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32 WWE Video games – The Greatest And Worst WWE Wrestling Video games Ever In 2024 – Inextricably linked for properly over 20 years, it’s truthful to say that WWE video games and PlayStation go hand-in-hand, very similar to how chair photographs and concussions simply so occur to run in the identical circles. So it’s then, I’ve determined to delve into the historical past of this relationship and remind us all, for higher or worse, the calibre of the WWE licensed video games which have spanned the lifetime of PlayStation on PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4 and shortly PS5.
As well as, you can even catch the very best upcoming PS5 video games in 2024, together with our 2024 PS5 launch calendar so that you don’t miss a single new PS5 launch. Whereas our greatest PS5 video games function boasts a variety of PS5 titles that every one of have scored 9 out of ten or greater.
The Greatest And Worst PlayStation WWE Wrestling Video games Ever In 2024
The Greatest And Worst PlayStation WWE Wrestling Video games Ever Made In 2024:
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Recreation – PSOne (1995)
What good cause is there for this little OTT gem not being featured within the PSOne Classics line-up? No good cause, that’s what. Primarily the results of an unholy marriage between the normal wrestling video games of the time and Mortal Kombat (no coincidence provided that the WWE license and Mortal Kombat shared the identical writer), WrestleMania: The Arcade Recreation performed as much as the gimmicks of the wrestlers with The Undertaker smashing Tombstones over the skulls of his fellow sweaty folks and Shawn Michaels… I dunno, doing one thing humorous with hearts.
Anyway, again then digitised sprites had been the in-thing, and seeing the precise real-life representations of Bret Hart, The Undertaker and Yokozuna doing their bit was considerably of a deal with given the overly gaudy artwork that outlined earlier wrasslin’ efforts.
Regardless of having a collection of wrestling strikes, WrestleMania arguably felt way more like a conventional combating recreation with the onus positioned on racking up excessive combos reasonably than buying and selling holds or, y’know, using any form of ringcraft. Nonetheless although, it was little bit of enjoyable for what it was and remained a great way to distract oneself from the frankly horrendous reserving that was occurring in WWE on the time.
Notable for: Years after launch the developer confirmed a long-running rumor that mid-card expertise Adam Bomb was a hidden character, however maintained that the grappler in query was not current in a completely accomplished type. A bit like Reptile within the first Mortal Kombat then, aside from the truth that, properly, not less than Reptile acquired over.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF In Your Home – PSOne (1996)
The digitised sprite-based insanity continued with WWF In Your Home, the place a equally larger-than-life tact was taken with the characters and their moveset, The British Bulldog for instance truly wraps his foes within the Union Jack flag and his head morphs into, you guessed it, a bulldog every time he headbutts his opponent. This time around the rings additionally took on the personas of varied wrestlers too; The Undertaker’s enviornment for example, has skulls adorned on the turnbuckles and the form of backdrop that wouldn’t look misplaced in Mortal Kombat or an orphaned fourth grader’s scribble e-book.
Sadly then, the entire digitised, exaggerated wrestling shtick had already run its course by the point WWF In Your Home launched in late 1996, and people had been already looking out for correct WWE video games that extra precisely represented the on-screen TV spectacle reasonably than a Z-grade combating recreation with grainy, digitised, rubbish sprite work. Time to maneuver on people!
Notable for: If you happen to had been born from 1996 or so onwards, you had been in all probability lucky sufficient to keep away from taking part in it.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF Battle Zone – PSOne (1998)
So as a substitute of that extra correct, extra nuanced wrestling sim that the majority of us craved, we sadly acquired this as a substitute. Barely a wrestling recreation of any description, the character fashions in WWE Battle Zone seemed like sentient, painted planks of wooden locked in an epic battle to fury-hump one another into submission.
With a fully paper-thin roster bolstered by a lame match fashion marketing campaign, horrendous controls and the worst animation routines this aspect of Primal Rage, it’s no stretch to say that point avoiding taking part in this abomination is time well-spent. In fact, I’m certain you would unearth it from someplace for subsequent to nothing however equally interesting (and low-cost) is the act of scooping your eyes out with a rusty spoon.
Notable for: In the course of the match wrestlers would spout stuff like “Hit the gymnasium fatass!” which clearly wouldn’t play lately and even again then, made me cringe so exhausting into my chair that I nearly fractured my backbone. Terrible enterprise.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF Angle – PSOne (1999)
And they also did it once more. WWF Angle careened onto PSOne again in 1999 when all people thought the world was going to finish, and this lump of cack did little to dissuade them of the actual fact. The identical shoddy visuals and animations returned and got new, fetid life as a supposedly new-fangled wrestling recreation that ended up being about as recent as Vince Russo’s reserving notes.
To its credit score, this explicit wrestling recreation not solely showcased full famous person entrances for the primary time ever but it surely additionally truly packed in a bunch of latest match varieties that folk hadn’t seen in a wrestling recreation earlier than equivalent to First Blood, I Give up and Survivor Collection to call just some. The issue although, is that it nonetheless felt just like the second coming of WWF Battle Zone, which in the event you ever have had the misfortune of watching a canine vomit up its personal quantity two, will give you a helpful level of reference.
New match varieties and comically picket wrestler entrances apart, there was nothing right here that recommended any form of actual or significant enchancment over WWF Battle Zone. I suppose you would hunt it down in the event you wished to, however actually, wanting an horrendously botched, full-frontal lobotomy, why would you wish to?
