WWE 2K23 has a lot to prove. Not only is it no longer the only star-studded wrestling game on the market, but it’s released a string of games that range from good to bad. This is a game that really needs to be won. Going out to work would be a disaster.
I was able to play a preview version of the game last week, which allowed me to tackle the standard one-on-one matches, the new Wargames mode, and the new showcase feature that takes you through John Cena’s career. Alternative match types and online play are not available in this version.
Let’s start with the core gameplay in the standard wrestling format – the fight itself. WWE 2K23 is based around pretty fun fights, where you slap, punch, kick, and grapple to take down your opponents. Each wrestler has their own arsenal of attacks and unique moves you’ve seen in real life, along with a range of devastating signatures and finishing attacks that deal massive damage.
In terms of animation, the game does a good job of depicting the instinctive movements of these performers–something the series has always done well–and continues to excel in that regard. Especially with a cinematic Terminator, you feel like making the moves look as real as possible was one of the development team’s top priorities.
I’m also proud to report that I played without bugs! There was some slowdown initially, apparently due to a bug in the hardware we were using to test the preview build rather than the game itself, but it’s far better than WWE 2K20’s performance. I quickly went back to that title after trying 2K23, and there was a real leap in quality. WWE 2K22, on the other hand, showed signs that the team is still learning the new engine, but WWE 2K23 feels like they’ve found their footing in the wrestling game without tearing up its quads to slip into the ring.
Wargames is a major addition, and one that’s already hit the market with hype. For non-wrestling fans, it’s basically one big cage on two rings where the two teams spar, furiously. For the uninitiated, it’s just a big fancy cage game. However, you can do some cool moves between the rings, and once everyone is in the arena, the competition can get crazy. It’s a cool modern addition for the newest wrestling watcher.
Speaking of which, John Cena has his own exclusive showcase in WWE 2K23 to coincide with his 20th anniversary in the ring. The mode consists of well-known fights from his career and puts you in his opponent’s shoes as you fight to complete a series of mini-objectives that mirror what happens in real-world matches.
Perhaps the coolest part of John Cena’s presentation was the clip between the gameplay and the original match footage. You’ll complete one of the sub-objectives, like dropping a kickball off the top rope, and it’ll shoot right into the actual footage of it happening. It wasn’t so much a truly challenging fight as it was a celebration of a crucial moment. At best, you’ll feel the hype of a tense match, but at worst, you’ll find yourself ticking boxes and waiting for great video to come around again.
I do like that John Cena wears a fancy suit and walks us through every fight in the character, and I do think there’s a lot to be excited about for longtime fans. However, for me, the race really dragged on for too long. In the 2006 Cena vs. Rob Van Dam ECW fight, I was aiming for 10/14 and was ready to move on.
You could argue that since you’re playing as Cena’s antagonist – trying to keep it fresh every game – John Cena’s major milestone mode is just a legend of him being played for hours, but I do think it’s The right choice makes. People don’t need to win 20 minutes of brawls with this guy to know he’s talented or popular.
From what I’ve played, WWE 2K23 is a fun enough game that it seems to get the wrestling game franchise back on track. This is a game developed during COVID, after some really rough predecessors. Sitting down to eat a small piece and you can almost feel the game itself going, “Okay look, I know we’ve had a bumpy ride, but look at this.” If nothing else, it’s got me excited to check these out How the game will expand in the future, especially now that the team behind them has settled down and started proving their mettle with the new engine.
All the game needs to do now is successfully handle online play–regardless of the quality of the player’s connection, the lagging experience will really hit the game in the foot. But assuming we get the same level of quality from the previous installments, WWE 2K23 seems like a great showcase for the series. Not yet a heavyweight champion, but you can see a chance for the belt.
