WWE 2K24: Expert Review Roundup and Analysis
WWE 2K24 was released early Tuesday for those who purchased the Deluxe and 40 Years of WrestleMania Editions of the game, while those who opted for the Standard Edition will get their hands on this year's hotly anticipated presentation Friday.
Ahead of that release, though, they have the opportunity to get a feel for what to expect out of the WWE and 2K Games production thanks to a few expert reviews that have broken down the good, the bad, and the awesome in this year's game.
The strength of this year's game is the actual wrestling, according to Mark Delaney of Gamespot. "The in-ring action is paramount, and WWE 2K24 thankfully builds on the already-excellent mechanics in that regard," he wrote.
Delaney touted the fluidity of the wrestling, "an intuitive control scheme," and the depth of the skill set for each of the playable Superstars as strengths while propping up the MyGM, MyRISE, and 2K Showcase of the Immortals modes as highlights of the presentation.
"While the MTX-heavy mode feels tacked on like a publisher mandate, there are thankfully several other modes that each feel like they deserve to be played for many months ahead, making them the true centerpieces of your personal WWE universe," he concluded his review, which he scored the game an "8," which lands it in "great" territory.
Rob Gordon of ScreenRant wrote, "One of the key successes of WWE 2K24 is the sheer number of gameplay options available to players," to start his review, with the Showcase mode catching his attention. "It's great fun to revisit these matches, and it's likely to be a game mode that every player dips into to get that Wrestlemania experience."
He echoes Delaney's review, though, admitting the MyFACTION mode is one of the weak spots of the game, stating:
"WWE 2K24 isn't perfect, though, and MyFaction is probably the weakest link of the bunch. With a card-based structure that is clearly taking cues from the likes of FIFA's Ultimate Team, it's very much the more predatory video game option from 2K. As such, it seems to be more of a money pit that incentivizes players tapping into its business model rather than something actually entertaining."
One of the most entertaining elements of any WWE and 2K production is the creation suite and Gordon agreed, writing, "One element of WWE 2K24 that is absolutely worth highlighting as a success is the game's character customization mode, which is both comprehensive and almost as fun as playing the game itself."
Gordon concluded his review by also delivering an "8" rating and calling WWE 2K24 the "best wrestling game in years."
The Guardian's four-star review of the release again touts the game's controls.
"Whenever you're in the ring, there's a fluidity to your moves. Chops transition into grapples without awkward delays, and the massive variety of animations motors even the most specific, contextual actions along nicely – even throwing a Slim Jim right in John Cena's face."
In regards to the MyRISE career mode, the site wrote, "Like almost every other corner of the game, they're dripping in expensive production values, enjoyable star cameos and an unending variety of ways to beat people up on TV."
Analysis
Early reviews tout the game as the best of its kind in recent memory, a testament to the work WWE and 2K have put in to rehabilitate a franchise that appeared to be dead in the water following the, for lack of a better word, abysmal release that was the 2020 game.
Renewed commitment to gameplay, the further development of popular modes, the deepest roster ever, and a top-shelf creation suite are highlights of the game.
It is not perfect, with two of the reviews specifically calling out the "predatory" nature of the MyFACTION mode, but the game has boundless entertainment for fans of pro wrestling even if they never spend a dime on any of the in-game purchases.
It is almost appropriate that in this "Renaissance Era" of WWE programming, the company annual video game release has trended in the same direction.
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