

    November 23, 2013 at 00:02

    homes sklliex yes no

    Reply

  14. ZOMBIES

    November 25, 2013 at 18:36

    the is me loves yes no

    Reply

  15. ZOMBIES

    November 25, 2013 at 20:21

    poooop[

    Reply

  16. ZOMBIES

    November 25, 2013 at 20:21

    siht

    Reply

  17. ZOMBIES

    November 25, 2013 at 20:22

    chat
    yes no

    Reply

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