WWE 2K17 - Review

Article by Domenico De Rosa

The next game to enter the ring is from the United States! We introduce the newcomer, developed by Yuke's and published by 2K Sports… he is the successor to WWE 2K16 and new title in the franchise: WWE 2K17! Ah, don't try this at home!

Welcome to Suplex City

It is the most anticipated game of the year by wrestling fans, also because, essendo the only WWE title on the market it absolutely cannot disappoint expectations. WWE 2K17 had the arduous task of redeem the flaws of his predecessor and it must be admitted that in part he succeeded. The mechanics gameplay has remained virtually unchanged from WWE 2K16, but the developers have gone to great lengths to offer users the best wrestling title ever dai tempi on Raw vs SmackDown, putting on the plate a truly remarkable technical and artistic side. The game is faster, more fluid and with a cutting-edge graphics sector, despite complaints still some flaws regarding the AI ​​of the opponents. It is precisely the graphics of WWE 2K17 that leave you speechless: most of the wrestlers have been made with care and in many cases it is difficult to differentiate the wrestler on console from his real counterpart. However, this does not happen with all the fighters on the roster: some have been faithfully recreated, others a little less. Basically the gameplay remains unchanged, with some small changes or tweaks that favor the simulation even more. The pin and submission mini-games have remained unchanged, although there is the possibility of replacing the mechanics of the submission mini-game: you can choose whether to use the analog stick or the buttons on your controller. The novelty of this new title in the WWE 2K franchise is the return of the Backstage Brawl, or the combat inside the backstage. Here there is no rule: the wrestlers must give them to each other as if there was no tomorrow with the aim of knocking out the opponent, using, kicks, punches, holds, blunt objects and exploiting the fighting environment. The exhibition mode is always full of matches, both single, both tag, and multi-man, making it even the local multiplayer. Also the menu appears more sober and quicker, while the annoying slow uploads seem to be (in part) a distant memory of the old editions.

The richest roster ever

WWE 2K17 can boast a very high number of wrestlers in it, between WWE Superstars, WWE Divas, Legends and Managers. The full-bodied roster allows you to impersonate a multitude of fighters, from the most established such as Brock Lesnar (face of the game), John Cena, Seth Rollins, Undertaker, Roman Reign, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, to less known wrestlers. Unfortunately, however, it must be said that the roster is not very up to date, as there is a clear lack of some current wrestlers, including the entire "Cruserweight" division. The title has in fact remained far behind compared to current events: the lack of the division of the shows that took place in the WWE universe between Raw and SmackDown is not present and above all, in the game there is no trace of the title of WWE universal champion ... really a shame. In addition, players will have the opportunity to unlock numerous fighters: from this year, however, it will no longer be necessary to play any mode to obtain them. Just simply buy the wrestlers in the shop through the VC points obtainable after every match or in My Career mode. So the more you play, the more points you will get and the more fighters you will unlock. Finally, let's not forget that you can create your own custom superstar. The tool that allows you to create your own character is really rich, faster and more accessible, with extensive customization possibilities. You can create the appearance of the wrestler, the entire set of moves and the entrance to the ring. 

I will become a wrestler!

You remember it WWE ShowCase mode? Forget it, because it is not present in WWE 2K17. The absence of this mode favored “My Career”, the best story mode ever. This is more complete than that of 2K16 and allows you to dive headlong into the reality of WWE. Our ascent to the highest peaks of the federation will start with the public: after creating our fighter and witnessing Finn Balor's victory, our WWE adventure begins in the training center, where the A-Train coach explains how to become an established Superstar. The initial tutorial has the hard task of explaining the basics of wrestling and how to behave with a microphone in hand. This first phase also allows us to understand what our main road will be and whether to debut in the main shows as solo or as a couple. The path to becoming an established fighter also passes through the public: it is very important to relate to the WWE Universe, because our performances at the microphone will determine whether our character will be Face (good) or Heel (bad). In fact, wrestling is not just punches and holds, but a good oratory performance will be essential to get noticed by the federation and to forge alliances or start feuds against wrestlers of the opposing "faction" (face against heel or vice versa). Our wrestler will start from scratch, but match after match we can upgrade him increasing attributes and donating new skills and new moves. The more matches we bring home, the faster we will have the chance to fight for the belts: winning a title will effectively guarantee notoriety, increase the sale of your shirts, but at the same time you will also become the target of your opponents. The "My Carrier" mode is truly the highlight of the game and will guarantee hours and hours of fun and involvement. If you've always dreamed of becoming a wrestler, you've found a way to do it without jeopardizing your bones!

One… due… tr… no!

Valid from a graphic point of view, almost flawless from a technical point of view, WWE 2K17 has to deal with some problems that are now part of the franchise's DNA. While we shout "Wauuuh" when we see a wrestler making his entrance and approaching the ring, unfortunately we also have to point our thumbs down. on the intelligence of AI-driven opponents and their actions during matches. At first they appear on the ball and ready to slaughter us, but over time they look more and more like mannequins. In some cases, towards the end of the meetings, they remain still for several seconds, giving us time to catch our breath and attempt the final assault. A shame, as this flaw tarnishes the good work done by Yuke's. Furthermore, the presence of some graphics bugs, which often are also funny and arouse more than a laugh. The developers could be more daring and offer new game mechanics, given that as mentioned at the beginning of the review, they are practically the same as the previous WWE 2K. That said, WWE 2K17 is a solid title that can be played by both WWE fans and users looking for a title that transcends classic fighting mechanics. The hope is that WWE 2K17 can be the stepping stone for future titles in the series. If the basics are these, so let's expect an even better WWE 2K18!