WWE 2K17: Expert Reviews and Impressions from Around the Web

From the early signs, WWE 2K17 is a massive success.

It's sort of like Kevin Owens with the Universal Championship—fans knew he was great, but his stepping into the spotlight shows he can carry a show.

Ditto for WWE 2K17 with its deep MyCareer and WWE Universe modes, not to mention the almost intimidating creation suite that allows users to create characters, belts, entrances and even shows. Don't forget a roster unmatched in wrestling game history.

Such are the early suggestions from some of the top experts on the internet, so let's take a look at notable early opinions.

Ben Wilson, GamesRadar: 4/5

Even before release, it was clear WWE 2K17 wasn't afraid to go where past wrestling games didn't.

While this year's edition features plenty of customization, the latest graphics and the usual modes fans can get lost in for hours, the team at 2K Sports also elected to innovate by bringing forward one of the most important aspects of wrestling—promos.

GameRadar's Ben Wilson dived in: 

"

Promos come in six types: "self promotion", "call out", "turn face", "turn heel", "form tag-team" and "break-up tag-team". On your turn to speak, you select one of four dialogue options, prompting your character to deliver a text-based rant or insult or plea to the crowd. If your promo involves a rival, they do the same, and so on until one of you delivers "the last word", and a winner is declared.

"

Wilson went on to explain that some of the dialogue is...odd (like a wrestler calling his rival a rooster). But this is WWE, and promos and in-ring action can indeed get weird. Think James Ellsworth weird.

A new feature added to a yearly release isn't always perfect right out of the gate. But the fact that the game even tries to take on such a major task is impressive and adds new depth.

Brian Mazique, Forbes: 8.6/10

Adding depth to the out-of-ring fundamentals in the wrestling universe is great, but it doesn't mean much if the action inside the ring suffers.

From the sounds of it, the team at 2K Sports has once again made the necessary upgrades to keep players coming back.

According to Forbes' Brian Mazique, WWE 2K17 takes another step toward capturing the flow of WWE matches, which has been a major problem for wrestling games since they broke onto the scene.

"With the return of the reversal system that prevents the unlimited spamming of the R2 or RT button, there’s still a good amount of strategy that must be used to obtain success against an experienced opponent," Mazique wrote.

An improved reversal system helps the game better mimic real life. A backbone of entertaining wrestling and the psychology of the sport, reversals can't afford to look robotic and unrealistic, or they risk shattering the immersion for the user.

It seems like WWE 2K17 has listened to feedback from fans over the years and has a great reversal system in place to help the flow of matches improve in ways yet unseen.

Vincent Ingenito, IGN: In Progress

Much of the pre-release hype for WWE 2K17 centered on a MyCareer mode featuring both Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar, the roster, graphics, and the ability to customize what seems like essentially everything.

So, yes, it's nothing short of incredible news that two of the early impressions from experts take a deep dive into gameplay improvements.

IGN's Vincent Ingenito, who is still penning a review in progress, took time to address how great multiperson wrestling matches feel:

"

The single most significant improvement is to multi-person matches, which have always been such an awkward mess that I usually avoid them altogether. This year, subtle changes to the default targeting system and a clever new rollout mechanic has changed all of that for me. Manual targeting is now the default, who you are targeting is made much clearer, and switching targets is snappier.

"

This year, 2K Sports has shifted toward a more simulation-based product.

Changes detailed above reflect this. In old games from various companies, matches with three or four wrestlers would turn into odd arcade-like experiences. This year's release seems to better mimic the real thing, where two or three guys go at it for the crowd while one guy or girl recovers.

It's a smart, necessary direction for in-ring action in the virtual landscape. A move away from arcade in favor of simulation means a shift toward wrestling that matches the improved broadcast experience and promo engine.

Ingenito's impressions are just the latest confirmation this is a year when the series took risky steps to ensure a bright future. WWE 2K17 isn't as drastic as a leap to a new console, but it hits so many little things out of the park that wrestling diehards are bound to take notice.

Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.