- WWE 2K20’s horrible performance almost ruined the entire franchise.
- To fix this, 2K skipped the next game and moved to WWE 2K22 to resolve the issues.
- 2K addressed the issues and provided a new style of gameplay, which brought the franchise back on track.
WWE games have experienced highs and lows like few other sports game series. We have seen the pinnacle of wrestling games in Smackdown: Here Comes The Pain!, which is still considered one of the greatest.
Then, there was WWE 2K20, which almost ruined the franchise. The damage done by WWE 2K20 was so severe that 2K had to revamp their next installment, WWE 2K22.
Skipping WWE 2K21 Was A Good Move
WWE 2K22 may not be an acclaimed game in the WWE games series, but it undoubtedly saved the whole franchise from collapsing. WWE 2K20 was unplayable when it was released due to many glitches and game crashes.
[WWE 2k20] Something went horribly wrong in the character editor
byu/murdock129 inGamePhysics
The fans felt robbed of their money, and many started demanding refunds. At the time, it felt like the 2K franchise was done, and WWE would hire some other game developer and publisher to make games for them. But 2K didn’t let that happen.
To deal with this issue, 2K skipped WWE 2K21 and directly jumped to 2K22, focusing on everything that went wrong with 2K20. They changed the game engine for 2K22, which brought tons of changes.
The game was so much different than the last few games of the franchise. It had different visuals, better-looking/more realistic graphics, new character models, and new animations. The gameplay also received tons of new changes.
New Gameplay System
We saw changes to even the basic controls. The controls for move reversals were swapped with running. The finisher button was now the reversal button. Executing finishers now required two buttons to be pressed at a time and more.
When you first look at these controls, it seems like they have just made things more complex compared to the previous set of controls, but actually, the controls have become more accessible, and you can perform any move once you get used to them.
The gameplay style was also altered a little bit. We can block kicks and punches and also dodge moves. These features added much more to the gameplay, as you could have a traditional wrestling match and an MMA-type one.
Due to this, so many new move combinations and incredible in-action moments could be created in the game. On top of that, we also got a set of combo moves for each character. The combos were striking-based and a mixture of striking and grappling moves.
This combo feature made it possible to hit the real-life combos of different wrestlers in the game. You could also edit these combos from the creation suite. To counter these combos, there was another thing called the combo breaker.
It’s a feature that can help you break your opponent’s ongoing combo before they complete it. You can execute it by guessing the attack button your opponent will press next and pressing it on your controller or keyboard.
The grappling system was also changed a bit. You could counter grappling moves by guessing which attack button your opponent will press, just like in the combo breaker technique.
These combo breakers, blocks, and dodge features made the game much more engaging than it would have been without them. These additional move execution and move countering techniques also made the game fast-paced, which to this day has mixed reviews, but it provided a much-needed breath of fresh air then.
New And Returning Modes
The game also brought back one of the most demanded modes in WWE games, the GM mode. It lets players book wrestling shows of their own. You can choose which superstars you want on your brand at the start of the season, using which you have to book shows with a given amount of money to earn profits.
To win in GM mode, you must ensure that your brand makes the most money compared to the AI competing against you. A new game mode was also introduced, namely My Faction, which lets you compete in live events that are constantly updated over time.
Taking wins in these events will grant you points, which you can use to unlock additional superstar attires. This mode may not be appreciated much, but the extra superstar attire makes it worth trying. These extra game modes also added so much worth to the game, contributing to the revival of the WWE 2K franchise.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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