WWE 2K15: Review and Upgrades for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 Edition

On Tuesday, WWE and 2K Sports released the next-generation version of WWE 2K15 for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

For those who already purchased the game for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 when it was released in October, the major changes and upgrades to the next-gen version of the game make it a huge improvement over the older version.

The biggest and most obvious upgrade is in the visual presentation. With the newer gaming systems offering the capability of much-improved graphics, the developers have gone all in on ensuring that this is the most visually appealing wrestling game of all time.

With a focus on motion-capture technology and actually mapping many of the top Superstars’ faces, fans should expect the most realistic wrestling game in history. There are many top stars who look incredible, but there are also a few stars who don’t look as visually appealing.

In Dave Rudden of IGN.com’s review of the game, he broke down some of the visual benefits and issues for this year’s next-gen release:

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Old-school talent like Macho Man and Andre the Giant are under-represented, while even some modern stars from last year were also cut, like Zack Rider and Sin Cara. Most of those who made it in benefit from 2K's new-gen overhaul, and many, like Cesaro, Randy Orton, and Dean Ambrose look stunningly accurate. Those who haven't had new-gen attention stick out like sore thumbs, though. Stars like The Rock and CM Punk are only slightly improved (due to the real stars being unavailable for likeness capturing) and some Divas actually look less realistic than their last-gen counterparts. In better news, the creepy glitches that permeated WWE games on the 360 and PS3 have been drastically reduced, but you can still expect some instances of weapons flying out of the ring at mach speed or weirdly twisting limbs defying physiology.

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While the graphics are incredible, it’s clear that 2K Sports focused much of its attention on the visual presentation and improvements in gameplay and not so much regarding the expansion of new or improved modes in the game.

Fans get the same WWE Universe and 2K Showcase modes that those who bought the first release received, but the major upgrade is the MyCareer mode. Gamers have the ability to create their own Superstar and take them from NXT to the main event of WrestleMania, but it can be tedious to play through this mode.

When explaining the new MyCareer mode, Nick Tan of GameRevolution.com expressed the difficulties a gamer can face, but he also talked about how it's all worth it when building a legend:

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The trouble with the mode, however, is that it's not terribly interesting and can't escape feeling like a grind-fest. Spending VP to learn new moves from an existing superstar like Stone Cold Steve Austin or Kofi Kingston doesn't lead to any interaction with that superstar, and any face/heel choices you make are relegated to text-based options. While matches aren't necessarily rated on whether you win or lose, and instead are based on drama, move variety, and back-and-forth, you'll still want to win for the sake of keeping championship belts.

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There may be some issues with the game, but the gameplay itself has been upgraded to make it feel more realistic.

Every punch, kick and move takes effort, and the WWE Superstars show the effects of the moves by slowing down over the course of the match. With new animations showcasing the wear and tear on each wrestler, fans feel like they are experiencing a grueling match more than ever.

The transition to the next-generation consoles will be a long process for many developers, and games released for the older systems as well (just as WWE 2K15 was) will hurt how much focus a company can put on one or the other.

The groundwork is set for next year’s WWE 2K game to be the best yet, but it would be so much better if 2K Sports just focused on the next-gen release alone. While gamers with older systems would be left out in the cold, the ability to focus on improving the game would result in drastic upgrades to the fundamental issues.

WWE 2K15 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 is a fun game with major improvements over the last-gen release, but it has built legitimate excitement about what another year of development could mean for next year’s edition.

Information via WWE.2K.com.

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