Notable for: An train in proving the notion that the longer you permit a dump within the solar the extra it stinks, the powers that be determined that inflicting WWF Battle Zone on the populace as soon as wasn’t sufficient so that they determined to do it once more however underneath a distinct title. Thanks for that.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF SmackDown – PSOne (2000)
Ah, now that is extra prefer it. The primary licensed WWE recreation to be unique to PlayStation after leaving the clutches of the now defunct Acclaim Leisure and falling into the loving arms of (now additionally defunct) writer THQ, SmackDown impressed with its ultra-responsive grappling and putting gameplay, a sizeable roster of superstars and story mode that was greater than only a in another way skinned Mortal Kombat fashion match tower.
Positive, it wasn’t excellent and was completely held to account by the tech limitations of the PSOne platform with no-voice overs, commentary or any form of deep creation modes, however SmackDown had enjoyable in spades and was a dependable go-to excuse for getting the outdated Multitap out for some native sofa gaming.
Notable for: Being the primary WWF/WWE licensed wrestling title for the PSOne that truly felt like a good tackle our beloved sport and never like sticking your face in a duffel bag full of scorpions.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF SmackDown 2: Know Your Function – PSOne (2000)
SmackDown 2: Know Your Function not solely started that horrible pattern of suffixing the subsequent three WWE video games with catchphrases from the Rock’s sleeve notes, but it surely was additionally fondly, and fairly rightly remembered as the very best wrestling recreation cash might purchase on PSOne.
Boasting extra strikes, a bigger roster (hello Kurt!), a raft of unlockables, and a deep story mode that allowed you to stroll about behind the scenes in first individual, SmackDown 2: Know Your Function was a improbable little scrapper that every one however erased the faintly faecal style that WWF Battle Zone and Angle left in our collective mouths a few years prior. Splendidly, it was additionally the primary wrestling recreation on PlayStation to introduce a semi-decent Create-A-Famous person and Create-A-Taunt mode too, so there’s that.
Notable for: It had prolific ladies’s wrestler and former DX enforcer Chyna in it. Sorry, that’s all I’ve acquired in the mean time. Nice recreation although!
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF SmackDown Simply Deliver It – PS2 (2001)
Seemingly drunk with the heady quantities of processing energy that Sony’s second house console would convey, SmackDown Simply Deliver It felt like one step ahead and two Aptitude-flops again, as developer Yukes introduced the attractive graphics however forgot to incorporate the arguably extra attractive gameplay that so properly outlined the sequence last outing on PSOne.
With a narrative mode that was roughly as entertaining as binging on the match historical past of The Nice Khali, a lowered roster and subsequent to no Creation Suite capabilities, SmackDown Simply Deliver It was just like the Nathan Jones of licensed wrestling video games; formidable to have a look at however finally shallower than a puddle on a sizzling Summer time’s day.
Notable for: Being the primary licensed wrestling recreation on PS2 that truly seemed like a PS2 title and never a PSOne recreation that unintentionally shot itself up with botox on a crack bender. Oh, it was additionally the primary title within the WWE sequence to function commentary too, from the workforce of Michael Cole and Tazz (Taz?), no much less. Huzzah?
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWF SmackDown Shut Your Mouth – PS2 (2002)
In mainly each approach that mattered, SmackDown Shut Your Mouth was the wrestling recreation that SmackDown Simply Deliver It ought to have been. In addition to the standard smattering of enhancements equivalent to a bigger roster, extra strikes and so forth, Shut Your Mouth was the primary licensed title to include the unique model cut up into an excellent story mode that ended up together with your chosen wrestler telling ol’ Vinny Mac to “shut his mouth” (geddit?) earlier than lamping the outdated lad within the mush. High enterprise.
Away from the much-improved season mode, Shut Your Mouth additionally resurrected the creation suite the place gamers might extensively customise superstars and their movesets to be used in the principle recreation. In brief, Shut Your Mouth was a worthy successor to the PSOne SmackDown video games of outdated and positively deserves to be remembered as such.
Notable for: Being the primary recreation to be launched underneath the WWE banner as a result of the WWF (referred to as the World Wildlife Fund again then) cry-maxed over the truth that folks with fully-functioning cerebrums would one way or the other conflate saving furry folks with sweaty lads wailing on one another with metal chairs, while adorned in spangled outfits. Or, it might have been that they only didn’t wish to be related to the ‘fed in any approach, form or type, both approach; unusual instances.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE Crush Hour – PS2 (2003)
Roughly about as first rate as Eva Marie’s wrestling potential and twice as redundant, WWE Crush Hour was the fed’s try and department out their videogame enterprise into different genres, particularly the demolition derby fashion goings-on of video games equivalent to Twisted Steel. The issue although, was that it was irredeemably horrendous and made you wish to piledrive your face into the closest wall.
Blighted by ridiculously unhealthy dealing with, some significantly shoddy physics and probably the most insipid arenas the human thoughts might probably provide you with, Crush Hour was mainly the results of Carmageddon procreating with itself and making a ache child. It additionally seems that good ol’ JR supplied commentary for the sport too, however actually, don’t maintain it in opposition to him; all people’s gotta eat proper?
Oh and the wrestler quotes factor from WWF Battle Zone returned right here too, placing the rancid cherry on prime of a rotting cake of sub-mediocrity. I imply actually, simply take a look at the state of it within the video under. You’re welcome.
