WWE 2K17: Details on Top Modes, New Gameplay Options and More

The WWE 2K series has seemingly taken significant strides with each passing year, and the excitement for the Oct. 11 release of WWE 2K17 is palpable due to the combination of returning features and anticipated additions.

Along with the biggest roster ever and a bevy of potential match types, WWE 2K17 has improved and streamlined some of its most popular game modes to enhance the playing experience and to make it even easier to get lost in the virtual world of WWE.

With the WWE 2K17 launch quickly approaching, here is a breakdown of some of the top modes and gameplay features that will have gamers hooked.

MyCareer

MyCareer mode took the WWE 2K series by storm when it was introduced two years ago, and it has already become a major success, much like the MyCareer modes in 2K's other popular sports video game offerings.

Within the confines of MyCareer, players can create a wrestler that is either a likeness of themselves, an existing wrestler from another promotion or even a completely fictional sports entertainer. Whatever the case, gamers can take that wrestler and guide them all the way from the WWE Performance Center to the main event of WrestleMania.

Most of the MyCareer options from WWE 2K16 return in WWE 2K17, but there are also some welcomed additions.

Chief among them is the ability to become Paul Heyman's protege, according to WWE.2K.com. Players will have the choice of whether or not to join Heyman, and that decision can lead to either teaming with cover athlete Brock Lesnar or being forced to go up against him.

The new MyCareer mode also allows players to call out anyone on the WWE roster thanks to the enhanced promo engine, as well as creating merchandise that can improve your character's popularity and earn virtual currency for in-mode upgrades.

While MyCareer was great over the past two years, WWE 2K17 makes the progression of being a WWE Superstar feel more authentic than ever before.

Universe Mode

While MyCareer allows gamers to control the journey of one WWE Superstar, Universe Mode lets the player take the reins of the entire company, with essentially every decision being right at their fingertips.

Since the elimination of Story Mode, Universe Mode has been the bread and butter of every WWE video game.

Gamers can alter the Raw and SmackDown rosters in whatever way they please, they can set matches and feuds, they can determine the champions, and they can book almost any aspect of WWE to their liking.

That has been the case for the past few years, but WWE 2K17 makes the experience even better with a couple of key additions.

Among them is the altered interface and menu screen, which makes for a highly organized mode that is easy to navigate, as seen in this tweet, courtesy of WWE 2K17:

Perhaps the most notable change, though, is players now have three save slots available to them rather than one, per WWE.2K.com.

Having just one save slot for Universe Mode in previous games created some limitations, but now gamers can have up to three unique WWE Universes in play at the same time.

That encourages experimentation aside from simply mimicking the real-life happenings in WWE, such as creating a retro Universe with legends or even utilizing created Superstars to play out other promotions or to do something completely original.

Universe Mode is every armchair booker's dream, and WWE 2K17 unquestionably takes it to the next level.

Gameplay Additions

In addition to added animations and gameplay tweaks to move WWE 2K17 even closer to the hardcore simulation style that gamers and WWE fans desire, WWE 2K17 brought back a popular aspect from past games that brings an entirely different element to the new release.

According to WWE.2K.com, demand was high for the return of playable backstage and crowd areas, so developers made the decision to bring them back into the fold.

As seen in part of the following video, gamers can take the action backstage or into the crowd for an all-out brawl that adds even more intensity and heat to the top rivalries in WWE:

Fighting in different environments is one of the biggest things that makes Nintendo 64 game No Mercy so popular to this day, and it could provide a similar boost to WWE 2K17.

The WWE 2K series has seen several key features added in recent years, but it can be argued that none will add to the overall enjoyment of the game more so than the backstage and crowd element.

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