WWE 2K15: Review, Gameplay Impressions and More for Xbox One and PS4

A professional wrestling event is unlike any other. It's a cross between combat sports, a concert and a circus. When you blend it all together, it often equates to one of the most enjoyable experiences fans can have in an arena.

When video game makers set out to recreate this one-of-a-kind experience, it's difficult to encapsulate all of its appeal and to recreate the drama that makes it compelling from week to week. Video game developers have struggled to find the sport's charm in the past.

WWE 2K15 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One released Tuesday. With a directive toward making realistic in-ring action and storytelling elements compelling additions to the overall package, WWE 2K15 has its sights set high.

Armed with the technology from the latest gaming consoles, this 2K Sports-developed title aims to take virtual wrestling higher than it has ever gone. 

Visually Stunning

image from WWE 2K15, provided by 2K Sports

Just when you think you've seen the last next-generation game with graphics and animation that will make your jaw drop, a title like WWE 2K15 is released and reminds you the visual bar can be still be raised. 

Up to this point, the most attractive sports video games I've seen on PS4 or Xbox One are EA Sports UFC, NHL 15 and NBA 2K15. I would venture to say WWE 2K15 is equal or superior to each of those games when it comes to graphics.

Most of the Superstars on the roster were rendered with the new face-scanning technology that has become standard for all sports video games these days. However, even guys who weren't scanned, like CM Punk and The Rock, have excellent virtual versions of themselves playable in the game.

image from WWE 2K15, provided by 2K Sports

Most of us have seen a plethora of screenshots of the game before its release, so we were fully prepared for a visually impressive experience. That said, you can't fully appreciate how good this game looks until you see its animation.

At its best, WWE action has flow and cohesion. The size, speed and athleticism can be marveled at while you're taking in a match. You get that same feeling as you play WWE 2K15. The awesome character models move about the ring as realistically as any ever have in a wrestling game.

The running, striking and grappling animations look awesome.

Subtleties like stomps, side headlocks and other core wrestling maneuvers have solid collision detection and feel as much like you're performing the moves as can be expected in a gaming experience.

The Superstars not only have accurate faces, but their bodies are also expertly recreated. When it comes to varying body types, every other sports video game in existence can take notes from WWE 2K15. The scaling in this regard is stellar. Guys like Kofi Kingston and Big Show are made to look as different in the game as they do in real life, and the same can be said for Superstars more similarly built, like Justin Gabriel and Fandango.

In real life, no two people are built exactly the same, and that's the case in WWE 2K15.

The visual compliments don't end with the Superstars. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how good the arenas look. Whether its Raw, Smackdown or a pay-per-view, the venues and the virtual fans that fill them are simply outstanding. I could go on and on about how great this game looks, but I think you get the idea.

Simulation Wrestling Has Arrived...for the Most Part

image from WWE 2K15, provided by 2K Sports

The first time I played WWE 2K15 was during SummerSlam weekend. I immediately noticed the action was a bit slowed, and stamina was a much bigger factor. There was a chain-grappling sequence at the beginning of every match to simulate that traditional aspect of professional wrestling.

While I applauded the developers and producers' attempts to create something that had never been made before—a simulation wrestling game—I was worried it wouldn't be practical or fun in the long term.

After spending a good portion of the weekend playing the game on PS4, I can say unequivocally that WWE 2K15 has written the blueprint for gameplay in a wrestling title. You may see another game like WWE All-Stars come along aiming to be the NBA Jam of the business. However, more games meant to be recreations of real-life programming will likely be influenced by what WWE 2K15 has done.

When you watch a WWE match—especially an epic one—you see the Superstars selling moves from their opponents, showing fatigue and laboring to complete moves deep into the match.

These stylings are part of the storytelling that the performance artists use to draw fans into the emotion of the scripted battle. WWE 2K15 simulates this with fatigue and damage-influenced animations that not only add to the visual realism but also must be accounted for from a strategic standpoint.