Notable for: By no means getting a sequel, thank Cthulhu.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE Smackdown: Right here Comes the Ache – PS2 (2003)
Ahhh, SmackDown: Right here Comes the Ache. Nonetheless regarded by many as probably the greatest wrestling video games on any era of PlayStation and whispered in the identical hushed tones as these people/hermits that maintain No Mercy on the N64 in such excessive regard, Smackdown: Right here Comes the Ache was an actual milestone for the sequence on PlayStation.
Along with a good profession mode and a creation suite being full of extra customisation choices than you would shake a Randy Orton wellness coverage violation at, Right here Comes the Ache additionally had a rejigged grappling system which let gamers combine up a bigger quantity of sunshine and robust grapples ensuing within the largest transfer listing the sequence had ever seen. This was absolutely the apex of the Smackdown sequence at this level and an actual excessive level for wrestling video games as a complete. It was completely important, and stays so even at present.
Notable for: Not solely being genuinely probably the greatest wrestling video games obtainable on the time however for additionally having a fully belting roster that included the likes of Kurt Angle, Goldberg, and Brock Lesnar. High, prime stuff.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE Smackdown Vs Uncooked – PS2 (2004)
The primary WWE recreation to kick off the entire Smackdown vs Uncooked naming conference that might endure for seven video games, WWE Smackdown Vs Uncooked didn’t fairly have such roster as Right here Comes the Ache (at that time the likes of Brock Lesnar and Goldberg had already flown the coop, however that they had Bret Hart now so blissful days, I suppose), nor did it really feel fairly so satisfying from a grappling perspective. Nonetheless, it did have a few neat tips up its sleeves to make it stand out a bit.
The primary was a brand new clear/soiled system wherein gamers might select whether or not they wished to play their chosen wrestler as a face (good man) or as a heel (unhealthy man), with skills equivalent to comeback strikes and cheap-shots being obtainable relying in your desire.
The sport additionally included a neat submission system the place you would maintain onto an unlawful maintain up till a 5 rely (this wants to return again, actually) in addition to introducing a slew of minigames from chop battles to a skit the place in bra and panties matches, the feminine wrestlers might spank one another. Wow. On the flipside although, the sport did allow you to craft your personal belt within the new Create-A-Championship mode, which was good.
Notable for: Being the primary WWE recreation on PS2 to let gamers log on and slam the poop out of each other. Alas, the match choice was restricted to a singles and Bra and Panties match which if it occurred lately, would go over in all probability about in addition to the debut of the Shockmaster.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE Smackdown Vs Uncooked 2006 – PS2, PSP (2005)
From the off, it was fairly clear that developer Yukes weren’t messing about with Smackdown Vs Uncooked 2006. Immediately we uncover that the grappling system has modified from the earlier 4 course, gentle/robust shtick into seven completely different faculties of offense that much more approaches simulation reasonably than arcade fashion gameplay.
Maybe the very best new function of this WWE recreation although, was the introduction of an elective stamina meter which might power gamers to be economical with their assaults, lest they tire themselves out en path to a well-deserved stomping. This was nice just because it marked the top of an period the place beforehand people might simply spam extremely damaging holds, slams and strikes advert infinitum and to this present day, arguably stays one of many higher parts of the sequence.
Notable for: The PSP model of WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2006 was completely spanking and gentle graphical downgrade apart, offered a correctly genuine tackle the game which simply stood alongside its house console counterpart. Not solely that, the PSP model of the sport additionally had Jake “The Snake” Roberts as an unique character who might be ported to the PS2 model in the event you had the requisite USB cable to do it.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2007 – PS2, PSP (2006)
Evidently nonetheless sad with the grappling system from the earlier recreation, Yukes determined to revamp the grappling system in WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2007 by permitting gamers to make use of the analogue follow direct their grapples and slams, changing the static digital D-pad inputs of earlier video games. For probably the most half it felt like a step again, with the grappling and management system of Smackdown vs Uncooked 2006 nonetheless providing extra depth and a bigger moveset than the brand new system was capable of present.
Sadly, as a result of the sport didn’t launch on PS3 however launched on Xbox 360, the PS2 model of the sport missed out on loads of new options equivalent to elevated interactivity with ringside parts, improved visuals and way more apart from.
Moreover, the PS2 model of the sport was stricken by quite a few bugs, too. Most troubling of all had been a sequence of commentary and saying glitches the place the sound would both trigger the speech to change into garbled, or, simply reduce out utterly. It wasn’t search for the franchise in all honesty because it made the generational leap from PS2 to PS3. So yeah, not displaying for wrestling video games on PlayStation all advised. Keep away from.
Notable for: Not truly releasing on PS3 however nonetheless one way or the other managing to safe a launch on Xbox 360. One can solely guess that these rattling Genji crabs postpone THQ from porting the sport, the cowards. The flipside although, is that late Motorhead frontman Lemmy has his face within the recreation as a template for the Create-A-Wrestler bit, bless im’.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2008 – PS3, PS3, PSP (2007)
When WWE video games arrived on PS3, WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2008 boasted quite a few adjustments that had been each good and, properly, not so good. Beginning with the previous, a brand new battle submission system was carried out into the sport (and would see itself crop up in varied retooled varieties in later instalments), that allowed gamers to make use of the analogue follow both placed on extra strain, or, escape from the maintain completely. It was a neat system as a result of it truly felt such as you had been placing actual strain on an opponent everytime you had a maintain synched in and created a heightened sense of drama because of this.
