WWE 2K15: Deep Review of Who Got NXT Mode in Xbox 360 and PS3 Versions

The Who Got NXT mode on WWE 2K15 might seem like a throw-in feature for current-generation systems, but it's a little more than that. The NXT-flavored feature serves as the only way to unlock up-and-coming Superstars Sami Zayn, Adrian Neville, Rusev, Corey Graves and Bo Dallas in the game.

It's also pretty challenging.

Each current and/or former Superstar has a four-match chapter to complete. That's a total of 20 matches which might not sound like a lot, but once you begin to battle your way through them, it can be really intense.

Here's the good and the bad from the mode.

The Good

The NXT Arena Looks Sweet

Having actually been to Full Sail University for a taping of NXT, I can say from experience that the arena is portrayed pretty accurately. It might look just a tad bit bigger in the game than it is in real life, but you still get the feel of an intimate, wrestling-crazed environment.

Having the arena so accurately recreated helps with the immersion.

The Young Superstars Move Sets are Awesome

image from WWE 2K15 on Xbox 360, provided by 2K Sports

Playing as Zayn, Neville and Rusev reminds us just how awesome the in-ring product could be for the WWE in the future, if the Superstars are used properly.

Zayn and Neville have two of the most exciting move sets in the business, and Rusev's agility is on another level for a big man. 

Once you unlock them, you'll probably want to play with them again in other modes of the game.

A Stiff Challenge

A few of the matches are easy, but the final match for each Superstar carries a stiff challenge. For example, in the last chapter of Sami Zayn's portion of the mode, you have to defeat Cesaro and hit three key objectives.

You must first moderately damage him, then kick out of a pin after the Swiss Superman lands one of his finishers, and then perform the torpedo DDT for the win.

Cesaro's difficulty level is a bit raised, so this might take you a few times to complete.

The Bad

Not Enough Variation in Arena

While the NXT arena looks great, it would have been nice to have a few matches take place in another arena. Most modes of this nature have several locations, this seems limited in that regard.

If you play the mode exclusively, you'll be more than happy to move on to another mode in the game that offers more variety as it relates to arenas.

No Mic Work in Presentation

Part of what makes 2K Showcase and older modes like Attitude Era and 30 Years of WrestleMania exciting is the recreated mic work.

Whether it be from WWE footage or animated scenes, the Who Got NXT mode is missing the personality that these cut scenes could provide. There's some dialog and background information supplied by Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole, but that's all.

The Proving Ground

Once you're able to play through all five guys' stories, you'll unlock the Proving Ground. There you'll be tasked with beating a souped-up version of John Cena. It's very much like the Defeat the Streak mode from last year's game.

But it doesn't have the same mystique because it's not tied to an actual streak we can all relate to. Still, it's a cool way to top off the Who Got NXT experience.

Overall

This is a solid addition to a title that isn't meant to be the main course in your WWE gaming library this year. Still, if you haven't decided to feast on a next-generation experience, Who Got NXT helps to keep you somewhat full on your Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Follow Brian Mazique aka FranchisePlay, the Sports Video Game Journalist