WWE 2K22 is the newest hard-hitting installment of long-running wrestling games developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Games, and it features a new combat system and camera visuals that have taken the wrestling experience to a long-overdue level.

The new features are a redesigned gameplay engine that affects the gameplay and animation from the ground up making the experience as real as possible, almost as if you were sitting ringside. The new combat system allows players to have more control in the ring, particularly when performing combination attacks, as well as having more choice when performing heavy and light grapples. They also have a new blocking system which is still used for reversals when being attacked, but now being able to block a barrage of light punches is a welcomed change, having a leaning defense option is ideal if you are having a good old punch on in the middle of the ring – you can lean back to avoid a heavy punch or kick. The only fault I can place with the controls is interacting with weapons because if they are positioned next to the ring or in a corner, you may end up climbing the ropes instead of picking up the item.

WWE 2K22 celebrates Rey Mysterio’s 20th year anniversary as a WWE superstar with him on the cover art and in addition having the Showcase Mode dedicated to him, reliving his history in the industry with classic fights against past legends such as Eddie Guerrero, The Undertaker, and Shawn Michaels, as well as current superstars. Showcase Mode has always been a 2K trademark single-player experience, offering objectives and rewards to unlock ranging from characters, arenas, and cosmetic items.

MyGM Mode has made its return to the series and offers the role of being in charge of the show and doing all the background work that we don’t see on the show. You will be able to pick which manager you wish to use and they each have a unique skill that can either boost the show’s performance or hinder the opponent’s show by locking random stars from being able to perform in the week that the ability is used. In MyGM, the objective is to finish as the top-rated show, so drafting popular stars and having matches that will bring in higher ratings is the main goal, while also managing the budget you are given. You will also have to manage the stars and listen to any requests they may have or issues they want addressed to keep morale up, while also making sure you are keeping them safe from injury. You can have stars build rivalries with each other which will pay off in the ratings when you have them fight it out at pay-per-view events like Wrestlemania.

MyFaction is a new game mode in the 2K series and works as a digital trading card game, and here you can buy card packs that will unlock superstars and managers to build your own WWE dream team. With weekly events and regular updates, this will be a mode that always rewards players. You can acquire card packs from a currency earner called MyFaction points which are earned by doing challenges, or you can use a real-world currency system, a la microtransactions.

MyRise gives players the opportunity to experience starting out in the WWE universe by creating a character, working your way up the ranks, and earning the admiration of the fans and fellow superstars. Partnerships and rivalries can also be made with an action choice system. Out of the ring when you’re talking to other characters at crossroads, you can pick dialogue choices that will reflect how the fans will see you and where you stand with other superstars.

Universe mode has made its return again, giving players a more creative feel over the development of superstars as you are able to pick what organisations you want to be signed with if they are listed as a free agent. You can also choose to partake in PPV events like Money in the Bank, earning the chance to call out any champion whenever you want for a chance at the title, or forming tag teams from duo’s to cover normal tag matches or mixed-gender tag matches. There will be a preset rival that you will encounter depending on the weight class, and the rival will be directly influenced by your character being a Face or a Heel.

The 2K series has found yet another way to greatly improve on the creation system that has been well-loved after being released a few years back. It is now cross-platform for sharing community creations, and as there are always talented creators out there, if you ever wanted to see a wrestling match between Shaggy and Goku, this is the section you will be checking daily for the banger creations that players upload.

With the overhaul that 2K22 has had, there are still some slight graphically bugs, like in the MyRise mode, the animations for talking can look a bit off and the collision physics are not scaled properly, with arms hovering over items instead of leaning on them. During gameplay itself, the only graphical issues I really encountered were during Royal Rumbles with the ring full of competitors. Models were hovering off the floor if they were both downed next to each other, or the ropes tended to glitch out a bit, getting stuck around someone’s leg and then extending across the ring until that person is knocked down on the floor to fix it.

Ignoring these very specific issues, WWE 2K22 has made amazing improvements from the past games and offers such a solid and fun experience.

Written by: Shane Walsh