What wasn’t fairly so good although (and by this, I actually imply completely, tossing abysmal), was the newly touted Combating Model System which divided up the roster between eight completely different types of grappling and putting. The issue although, was that these programs prevented wrestlers from utilizing sure strikes and holds that had been widespread to different characters; even when such strikes had been obtainable to those self same wrestlers in earlier video games. Extra troubling nonetheless was the truth that it made different wrestlers inordinately weak/robust, with ol’ Vinny Mac for instance, being as robust because the likes of the Massive Present (look we all know he lifts, however c’mon).
One other factor that stunk like Bastion Booger’s jockstrap was that early in manufacturing, developer Yukes was supposedly up for redoing lots of the animations within the recreation. Sadly, this didn’t come to move as lots of the wrestlers nonetheless boasted animations that carried over from the PSOne period, making the sport look massively visually inconsistent as a direct end result. Not good.
Notable for: Being the ultimate wrestling recreation to function the gimmick-tastic Buried Alive match. Simply as properly actually, it was correct crap.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2009 – PS3, PS2, PSP (2008)
A qualitative shift up in gear from the 2008 entry within the sequence, WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2009 wasn’t excellent by any stretch, but it surely did do a good few issues proper. First, it ditched that god-awful Combating Model System that was so face-clawingly unhealthy it made kittens cry, and as a substitute launched a brand new system that included potential based mostly traits and, for the primary time within the sequence, signature strikes alongside common finishers.
By way of modes the sport didn’t disappoint both. A extra narratively pushed marketing campaign manifests itself because the Highway to Wrestlemania mode, the place gamers might comply with storylines by way of with the likes of Triple H, CM Punk (come again!) and Chris Jericho, all of the whereas having fun with full cutscenes and a variety of particular goals to finish. This recreation additionally marked the primary time that the now defunct Create-A-Finisher mode made its debut; enabling people to create their very own ending strikes, and although whereas it was simplistic in execution right here, it was nonetheless an intriguing function to have all the identical.
Most likely the very best factor concerning the 2009 entry within the sequence although, is the overhauled tag-team match which now allowed gamers to do sizzling tags, blind unlawful tags and way more in a good effort to extra precisely symbolize the actual factor.
Notable for: Together with a co-operative story marketing campaign the place two gamers might every take the roles of Rey Mysterio and Batista, respectively. It wasn’t earth shattering stuff to be truthful, however its inclusion represented a pleasant little bit of out-of-the-box considering from a developer frequently lambasted with accusations of taking part in it secure. Extra of this sorta factor please, ta.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE Legends of Wrestlemania – PS3 (2009)
Eschewing the progressively extra simulation-like expertise that the SmackDown Vs Uncooked video games had been turning into identified for, WWE Legends of Wrestlemania took a web page from the previous, not simply with reference to its roster, but in addition from the distinctly extra arcadey grappling video games of yesteryear. Rather than SmackDown’s analogue stick based mostly battering, Legends of WrestleMania as a substitute restricted strikes to the D-pad and face buttons, whereas a combo-based combating system put the exclamation mark on the sport’s full-tilt shift into the realms of the arcade.
Whereas lots of the modes that the SmackDown video games had been cultivating through the years had been lacking from the sport, Legends of WrestleMania compensated with an in depth single-player marketing campaign mode that allowed gamers to relive basic WrestleMania matches as they occurred, change the choice by making an attempt to win because the loser, or, use a distinct collection of wrestlers and match varieties completely.
Positive sufficient, whereas the sport arguably lacked the depth of the core sequence, its dedication to specializing in the best wrestling spectacle of all time (helped in no small half by some stellar presentation and reams of historic footage), definitely helped to make the sport a cult favorite amongst followers when it launched a contact over seven years in the past.
Notable for: Boasting a considerably half-baked switch mode that allowed gamers to convey throughout wrestlers from WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2009 into the roster of Legends of WrestleMania. The issue nonetheless, was that the Smackdown Vs Uncooked 2009 wrestlers stored their artwork fashion, and when in comparison with the distinctly retro look of the Legends grapplers, seemed about as misplaced as Bret Hart did throughout his ill-fated WCW tenure.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2010 – PS2, PS3, PSP (2009)
Sticking two fingers as much as the flawed grappling programs of the earlier two video games, SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2010 marked a return to the sunshine and robust system of assaults final seen within the sequence 2007 instalment, and by gawd did it really feel all the higher for it. Away from the reintroduction of that a lot improved grappling system, SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2010 mainly took all the things that its annual predecessor did and improved upon it in each approach.
The Create-A-Finisher mode now has way more inventive freedom, and permits gamers to vogue an important many extra authentic strikes (Canadian Destroyer!) than earlier than. Elsewhere, The Highway to WrestleMania mode additionally returned together with a brand new sensible co-op marketing campaign state of affairs, this time with John Cena and Triple H, whereas the visuals took a bump up in high quality with much more newly crafted animations. Additional afield, a recent physique harm system was carried out that showcased improved blood, and redness on the chest of the wrestlers in the event that they ever acquired chopped there. SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2010 was in all probability the very best recreation within the sequence since Right here Comes the Ache if I’m being sincere, and I’m, so it’s.
Notable for: Introducing the formidable ‘Create-A-Story’ mode that whereas flawed and considerably restricted, was nonetheless nice enjoyable to make use of and meaningfully prolonged the longevity of the sport tenfold. Alas, it has been sorely missed from present gen WWE video games; particularly when you think about the chances afforded by the infinitely shinier tech of the PS4.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2011 – PS2, PS3, PSP (2010)
Clearly realising that they had been onto factor with SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2010, Yukes didn’t really feel the necessity to do a lot with the 2011 entry within the wrestling recreation sequence and as such, SmackDown Vs Uncooked 2011 felt way more like an incremental replace reasonably than the evolution that the 2010 recreation was over the hassle the 12 months earlier than.
