WWE 2K17: Review of MyCareer and WWE Universe Modes

The release of WWE 2K17 is already shaking up WWE, as newly playable character Goldberg is set to appear on Raw next week to presumably set up his match with cover athlete Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series.

As for the actual video game, two of the most popular features return: MyCareer and WWE Universe.

MyCareer first became part of the WWE 2K series two years ago, allowing gamers to follow the actual journey of WWE Superstars from the start of their career to one day main-eventing WrestleMania.

WWE Universe mode puts gamers in the role of general manager for Raw or SmackDown, though there have been upgrades to it that make it a more intimate and detailed mode for fans to get the most out of their experience.

MyCareer

Adam Hunger/Associated Press

MyCareer hasn't been given a full overhaul compared to past years, but the tweaks made by 2K do give the game a new feel.

One of the key changes is the addition of the Promo Engine, which gives players an opportunity to issue and accept challenges and talk to the WWE Universe on each show as a way to help get themselves over with the crowds.

The big addition to MyCareer this year is the opportunity to become a Paul Heyman guy.

The phrase "Paul Heyman guy", which was first coined in WWE circles by CM Punk during his pipe bomb interview leading into Money in the Bank 2011, has taken on a life of its own in the five years since that memorable moment.

Lesnar is the Paul Heyman guy in reality, but WWE 2K17 gives gamers a chance to join in on the action. Here's the synopsis of how to join Heyman's party from WWE2K.com:

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As you rise through the ranks of WWE, the legendary (Heyman) will take notice and attempt to take you under his wing. He'll offer long term challenges like holding a title for an in-game year with the promise of a big payout. Impress him enough and he may bestow one of WWE's biggest honors – becoming a Paul Heyman guy. Accept and you'll have (Lesnar) on your side along with Heyman's incomparable crooked ringside manager skills. Refuse and Heyman will release The Beast on your ass.

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The way 2K is using Heyman and Lesnar is perfect in the video game. It echoes the role both men serve on WWE television, in which Heyman essentially plays Dr. Frankenstein, with Lesnar as the monster ready to attack anything.

With open-world role-playing games taking over the video game industry, 2K needed to find ways to add story details to the WWE 2K series and cater to the way gamers are playing and what they want from the experience.

This new wrinkle allows you to choose your path as a conquering hero or dastardly villain. It's never an easy decision to make, though it's one that adds to the level of complexity and fun in the game.

WWE Universe

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

WWE Universe mode also includes the Promo Engine feature, along with the personality system that adds drama to the story of your character.

The main WWE Universe upgrade in WWE 2K17 is Show Presentation, which WWE 2K Executive Producer Mark Little explained in a long blog post on its official website when the game's features were announced:

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In WWE Universe Mode, we are working to recreate the drama and excitement seen every week on Raw, SmackDown Live and NXT. For WWE 2K17, we created a new flow that focuses on these shows. The shows are what we all watch each week, and now with the recent brand split, are even more important. Our new Show Presentation system makes players feel like they are playing through a weekly episode of any WWE television or WWE Network program. We also added more intrigue and possibilities by incorporating run-ins, as well as pre- and post-match attacks. Just like in WWE, we never know what might happen next.

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In the past, shows have been presented as largely interchangeable. WWE is built on the week-to-week storytelling on Raw, SmackDown and NXT, which all lead to the culmination of angles and storylines at the pay-per-views.

This is also another step in the evolution of being able to make the video game feel more like an RPG, in which all of the actions you take have a direct consequence on your storyline both for the short term and long term.

It can be hard to tweak popular video games, especially when its part of an annual series that gets released every year. Wrestling fans will always spend money on the product, but 2K is doing all it can to make sure the investment is worth it.