If you're in a long and brutal battle, you must think twice about trying to climb to the top rope. While you're opponent may be down on the mat after receiving a heavy attack, your battered and fatigued Superstar may not be able to climb the turnbuckle in time to perform the high-risk maneuver.

Those are the types of scenarios we see play out in professional wrestling. While it's predetermined there, it can be the difference between winning and losing in WWE 2K15. This is a glimpse into the climatic parts of a match, but WWE 2K15 starts trying to bring the realism from the opening bell.

The aforementioned chain-grappling system is simple in concept. It's like a game of rock, paper, scissors. The wrestler who wins the initial draw seizes early control of the match. The second stage functions like the lock-pick portions of games like Assassin's Creed and Thief. 

While I'm not totally sold on the long-term need for this feature, it was a good idea to try and add some strategy to the beginning of a match. Gamers tend to start every contest with a running attack, and that's not the way most professional wrestling matches begin.

In previous WWE games, performing grapple moves has been a task. Reversals seemed to thwart almost every attempt if you were playing against a skilled opponent or on a higher difficulty against the CPU. The new quick-grapple controls makes it much easier to utilize more of your Superstar's move set.

Most everything with the gameplay is predominantly positive, but a consistent sticking point with the WWE games has been the physics around props. Appropriate impact with tables, ring steps, chairs, and other objects has been wonky in the past.

While there are a few improvements on this front in WWE 2K15, there's still some inexplicable occurrences when tables, ladders and chairs are in play. In one match, I was controlling Sting against Randy Orton. The Stinger superplexed The Viper onto a table I had set up for the purpose of creating some virtual carnage.

The right animation would have been a normal table break that we see on WWE programming all the time. In the game, the impact caused the table to fly outside of the ring in a manner that betrayed physics. I saw a few more instances like that, and most of them involve the use of props.

The developers from 2K Sports told me that a patch is coming on release day to clean up some of these issues. The update is expected to be expansive. Hopefully, the fix will take care of these issues. 

While correcting an old problem could be addressed in a patch, there's one element of the game that won't be fixed in an update. WWE 2K15 still doesn't allow gamers to fight into the crowd, backstage or to throw their opponents off the stage.

These are relatively common events on WWE programming, yet WWE 2K15 still confines gamers to the ring, the immediate area outside of it, the stage and ramp. The Backstage Brawl match used to be part of the package, but it was taken away in this version. While it wasn't exactly ideal, it did vary the action a bit.

Perhaps these are things we'll see in later versions of the game.

Good Effects, Bad Commentary

Much was made about improved commentary in this year's game, but in all honesty, it's still not very good. There are some new lines, but the flow is still poor, and it doesn't take long before you're overrun with repeated phrases.

For the umpteenth year, this aspect of the game is still very forgettable.

The John Cena-curated soundtrack also gets a bit tired after about 10 rotations. It was much safer and effective for the series when it simply featured the large supply of entrance songs as the menu music for the game.

What isn't as easy to dismiss is the sound effects. The atmosphere comes alive in this game. From the crowd and Superstar's chants to entrance music and the sound of wrestlers hitting the mat and objects, the audio presentation is solid.

Potential

image from WWE 2K15, provided by 2K Sports

When it comes to modes and options in WWE 2K15, there's quality, reason for optimism and disappointment. 

First off, most of the match types from previous versions have made it into WWE 2K15. The matches that feature up to six Superstars in the ring at once function smoothly on next-gen consoles. Because of the fluidity of action the PS4 and Xbox One provide, it makes these all-out brawls as fun as they have ever been.

The MyCareer mode is a staple and major draw for the NBA 2K franchise. This is the first year the concept has been introduced into the WWE 2K series. The results are more hit than miss.

Though you can't use the PS4 camera or Xbox Kinect to scan your face, the character creation is still solid. You're able to upload an image of yourself to WWE2K.com and import it into the game and onto your created Superstar's head.