One of many issues that was tweaked this time spherical was the physics system; now permitting gamers to relaxation ladders on ring ropes, break them in half and do all kinds of unmentionable issues to tables that you just couldn’t do in earlier video games. On prime of that, a brand new tackle the WWE Universe mode boasted reduce scenes and correct rivalries between the wrestlers relying on the matches that occurred and their outcomes, making the entire thing really feel much more natural than it had achieved earlier than.
Notable for: Getting all people’s hopes up with its newly touted ‘Match Creator’ mode that not solely prevented gamers from making a Royal Rumble match with pinfalls and submissions (I’m nonetheless ready), but in addition one way or the other managed to really feel like a repackaged match choices menu that gamers already had entry to in years earlier. A missed alternative.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE All Stars – PS2, PS3, PSP (2011)
Eschewing the final ten or so years of extra simulation pushed WWE efforts, WWE All Stars marked a return to the extra frantic arcade-style grapplers of yesteryear with wrestlers boasting exaggerated, disproportioned physiques and gravity-defying movesets that appear to be they got here from a Marvel film reasonably than a WWE wrestling ring. Simply take a look at it. LOOK AT IT.
Extra simply accessible than the simulation-focused entries that comprise the core sequence, although WWE All Stars lacked the modes and creation suite capabilities of these video games, the sport is, even at present, an important little bit of enjoyable when performed with mates and represents a pleasant change of tempo from the standard wrestling fare.
Notable for: Being the final WWE recreation to be launched on PS2 which kinda brings on the sads a bit now that I give it some thought.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE ‘12 – PS3 (2011)
Going off the rails a bit right here, WWE ‘12 was one of many worst WWE video games for a number of causes. First, was a brand new countering system that not solely required *absolute* pinpoint timing, but in addition performed into the fingers of the disturbingly bipolar AI, that might at turns be milling concerning the place aimlessly one second, and countering your rear-end to the Moon and again the subsequent.
Subsequent was the marketing campaign, oh god. Right here, progress was dictated by your potential to drag off quite a few stipulations equivalent to pinning people (typically multiple), in a specific vogue or executing a set variety of strikes at a selected time. As you possibly can in all probability think about, attempting to power these situations is a irritating ache within the rectum and is roughly as satisfying as watching the Montreal Screw Job.
Notable for: Utilizing a brand new animation engine known as “Predator Know-how” that was speculated to revolutionise the best way wrestlers interacted with one another, however in actuality, turned out to be code for “Oh god, we actually have to cease our character fashions getting caught within the surroundings and floating up into the sky.” FAIL.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE ‘13 – PS3 (2012)
Proper off the bat WWE ’13 scores factors on the power of its formidable marketing campaign mode. A sequence of fantastically offered matches with video footage and all the opposite trimmings that you just may count on, gamers had been in a position get caught into the ‘Angle Period’ by means of a brand new marketing campaign that cherry picked the very best moments from the now notorious Monday Evening Wars, and spanned 65 distinctive matches over two years price of feuds from the time.
Sadly nonetheless, this being a WWE product and the forces that be typically being about as goal as a Steel Gear Strong 2 apologist, this gameplay mode featured solely minimal involvement from the WCW aspect of the equation, which, to be frank, is a bit crap to say the least.
Moreover, a reworked WWE Universe mode now boasted design enter from Paul Heyman and ended up encompassing some 200 distinctive storylines that gamers might participate in, whereas improved physics resulted in a much more genuine and enticing trying recreation than no matter it was WWE 12′ was attempting to do the 12 months earlier than.
Oh and one final thing that WWE ‘13 launched to the sequence, and has remained a staple of its in-ring motion ever since, had been the ‘OMG’ moments which in the event you had sufficient finishers saved, allowed you to carry out devastating strikes that leveraged the setting, equivalent to spearing some poor sap by way of the barrier, or, executing a squelching top-rope suplex to the skin.
A high quality sequence swansong for THQ in the event you ask me.
Notable for: Being the final ever WWE recreation to be revealed by THQ. *tumbleweeds blow within the distance*
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K14 – PS3 (2013)
The primary WWE licensed title to be developed underneath new franchise overlords 2K, WWE 2K14 improved a lot of what WWE 13′ had wrought the 12 months earlier than however this time did its greatest work on the single-player aspect of issues. As soon as extra nostalgia is a key touchstone for the sequence as WWE 2K14 provided not one, however two fully-featured single-player marketing campaign modes along with the usual WWE Universe mode that we had all grown to like/hate.
The 30 Years of WrestleMania mode was a good sufficient proposition in that it let gamers expertise 45 matches throughout the historical past of the occasion, with bonus goals being obtainable that when fulfilled, unlocked extra wrestlers, attires and arenas. It was fairly first rate for probably the most half and, fairly not like WWE 12′ a few years earlier than it, the target pushed nature of this mode didn’t grate since most had been simply achieved. The one drawback with this mode was that in the event you performed the Legends of WrestleMania recreation years earlier, there actually wasn’t something new to see right here with lots of the matches (and match goals) merely being rehashed from that title.
