WWE 2K18 Review - A new round for the franchise

Ever since the jump to the current generation with WWE 2K15, Yuke's and 2K's annual sports entertainment title is almost completely renewed. Although the version of the game continues this year's overall path in the right direction, the Hornswoggle takes great steps and one Braun Strowman -great step backwards.

This year introduces a new "graphics-engine-built" from the ground, which is definitely an improvement. With better light effects, superstars, revelations, audiences and arenas that all look better than ever before, there's still one thing that developers at Visual Concepts and Yuke's seem to fail to succeed: her. This year marks the return of the almost Lego-like hair, where only a few "bundles" move her. This ensures that all characters with long hair look like they have dreadlocks. Combined with a strange looking static effect, this is one of the last remaining elements that remain graphic in the previous generation.

Another so-called "selling point" this year was the comment, but unfortunately this is not the case. True, the lineup of the commentary is different this year, with Corey Graves and Byron Saxton next to veteran Michael Cole, but you still get the same sentences as in 2010, only now with new voices and an anti-smoking advertisement there between thrown for the right order. The comment is also plagued by multiple bugs, including chipping out sentences during an emergence scene, Corey Graves who repeated Michael Cole exactly and the team that "he" uses instead of "she" during women's contests. Considering the quality of the commentary in 2K's NBA counterpart and the fantastic improvements it has made in the audience and the arena.

Apart from the comment, the action in the ring in WWE 2K18 is better than ever before. The sound simulation-like gameplay introduced in 2015 was once again "weakened" and expanded - "reversals" are balanced and the "pin kick-out" mini game is less predictable to add a better sense of realism and gravity to these moments. New animations also provide better transitions between the moves, and as a whole it's a smoother and better-looking gameplay experience.

One of the biggest additions to the gameplay this year is the new "carry" system, which takes a lot of inspiration from WWE Smackdown's ultimate control moves . Raw from 2007. This new option lets the superstars lift their opponents into one of the four 'carries' and join the ring. From here the managed superstar can complete a slam in the desired position, or use different hotspots in the area to perform destructive moves. The defending superstar must be picked up as a razor on a round (on the PlayStation 4) to fill a meter and escape.

The other major addition to the action in the ring this year are eight-man matches. Finally, at the same time, you can fight eight superstars at the same time with Ladder Matches, 4 vs 4 Tag Team Matches and Battle Royales, even though i noticed some delays in the race, especially with several CAWS (create-a- wrestlers).

Talking about issues that need to be addressed: WWE 2K18 contains several bugs and glitches at the release this year. The most notable bug is a computer-driven character that climbs an angle and performs 'wake up', then jumping downwards and continuing with the contest as if our characters have risen. Although this is not a game-breaking bug, it eliminates the experience and the illusion that you fight against an intelligence opponent. In addition, I've experienced multiple crashes in MyCareer mode. These crashes were already much less than with 2K17's release, so let's hope that this will be fixed quickly.

MyCareer this year is where 2K18 takes the greatest risk. Just like last year, you start your career at the NXT Permance Center and the goal is to win a Wrestlemania moment in the WWE and Superstar. Like last year, the Performance Center and your first NXT experiences are used as a tutorial, but unlike in WWE 2K17, this tutorial section includes continuous load screens between each interaction, both inside and out of the ring. Another backward step can be found in the linear story that chases your NXT experience and the first month of your career in the WWE without having any influence. This ensures that the first few hours are not really interesting.

Clearly inspired by rpg elements, MyCareer provides the backstage area for walking around freely; The choice between being a businessman ('whole') or a favorite with the fans ('face'); the ability to talk to other superstars (who are constantly busy on their phone if you do not talk to them); and side missions. These side missions add extra points to your influence and popularity, which further enhances progress as a whole or face and releases 'perks'. Unfortunately, all the interactions and the story consist of text and this has been written very badly. Dialogues generally consist of successes and childish insults to cartoon-like parodies on the personalities of certain superstars. Sometimes there is absolutely no coherence.

These terrible dialogues are of course also used in the recurring promo system, which, despite the bad texts, has actually been improved. The small improvements that make for a more coherent experience, like many elements this year, are a step in the right direction, but not enough to be seen as true innovation. Interviews also seem more seamless this year, but the following lack of information with the choices you makes it feel like a waste of your time, rather than an element to actually progress.

Again, your MyPlayer progress is bound to virtual currency, and in the same spirit as its NBA counterpart, WWE adds 2K18 VC costs to a section that did not have that last year. In WWE 2K18, Now you have to spend small amounts at VC for whatever you want to play, whether it's a different shirt or a new move - if you have not used it before, you have to pay for it. In addition, this is the only other way to release new "movesets" from the newly introduced Loot Crates, which can also contain outfits for your character. These bronze, silver and gold crates can be purchased by VC or earned by winning contests in this year's online MyPlayer mode, Road to Glory, and although there is no option at the time of writing to buy VC me really money, this would not come as a surprise if 2K adds soon.

Road to Glory is a mode that combines your MyPlayer online with other players in daily matches to earn stars that qualify for pay-per-view events. Finding matches in Road to Glory is a long and slow process, but hopefully this will change if more players appear on the servers. In first PPV, at the moment of writing, there have not yet been able to participate. However, it is interesting to see the mode in its full glory.

The other main mode that has grown into the last few years is Universe Mode. WWE 2K18 's version is virtually unchanged from last year's. 2K has added some additional video clips that make rivalries and a new "intensity" meter peels the kind of rivalry that has superstars. There is also a new Power Ranking system that provides a stat boost for the top 10 superstars, but apart from these small additions, Universe Mode is still following the WWE programming, or your own-made shows, week after week, where your matches simulate or play. After some PPV rounds, this mode becomes repetitive, so you can rely on your own imagination and make your own story lines to follow.

One of the best ways to portray your imagination is the Creation Suite, which is undoubtedly the main attraction in the WWE series. Create-a-superstar is the most comprehensive ever, with an impressive number of options to make or compose the superstar of your dreams. Although it's a pity that the Face Photo option feels and looks like an interactive import option from the PS2 EyeToy era, Face Morphing option makes it more than good. Create-an-arena, Create-a-title and Highlight Reel options are also expanded this year, with the latter now having Layer options. To complete this impressive list, there is the recurring Create-a-Match. Here you can combine settings to create your own Match type. The ability to adjust win conditions, such as First Blood.

WWE 2K18 - A new round for the franchise, but one that could have used a few more adjustments.

All in all, WWE 2K17 feels more like 2K17, with a little bit more finish and meat on the bones than a full new title of the annual series. Relying on a text-driven RPG story in MyCareer is an idea that has potential, but the terrible writing and dialogue spoil the concept quickly. Although the new graphics engine, eight-man contests, and the Carry system improve gameplay experience, the lack of innovation and innovations in the rest of the game again represents a decent, but somewhat disappointing addition to the WWE 2K franchise.

The plus and the drawbacks

✔ New graphics engine looks great; Carry system is entertaining; matches with eight fighters; Extended Character Creation.

✖ Bugs in the commentary and other elements; understated MyCareer dialogues; rushed start of MyCareer.

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