The Doctor's Diagnosis: A Video Game Review for WWE '12

Yesterday marked the release of WWE '12, the first video game in what will be the new series to replace SmackDown vs Raw.

I have many fond memories of WWE video games over the years from the arcade game way back in the day up to the newest video games to be released.

I went out and picked up the game because I had a bunch of games I was willing to trade in and essentially got the game for nothing.

I popped it in when I got home to see if all this hype was deserved or if it was all for nothing.

There are plenty of familiar features with some new ones thrown in for good measure which make up the core game play.

Through this article I will take a look at some of the features and whether or not they were changed for the better, worse or not at all.

WWE Roster

The roster in WWE '12 is better than I expected it to be when the game was first announced. Almost all of WWE's current roster makes it onto the game with a few low card wrestlers being left out.

One thing I noticed about this game is the increased amount of alternate attires for the wrestlers. This is not a selling point though as you can change attires in the Superstar Threads feature.

I am happy to see the inclusion of many of my favorite legends in the business. Arn Anderson, Vader, Legion of Doom and Demolition were the names I was most excited to be able to play as.

I had some spare points left on my account so for 80 points I opted to unlock all the stuff you would normally have to play for days to get just so I could see everything before doing this review.

One thing I think I should mention is I got the code for downloading the Rock without pre-ordering like it said I had to. I'm not sure if this was Gamestop's mistake or if WWE just decided to give the code to everyone.

New downloadable superstars will be available soon and the one I am stoked for is Randy Savage. With his recent passing I think WWE did the right thing by including him as a sort of tribute to his amazing contributions to the sport.

I have to say that Brock Lesnar is a nice addition to the game but I think this may be the last time he appears in a WWE video game. The hype was overplayed by The Rock being on the special cover.

Road to WrestleMania

The Road to WrestleMania mode has been revamped in a new way which I personally think is a step backwards by THQ.

Instead of choosing between five or six superstars and taking them on a three month journey you choose between a villain (Sheamus) an outsider (Triple H) and a hero (Created wrestler).

Fun fact, Austin Aries was hired to do the voice for the Hero character before being signed to TNA. So if you create an A double character it will actually sound like him.

The stories allow for some cool videos and matches but overall I think that by decreasing the amount of wrestlers to choose from in this feature they have effectively made it worse.

The actual storylines used are far better than in previous years though so playing through the three stories will provide for a good degree of entertainment.

Using formulas posted online people can create anyone they want for the hero role so I guess in the end you can choose whatever wrestler you want but it is still one story that would be repeated when replayed.

One thing I did like was that in Sheamus' storyline he gains every title at one point and you actually get to see him hold the European title which has been defunct for years.

More Championships

WWE and THQ have done something I have been wanting for years, inclusion of almost every single title the WWE has ever had.

They have included the classic intercontinental title, the classic ECW title and the attitude era world title among many other memorable belts.

The Light-Heavyweight title makes its first appearance in I don't even know how long. These belts make it easier for people to create their own stories from years past while also giving Cody Rhodes his current version of the belt.

For some reason I cannot understand why they decided to take the WWE and World Heavyweight titles and just draw a WCW on them and call them another title.

I get that this is in reference to when the NWO painted WCW's title, but why not just include the NWO version like they did a few years ago.

WWE Universe Mode

WWE Universe mode is back and some big changes have been made to the game play. The most intriguing change is the ability to create your own show.

You can replace Raw, SmackDown or Superstars with a customer brand of your choice. You get to name it, choose a logo, arena, title card and intro graphics.

You also choose which belts appear on the show as titles which means you can replace the US title with the European title if you want or even bring back the beloved Cruiser weight title.

Many run ins have been added to make the rivalries a little more unpredictable. They also added the ability to have a draft show like WWE does every year.

Much of the mode has not changes and the core concept is till the same but these new additions make it a much better experience than Smackdown vs. Raw provided in the same mode.

Another change made to WWE Universe mode is the addition of a more realistic schedule. Instead of every month's beginning on a Sunday and ending with a PPV four weeks later you get a real year long calendar that has real PPV dates.

Create Modes

This is one area which did not see a ton of changes by THQ. The create a finisher, superstar, entrance, logo, move set and finisher modes have essentially not changed at all with the exception of a few new pieces of clothing to put on your superstars.

The biggest addition to this features is one many fans have waited for. The ability to create an arena finally gives fans the ability to make their own promotions and shows.

I tinkered with this features a bit and found it a little redundant for how I choose to play, but I can see the upside it has for someone with more time on their hands than myself.

You can change the color and design of the ring mat, apron, ropes, turnbuckle pads and announcer's tables. You can also choose from the new barricade or the classic metal barricade.

Adding logos to anything is pretty easy and allows for a high level of customization with the logo creator.

Gameplay Engine

Predator Technology is what drives the new gameplay engine for WWE '12 and WWE hyped up its use quite a bit during previews for the game.

I have to say that this is the most disappointing part of the game for myself. The movement looks mediocre and the new control setup is terrible compared to last year.

They really added nothing new in terms of capability to do certain moves so I do not understand the need to drastically change the control setup. It was great last year and they changed almost the entire setup.

One thing I will give them credit for is more realistic interactions with the environment and the other wrestlers. It seems that WWE did do what they promised in this area.

As far as this being the most realistic game ever made, I do not agree with that statement from WWE. This game seems less realistic than Smackdown vs. Raw somehow.

I am not trashing the game play because it is very enjoyable, but it would be more enjoyable had they not messed with the controller setup.

The Doctor's Diagnosis

This is a great game when it comes down to it, but if you are expecting something completely different from the Smackdown vs. Raw series you will be a little upset.

The core game elements are the same, but it's all the little changes which help the game carve its own path in the industry. Here is The Doctor's final diagnosis

Animation Quality- 8.5/10
Customization Quality- 9/10
Roster Quality- 10/10
WWE Universe Mode- 7/10
Road to WrestleMania- 6/10
Control setup- 5.5/10
Overall rating 93/100

What did you think of WWE '12?