Notable for: Truly having a really first rate single-player story marketing campaign within the type of The Streak mode, which reasonably than forcing you to compete in your birthday swimsuit, as a substitute permits gamers to both relieve or break The Undertaker’s then formidable 21-0 streak a 12 months earlier than that naughty boy, the Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar, would do in real-life.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K15 – PS3, PS4 (2014)
Ah, now this wasn’t good. The second entry within the sequence after 2K took over, WWE 2K15 made all of the unsuitable strikes, culminating within the worst WWE recreation since Crush Hour (OK, possibly not *that* unhealthy, but it surely was fairly terrible). The equal of watching Daniel Bryan getting mercilessly jobbed out to The Nice Khali after authoring his landmark championship title wins, WWE 2K15 couldn’t do something proper; whether or not it was the brand new chain grappling system which was about as a lot enjoyable as consuming a sandpaper burrito, or, the horrendous quantities of typically hilarious graphical glitches, WWE 2K15 failed in nearly each vital approach possible.
A lot worse nonetheless was the truth that the Creation Suite performance, for which the sequence had historically depended upon for its legs post-release, was pared again to the purpose of absolute insignificance with Create-A-Finisher and Create-A-Story utterly absent, and the Create-A-Wrestler mode lacking an excessive amount of customisation choices. One thing else that stunk was the MyCareer mode, which in being an especially poor complement to the scenario-driven 2K Showcase mode, added little to the affair apart from mind-numbing tedium.
In brief, the sport was a travesty, and whereas its ambition to drag off a extra thought of, tactical tackle the motion within the squared circle was an admirable one, the avalanche of poorly executed ideas that sat upon it did such job of burying it that in the long run, no one actually gave a toss.
Notable for: Being the primary WWE title since Smackdown Vs Uncooked 2010 to function a licensed soundtrack. Curated by the Physician of Thuganomics himself, John Cena, mentioned soundtrack was predictably rammed to the hilt with ear-rending cack. Ah properly, not less than the thought was there.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K16 – PS3, PS4 (2015)
Although not completely ridden of the quite a few (and hilarious) visible glitches that plagued its predecessor, WWE 2K16 nonetheless managed to carry its sweaty head excessive as not solely the very best WWE 2K title thus far, but in addition because the best wrestling title obtainable on PS4 (although given the truth that you possibly can rely them on one hand in the event you solely have two fingers, I’ll perceive your lack of enthusiasm within the face of such platitudes).
Immediately one of many good issues that WWE 2K16 introduces is a finite counter system which works properly in two methods. First, it implies that CPU and human opponents alike can now not spam counters indefinitely (a typical and frequent frustration with all WWE video games earlier than this), and secondly, it makes the entire affair way more tactical, impressing the necessity upon the participant to carry counters in reserve so that you just don’t get caught with out one when the fists and slams begin raining down.
One thing else that WWE 2K16 did proper was spruce up the 2K Showcase mode with an entertaining Stone Chilly Steve Austin historic marketing campaign that charted the famous person’s climb by way of the ranks from WCW to ECW, earlier than culminating in his legendary WWE run. Along with this, lots of the beforehand lacking creation suite modes returned (equivalent to Create A Diva, Create an Area, and Create a Championship), whereas even the much-maligned MyCareer mode re-emerged with enhancements and expansions to make it truly worthwhile this time.
WWE 2K16 hadn’t fairly ascended to the heady heights of the sequence greatest instalments then, however like a promising NXT developmental expertise it confirmed that it was making all the appropriate strikes on its path in the direction of the principle occasion; setting the scene for this 12 months’s WWE 2K17 to hold that momentum ahead and provides us the WWE title that all of us deserve. Hopefully. Please.
Notable for: Pigeonholing the legendary Samoa Joe as a ‘future star’ in one in every of its DLC packs even though the then 37-year outdated veteran has been wrestling professionally since 1999 and tapped out extra dudes than you’ve had sizzling dinners. Or one thing.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K17 – PS3, PS4 (2016)
Properly, because it turned out, WWE 2K17 wasn’t all that unhealthy truly – although ‘unhealthy’ kinda must be taken in proportion at this level. With a revamped grappling system and a neat collection of superstars (the returning Goldberg filling the legend quota for this 12 months’s recreation), that was just about the one issues that actually veered into the territory of ‘first rate’ so far as WWE 2K17 is anxious.
By way of the unhealthy nonetheless, we’re considerably spoilt for selection. Although the roster of wrestlers is sizeable, it was immensely irritating to find that a number of the hottest wrestlers of the NXT period, equivalent to Shinsuke Nakamura, had been locked behind paid DLC regardless of having been within the fed for ten months by the point the sport launched.
One other shortcoming was how the single-player marketing campaign stuff was dealt with. Gone had been the 2K Showcases of earlier years and its place had been extra fleshy Universe and MyCareer modes which had been underwhelming to say the least. Oh! I nearly forgot! The 2K Showcase mode *did* return, however are you able to guess the twist? That’s proper, the one 2k Showcase you’ll be getting is the one you pay for as extra DLC to the bottom recreation itself. Dick transfer, 2K, dick transfer.
After which lastly, WWE 2K17 finds itself infamous for the introduction of the brand new Promo Engine, which goals to seize the promo aspect of the enterprise in an horrendous little mini recreation the place no one would ever say half of the goofy crap that they’ve been scripted to say, and the entire thing simply feels as pointless as pissing within the wind. Don’t get me unsuitable; WWE 2K17 wasn’t terrible, it was simply… mediocre.