It's easily the next best thing to scanning your face. This same process can be used to import custom logos that can be used to make your Superstar stand out. There are some limitations in the way of hairstyles, masks and other accessories, but for the most part, you should be able to create a cool character with the tools provided.

Picking your Superstar's attire and moves is time-consuming, but there's a good amount of options available. Again, this part of the game has been streamlined, but importing images helps to add some individuality.

Once you've created your Superstar, your journey aptly begins in NXT. You'll have to battle your way up the ranks, earn a spot on the main roster and ascend to Hall of Fame status. The pacing is sensible, but its difficult to delve deep into the story because of the lack of voices used in the mode.

It's similar to the way the MyCareer mode was done in NBA 2K14 on PS4 and Xbox One, only that game at least allowed you to hear your character's voice. Your character doesn't have a voice in WWE 2K15 at all. The lack of human speech hurts the mode.

Upgrading your character uses a system that appropriately balances skill points and virtual currency. Things like "OMG" moments and more over-the-top maneuvers must be purchased with VC.

This adds some reward and rarity to moves that aren't exactly supposed to be the most commonly used maneuvers.

My Career is an exclusive for the next-gen systems, but the 2K Showcase made its way to both the current-gen consoles as well as PS4 and Xbox One. It features two historic feuds in a task-based single-player campaign. There is John Cena's program with CM Punk and Triple H's battle with former best friend Shawn Michaels.

The modes are similar to the 30 Years of WrestleMania and Attitude Era  from the WWE 2K14 and WWE 13 games, respectively. Most of the games' unlockables are accessed through this mode, and it will be expanded later via downloadabale content.

There will be Mark Henry, Christian and Ultimate Warrior-centric feuds released over the coming months. These modes are fun, but animated presentations of the mic work would have really pushed 2K Showcase to another level.

30 Years of Wrestlemania had a few of these elements. Going in this direction exclusively would be an excellent use of the WWE's vast audio library and the talents of directors capable of recreating memorable scenes using virtual Superstars.

Speaking of creating epic work, the new Superstar Studio and logo-uploading process give gamers the most freedom ever within a wrestling title. Adding in alternate attires to match the real-life Superstars has been made fairly easy with the new creation suite.

You can simply upload any new logos and change attires appropriately. Take a look at this redone version of Dean Ambrose and Cody Rhodes aka Stardust.

image from WWE 2K15, provided by 2K Sports

These were not created in the retail version. Fans have already begun creating updated versions of WWE Superstars.

The logos that are updated can be used on clothing, your Superstar's skin as tattoos and any other way you can creatively add an image to your creation. It's really a great base for what could have been the best creation suite ever. What holds it back?

There are a few things, most prominently the aforementioned lack of hairstyles, masks, and other styles. Also, the inability to control hair and clothing length. Lastly—and most disappointing—is the fact that you're only allowed to create 25 Superstars. This is down from 100 in the current-gen version.

That number puts a serious cramp on expanding your WWE universe.

Hopefully, WWE 2K16 cranks that number up significantly. This version of the game is also missing favorites like create-a-story, arena and championship. Many gamers liked to utilize their creations in their Universe mode experience.

With them omitted, the mode is a bit less customizable. 

There's still an option to alter feuds, pay-per-views, book matches and to play as anyone on the roster. However, without custom belts, arenas and storylines, the experience is a little confining. 

Pathway to Greatness

WWE 2K15 will likely be one of the most important releases in the series' history. The groundwork has been laid for a fresh and exciting direction in gameplay for years to come. The visuals, which are already excellent, should continue to improve, as should the presentation.

For the most part, this game excels in a major way. However, there are issues with commentary, modes and storytelling that keep it from being a crowning achievement.

Still, it's a solid debut on next-gen systems. Because of its overwhelming qualities, WWE 2K15 is a must-buy for fans of wrestling video games.

Here are the numbers:

Graphics and Animation: 9.5

Gameplay and Fun Factor: 8.75

Sound and Presentation: 6.5

Game Modes and Options: 7.25

Overall: 8