After a difficult year,WWE 2K22is proving to be a popular title for the franchise and a return to form for fans that simply want a great wrestling game. The developers at Visual Concept are still working hard to implement changes andimprovements to the mechanics with regular updates. There is also more DLC to look forward to in the coming months with the first pack dropping at the end of April 2022.
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There are big improvements to the visuals and presentation. Even the commentary has seen a huge overhaul inWWE 2K22and resembles something closer to 2K’sNBA 2Kseries for authentic realism. It’s no secret thatWWE 2K20was something of a disaster. The development transition between Yukes and Visual Concepts needed more time to work on their vision. Going back to the drawing board was the right move for the new team asWWE2K22is at least on par with the original team’s work and even surpasses it in some ways. Let’s take a look at the major improvementsWWE 2K22has made overWWE 2K20.
5The Animation
WWE 2K22 is the best-looking wrestling game ever made. The wrestler’s likenesses are uncanny and theiconic entrancesare almost worth the price the alone especially given how good The Rock and The Undertaker look. However, the great visuals would be pointless if it wasn’t backed up by some great animations.
A prime example is AKI’sWCW vs NWO Revengeon the Nintendo 64. The visuals look dated by today’s standards but the animations still feel great. Hitting Scot Steiner’s Steiner Driver finisher is still one of the most satisfying in the genre. That same kind of care and attention has been given toWWE 2K22’s animations. The moves look and feel authentic to their specific wrestler and there is a real sense of immersion when The Undertaker hits The Last Ride or Kevin Nash executes the Jack Knife Powerbomb. The improvement inWWE 2K22’s animation adds so much more impact to a wrestling match and it’s a huge upgrade to its predecessor. Additionally, the animation gives a wrestler more authenticity in a match so wrestlers like Jake the Snake feel and perform differently in the ring.
4The Faster Pace
In addition to improved animations,WWE 2K22is a much faster game than its predecessors. The game seems to have taken some inspiration from the belovedSmackdown: Here Comes The Pain. The action is almost arcade-like in its execution. While this may be a double-edged sword for wrestling fans that prefer to see matches start at a slower pace, it’s more approachable and fun for newcomers and even non-wrestling fans.
While it can be argued that the developers at Visual Concepts should have included the option for Chain Wrestling, the gameplay feels more balanced. Thankfully, the match’s pace can be tailored bymaking some adjustments to the stun status settingand how quickly the Signature and Finisher gauge builds up during a match.
3New Reversal Opportunities
InWWE 2K22,the reversal mechanics were changed to the Y/Triangle button. That remains inWWE 2K22so the adjustment isn’t a huge leap for returning players. In addition to the original reversal system, the game has added brand-new reversal and counter opportunities.
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These new mechanics will take some time to adjust but they open up more possibilities for the back and forth matches that fans of wrestling enjoy. Attacks and grapples can now get countered if the player presses the corresponding button. For example,a combo move that starts with the attacking player pressing X/Square can be interrupted and countered if the defender also presses X/Square. The same mechanic works for ground and submission attacks and in many cases, it’s easier than timing a reversal. The new mechanics add a sense of strategy to a match by trying to predict an opponent’s next move. This is the closest that a wrestling game has come to a chess match in this regard.
2No Reversal Limits
One of the less popular mechanics in theWWE 2Kseries was the limit on reversals. Players needed to fill a gauge to counter an opponent’s move and that was limited to three or four reversals at a time. While there was a sense of strategy to doing this as it prevented an opponent from reversing a finishing move, it felt restrictive in its execution.
InWWE 2K22, these reversal limits have been removed completely. Of course, this can lead to some frustration forless experiencedWWE 2K22players, two good players can have some wild matches full of counters and reversals that go back and forth. Instead, the reversal gauge has been replaced with a blue signature gauge. The gauge allows players to store and build signatures and finishing moves without them being mutually exclusive.The only limitation to counter moves is the ground escape moves. They use a full blue bar in the signature gauge.
1The Combo System
A brand new mechanic forWWE 2K22is the combo system. Players can now attack their opponents and combine strikes with a grappling move to end the combo. This mechanic has replaced the older Chain Wrestling system and is another great way to attack without becoming too predictable.
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Players can even adjust and change their favorite wrestler’s combinations to their liking. There is a large variety of attacks that can becombined for a different effect in the ring. The system makesWWE 2K22feel almost like a traditional fighting game but it also works great for technical wrestlers that aim to work certain body parts. If it’s implemented correctly by the player it can help the game feel more like a real wrestling match.
WWE 2K22is available now for the PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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