Notable for: Being the final WWE recreation on PS3. It’s unhappy, I do know however the present should go on.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K18 – PS4 (2017)
Ah, the curse of the even numbered WWE 2K video games being first rate continues as WWE 2K18 rocks as much as the present and exhibits WWE 2K17 how enterprise must be dealt with (or ought to that be ‘picked up’?). Anyway, WWE 2K18 turned out to be actually good; I imply, certain, the horrifically pointless Promo Engine returned from WWE 2K17 like a very decided turd that gained’t flush, BUT, we will forgive 2K for that little shortcoming given how properly the remainder of the bundle shapes up.
Very first thing’s first; the single-player marketing campaign mode is again! Form of. You see, reasonably than have the 2K Showcase coming again, 2K launched a brand new profession mode the place you’re taking a wrestler from NXT hopeful to WWE champion and for probably the most half it was fairly alright; even when a number of the backstage bits had been cringeworthy past perception.
Ostensibly although, the largest enhancements that WWE 2K18 brings to the desk are these that are tied to its ringcraft. Except for a brand new carry system which allowed you to carry out a complete new vary of environmental assaults, WWE 2K18 additionally boasts a retooled Royal Rumble match mode and, lastly, the power to have eight wrestlers on-screen on the identical time.
Although WWE 2K18 was good, and it confirmed the advantages of leaving the final era of consoles behind with superior environments and character fashions, it nonetheless didn’t really feel like a real innovative product as there is no such thing as a PS4 Professional assist and, fairly honestly, the sport nonetheless didn’t look 1,000,000 miles away from WWE 2K17 from a visible standpoint. Right here’s hoping then that WWE 2K19 is the leap that we’re all on the lookout for on this regard.
Notable for: Having absolutely the largest roster of any WWE recreation ever made. No actually; it’s large. Like, correct large. It even has Kurt Angle in it too!
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K19 – PS4 (2018)
No sooner do I spout off concerning the even and odd curse of 2K WWE video games when WWE 2K19 rocks up and exhibits me off to be an enormous asshole. Completely full of Andre the Big ranges of content material and a deftly judged sequence of nips and tucks, WWE 2K19 is definitely probably the greatest WWE video games that cash should buy.
The very first thing that can smash you within the face with all of the power of a sledgehammer is the truth that WWE 2K19 marks the return of the 2K Showcase, story-driven single participant marketing campaign. Higher but, the marketing campaign is one thing of a cracker as gamers get to play by way of the profession of the newly resurgent Daniel Bryan, nailing all of his key profession milestones alongside the best way.
Past the fantastic return of the 2K Showcase mode, WWE 2K19 additionally boasts the most important roster ever (once more), a massively expanded creation suite and a raft of extra match varieties.
The place WWE 2K19 falls down a tad is in the truth that the sequence as a complete merely wants a bigger scale refresh – from the cringeworthy commentary to a variety of outdated animations, there may be nonetheless an excessive amount of change that should happen to ensure that the franchise to achieve its fullest potential.
Notable for: Having a mode the place all of the wrestlers have tremendous inflated heads. It’s kinda like NBA Jam and 1993 by no means occurred.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K20 – PS4 (2019)
The primary WWE title to not be developed by Yukes in 20 years(!) WWE 2K20 is, fairly frankly, an absolute travesty the likes of which we haven’t seen in fairly a while and a mahoosive, Andre the Big sized step again from WWE 2K19.
The place to start? Oh I do know – let’s begin with the bugs! Boasting extra bugs than Starship Troopers, WWE 2K20 is riddled from head to toe with the issues. From exaggerated variations of the sequence conventional semi-hilarious physics glitches, to the frequent crashes (which STILL haven’t been addressed within the CAW mode some three patches later) – the sport is mainly a large number.
After which we come to the visuals! Hoo-boy. Trying like a PS3 recreation that’s attempting its greatest to appear to be a late gen PS2 title at instances, WWE 2K20 appears to be like horrific with poor texture work, low element crowds and a massively variable framerate throughout massive matches.
And THEN we come to the AI which appears particularly dumb this 12 months – both forgetting to remain on the apron throughout a tag-match, reversing all the things you do like some Counter Terminator or utterly failing to barter itself a path from the skin into the ring, and getting counted out within the course of.
And *THEN* we come to the truth that sure CAW materials varieties are locked behind a progress wall (what a approach to annoy the CAW group from day one), WWE 2K20’s single most fascinating function, WWE 2K Originals is locked behind a paywall and adjustments have been made to manage format for no cause apart from, properly, to be completely different from final 12 months.
Come again Yukes! All is forgiven! (Properly, possibly not all the things, however you need to begin someplace proper?)
Notable for: Having a MyCareer story mode that’s so catastrophically cringe, it shunts the earth off of its axis. Holy moly.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K Battlegrounds – PS4 (2020)
Within the absence of a simulation fashion WWE 2K title in 2020 (due to a studio reshuffle wherein longtime sequence dev Yukes! acquired the boot) we had WWE 2K Battlegrounds as a substitute, an arcade fashion effort that seemed just like the amalgamated offspring of Wrestlemania: The Arcade Recreation and the criminally underrated WWE All-Stars.
Very a lot meant to be informal affair for people that don’t have a lot time, are 12 years outdated or youthful, hopped up on Gatorade or all three, WWE 2K Battlegrounds sacrifices depth for a similar form of excessive spectacle that WWE All-Stars pioneered almost ten years in the past.
Whereas WWE 2K Battlegrounds then proves to be curiously loud and instantly compelling fodder – it’s sadly simply that; because the tremendously lowered transfer rely and nearly fatally stripped out inventive suite choices all detract from what’s in any other case a extremely satisfying affair.
