It is difficult to explain how underrated the discipline of wrestling is in Italy. Once again, in fact, we have lost the opportunity to bring a spectacle, or rather forgive us, in this case a sport-spectacle, to our country and give job opportunities to people. It is certainly not the fault of Posa and Franchini, pioneers of wrestling in Italy thanks to Sky, but of a message that has been passed down over the years: that it is a discipline to be mocked with funny names and verses of effort to Go with it all, maybe even flexing your biceps.
Therefore, we assume that in recent years you have never seen one of those intertwined stories abroad, that you do not know what the Demon, who is Bray Wyatt and why his way of acting has caught the attention even of film critics. Let's assume once again that you don't know that The Bloodline is clearly inspired by the best crime movies in cinema, and let's assume that the last time you heard about Edge, it was probably in the video game magazine. From here you will discover that wrestling is much more and that without a doubt 2K has done an excellent job to also dignify video games based on this discipline.
Therefore, we are ready to tell you our impressions about the return of wrestling in style in the WWE 2K23 Review.
Barrel and chamber
Let's start by telling you that if you played or watched WWE 2K22 last year, The new chapter continues in every way what we saw 12 months ago. The gameplay is the same: powerful and impactful. The perfect combination between "beat 'em up" (the combo system remains unchanged) and legacy of the past, with interactions that still slide over invisible walls. This last effect, although still annoying, has been considerably reduced. The great innovation, in fact, is found in the animation sector, now bigger than ever. Not just moves and stunts, but real contextual animations that happen between the characters, but also between the characters and the environment around them. The most obvious example is the use of ropes and corners to take air, lean on them or use them as a handle to get up. Therefore, we are not facing a revolution but rather various improvements that expand the excellent foundations laid last year.
We are satisfied with what we have seen and we believe that the proposed simulation of the discipline has reached a very good level. Management is interesting. endurance, forcing you to alternate between aggressive attacks and strategic slowdowns. This management is the key to looking for a wrestling simulation that follows a fighting flow very close to the real counterpart.
What certainly attracts attention is the spectacular nature of certain movements and actions. Using the device also makes everything enjoyable. camera. What WWE 2K23 proposed with the shot is actually very similar to what WWE Smackdown did Here comes the Pain in 2003, it's still the best wrestling game ever made. In fact, during some moments, the direction of the action is modified, favoring more "cinematic" shots, leaving the players in control of the combat. The emphasis created in these actions replicates what can be seen in television programs, creating an appreciable similarity between the virtual and the real.
Modos WWE 2K23
The real strong point of the Visual Concepts production is undoubtedly the park. way: MyGM, MyRise, MyFaction, Showcase and Universe. The player really has many options to choose from, as he will be able to take on different roles within the WWE hierarchical pyramid. From the superstar to the general manager, from the owner to the event organizer, there really is something for everyone. The framework of all the modes is the same as always, although in each of them it is possible to find a whole series of small innovations that deserve mention.
my rise now has two separate stories that tell two very different scenarios of the wrestling narrative. On the one hand we have The Legacy, the story of a boy born into a family of wrestlers: the classic heir, the Cody Rhodes of the situation, who carries the weight of a challenging surname. The story called The Lock, on the other hand, tells the tortuous path of a predestined man, who must make his way between independent ventures and acclaimed comebacks. Both stories are satisfying, meaty and full of twists. This year's MyRise is undoubtedly the best "career" mode proposal in recent years. Why worry? MyGM, all innovations reside in management possibilities. Visual Concepts has expanded the portfolio of titles, expanded the seasons that can be played before the end and inserted a whole series of unexpected events (shakes) that make the replayability of this mode truly layered.
Similar speeches for Showcase and Universe, since both modalities are very similar to the past. Universe increases both the cinematic cut and the possibilities of creating engaging stories thanks to Momentum. It is a system that allows superstars to experience moments of momentum, especially thanks to spectacular or close victories, capable of influencing the events of a rivalry or a race.
Mode Display, on the other hand, is quite similar to what was done with Rey Mysterio last year, but in WWE 2K23 the protagonist is John Cena. Although we liked the idea of having this superstar as the protagonist, we would like to say that this mode now feels the weight of a somewhat overused formula that serves to justify the presence of a cover fighter each year. We close with the my faction. In our opinion, the weakest modality of the package certainly has a harder time standing out from the rest. The scarcity of the WWE 2K23 roster does not adapt to MyFaction's FUT style, more names would be needed and consequently more cards available.
A starry outline
Therefore, the technique and graphics do not betray, the modes shine despite everything and the gameplay is consolidated. So where can the game still improve? In our opinion in list. It's a shame that we can't have all of wrestling's most iconic wrestlers; net of licenses and those who are no longer part of the federation, perhaps we would have liked to see many legends a little forgotten again. However, it is worth highlighting both the sound and musical sectors and the creations sector. The possibilities it offers to the player in terms of character creation are immense and truly appreciable. The beauty of all this then lies in the possibility of sharing one's own creations (athletes, stadiums, logos, etc.) with the community, often making immortal memes and/or truly surprising destinations.
This aspect is then the great lifesaver of the discussion about the list that was made earlier. The community, in fact, manages to hide the gaps that, in our opinion, affect the game's fighter base in numerical terms. Except for some small uncertainties, the manufacturing quality of the models deserves to be underlined, as it is truly incredible. The type of party has also expanded with the arrival of Juegos de guerra, a stipulation that has become very popular in recent years but which, all things considered, is a variant of something very well known.
Conclusions
Tested version PlayStation 5 digital delivery Steam, playstation store, Xbox Store Price 74.99 € Holygamerz.com 8.0 Readers (14) 7.8 your voteWWE 2K23 builds on the strong foundation laid last year. Waiting to understand what Visual Concepts will propose to us in the next round (the third year is always the most substantial) and free of the small uncertainties found in the Showcase mode and in the nature of the MyFaction mode, we are enjoying the return. of the great wrestling among sports video games.
PRO
- Technically impressive
- Super satisfying MyRise
- MyGm shines
AGAINST
- Showcase y MyFaction claudicanti
- We'll want an even bigger list
