WWE 2K15: PS4 and Xbox One Review Scores and Twitter Reaction

Next-generation gamers can finally get their hands on WWE 2K15, which was unveiled for PS4 and Xbox One on Tuesday.

Weeks after PS3 and Xbox 360 owners got their claws on the franchise's latest installment, early adopters in possession of newer consoles now have a chance to join them in the world of virtual wrestling. Following a midnight release, 2K Games' second crack at the series is now available.

The inclusion of the MyCareer mode and Sting as a pre-order bonus brought sky-high buzz. The WCW legend gave a glimpse of his video game likeness:

On Monday night, fans waited in line to pick up the game and meet injured Superstar Daniel Bryan at a New York GameStop, per WWE 2K:

Here's the early word on how fans and reviewers have taken to WWE 2K15.

Internet Reaction

The wait is finally over.

Gamers giddily anticipated the next-gen installment. Ronnie 2K couldn't contain his excitement for the big day:

Not everyone had to hold off until Tuesday to start playing. Courtesy of WWE Games 2K's Instagram page, Seth Rollins got to sneak in some gaming time before Monday Night Raw. Still a member of The Shield in the 2K Universe, he had an excuse to avoid Dean Ambrose on the PS4:

YouTube gamer TubbyEmu recreated their recent Hell in a Cell bout, which features plenty of the best commentary from Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler:

Dolph Ziggler also got a sneak peak and liked what he saw. Maybe he was beating Rollins:

Don't be alarmed if friends go off the grid for a little while, especially if you happen to be buddies with comedian Ronald Funches:

A major difference in this year's iteration is that gamers can no longer run around and unleash furies of strikes with reckless abandon. In an attempt to add some reality to the pixelated world, 2K added a more realistic grappling system and stamina meter, forcing players to strategize rather than mash buttons.

One fan welcomed the more grounded experience:

"

@WWEgames the slower pace of matches and spot on graphics makes this game addicting and amazing #WWE2K15 #PS4

— Matt (@GardenSirens) November 18, 2014"

TubbyEmu also noted the change of direction, which will please devoted WWE fans clamoring for nuance:

At the least, this game did the unimaginable by bringing CM Punk back to Raw. Well, not actually, but a trailer shows his playable character, as the departed Superstar plays a pivotal role in a new Showcase mode depicting his storied rivalry with John Cena.

WWE Creative Humor chimed in:

Review

Some underwhelming reviews on the last-gen side created concern for the newest release. IGN.com's Dave Rudden scored the PS3 and 360 version a 5.9 out of 10.

It's possible the developers wanted to focus more prominently on perfecting everything for the more lucrative devices. In Rudden's newest review, he said the game plays better on the next-gen consoles but offered commentary on the new MyCareer story:

"

The new-gen exclusive MyCareer mode is that same sense of purgatory writ large. I spent well over 10 hours bringing my created superstar from NXT tryouts to WWE Pay-Per-View matches, and ultimately, to championship gold. Along the way, however, not much else really happened. I ran afoul of some factions, had a few one-on-one feuds, and occasionally had to endure difficult tests from authority figures, but I also had to endure an excruciating amount of filler. In between these major events, the vast majority of MyCareer is spent taking part in storyline-free tune-up bouts and dark matches. I would have gladly traded these fights and their utility in improving my character's stats for something a third as long that only included the unique story stuff.

"

While the newer product netted an improved 7.0 review, Rudden highlighted the inability to develop into a main event player. Movie Pilot's Kenny McDonnell also felt the final product could be stronger, rating the next-gen version a five out of 10:

"

Over all, I have been pretty disappointed with this game on both generations. It certainly is a lot cleaner than 2K14 in terms of combat and the graphics have slight improvements, but all the other gameplay mechanics feel like too little too late and demonstrate 2K's reluctance for change OR their desire to remove everything we loved about the series. Some of the new combat systems really are great, but with such a reduced experience, I can't help but dislike this title.

"

One of McDonnell's core critiques was a cutback in match types, as several options (I Quit, Inferno, Ladder, Handicap, Tornado Tag) are no longer available.

Darryn Bonthuys of LazyGamer.net had a more positive reaction to the loss of many former staples and felt it was a plus for the game:

"

WWE games are at present, a reflection of the TV product. A product that has streamlined itself in recent years. Sure, the show may be as predictable as ever and I miss some of the crazier days inspired by the antics of competition such as ECW and WCW, but times change. And clearly, the game reflects that.

"

Those exclusions run beyond match types, as Rudden noted in his next-gen review:

"

Customized title belts and arenas are gone, which is a bummer, but there are two far bigger omissions: you can't create original stories, nor can you make an original female wrestler. The WWE Universe mode does have expanded story options that you can assign to rivalries, but they're rarely personalized to specific wrestlers, making them a poor alternative to community creations.

"

Nothing is ever perfected on the first try, so there's a learning curve involved with WWE's first crack at next-gen gaming. To mixed results, 2K Games has showed no fear in tweaking the simulation in hopes of creating the most rewarding user experience.

There's still work to be done, but the graphics and realistic gameplay look to at least place WWE 2K15 on the right path during this exciting time for gamers.