Oh, and you can even F5 people into the ready jaws of keen alligators too. Good, eh?
Notable for: Having a famous person unlock part the place, as soon as bought, every famous person kicks themselves out of blister pack as in the event that they had been motion figures. Neat.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K22 – PS4, PS5 (2022)
An absolute comeback story for the ages, WWE 2K22 made ample use of its prolonged improvement time (thirty months versus the standard ten or so months that the sequence affords every entry) to vogue the very best WWE 2K recreation we’ve seen in an age.
Beginning on the prime, the grappling system is so a lot better in WWE 2K22 than in any recreation earlier. Reversals are actually now not capped of their use, which now allows the form of dramatic ebb and circulation you’d see in a real-life wrestling match as gamers fluidly commerce reversals, reasonably than simply ready for the opposite participant to expire of reversals earlier than you begin wailing on their defenceless type.
Past the considerably improved wrestling mechanics, visuals have seen an throughout the board enchancment too. Boasting photograph scanned superstars that appear to be first rate approximations of their real-life counterparts reasonably than drunk waxworks with a factor for exhausting medication, WWE 2K22 lastly appears to be like, sounds and performs the half – and after years of failing to meaningfully evolve itself, it appears like a novel form of reduction to have the ability to say that.
Sadly, if rumours are to be believed, 2K may quickly lose the WWE license to EA – making WWE 2K22 one thing of a bittersweet enterprise that stands as the very best wrestling recreation in an extended whereas, but in addition one which could not have one other entry constructed upon its resoundingly robust foundations.
Notable for: Being the primary WWE 2K recreation on PlayStation 5 and actually being higher than ever WWE 2K recreation for the final decade in each single, conceivable approach. Each. Single. Manner.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K23 – PS4, PS5 (2023)
Definitively proving that WWE 2K22 was no fluke, WWE 2K23 managed to cement the notion in folks’s minds that the comeback of the WWE 2K sequence was not solely properly underneath approach however that Visible Ideas had now absolutely put their stamp on the franchise and knew precisely what labored and what didn’t when it comes to the sequence overarching design.
For a begin completely all the things that labored in WWE 2K22 makes a welcome return in WWE 2K23 – this implies the reworked countering system, the photo-scanned superstars – all of it – is current and accounted for in WWE 2K23.
By way of the novelty that this sequence entry brings to the desk, WWE 2K23 introduces the fan-favourite Battle Video games match to the franchise for the primary time, whereas the 2K Showcase mode returns with a neat twist (see under) that might see it rank up there as probably the greatest single-player campaigns ever in a restling tit
Notable for: Boasting a John Cena centered 2K Showcase mode which reasonably than simply having you relive John Cena’s best victories, as a substitute had you reliving his best defeats as you took management of each famous person that has bested The Physician of Thuganomics through the years. It was brilliantly subversive stuff that actually helped to clean up the 2K Showcase mode in a approach that no sequence entry had managed up till that time.
Greatest & Worst WWE Video games: WWE 2K24 – PS4, PS5 (2024)
With each the WWE/UFC merger, the unceremonious departure of Vinny Mac and the upcoming 2025 tv cope with Netflix now within the books, it’s truthful to say that the wrestling panorama (and specifically WWE itself) won’t ever be the identical once more. On this sense, WWE 2K24 feels very very similar to a celebration of the corporate’s largest historic spectacle – WrestleMania – and but it additionally appears like a celebration of the long run with feminine superstars Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair gracing the primary dual-female solely wrestling cowl in WWE historical past.
By way of seeking to the previous, that is the place this 12 months’s 2K Showcase mode is available in. As soon as once more leveraging the identical Slingshot expertise which permits real-time visuals to seamlessly transition from live-action footage and vice-versa, WWE 2K24’s Showcase mode focuses in on a number of the largest WrestleMania occasions and milestone matches. From Ricky Steamboat’s iconic Intercontinental title conflict with the Macho Man, by way of to the thunderous, history-making conflict between Cody Rhodes and Roman Regins at WrestleMania 39 and all of the whereas slavishly replicating the audiovisual spectacle of every period, WWE 2K24’s 2K Showcase mode arguably scratches that itch of taking part in by way of a number of the most traditionally vital WWE wrestling matches which have ever been televised.
Past the 2K Showcase mode, WWE 2K24 additionally brings a re-worked MyRise secondary marketing campaign which incorporates separate embedded story modes for each female and male wrestlers, whereas particular referee matches have now returned alongside the brand new and extremely chaotic Ambulance match as well. WWE 2K24 additionally will get loads of the smaller issues proper, too. Stamina fatigue for instance has now been way more thoughtfully included with long-running matches leading to each superstars struggling to recuperate from even primary strikes equivalent to suplexes and powerslams – y’know, identical to the actual factor.
One other new addition that WWE 2K24 brings is the brand new buying and selling strikes mini-game which has two superstars buying and selling blows in speedy succession that once more does an important job of mirroring the real-life spectacle in a approach that simply hasn’t been achieved earlier than.
A style defining entry that exhibits developer Visible Ideas working on the heights of its appreciable powers, WWE 2K24 is kind of merely probably the most definitive wrestling recreation you should purchase proper now and it isn’t even shut.
Notable for: Having the one largest roster of any wrestling recreation ever that clocks in at greater than 200 selectable wrestlers (together with DLC choices that convey notably excessive profile AEW refugees CM Punk and Jade Cargill into the fold). Ooof.
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