WWE2K23 Xbox Series X Review 8/10 “No Steps Back” 🤼‍♂️ @transvaalgf #WWE

When reviewing the previous entry in the series - WWE2K22 - I mentioned that recent WWE games have a habit of going one step forward but two steps back. Well, finally for the first time in years, that statement does not apply to this entry. After having good building blocks from last year’s version, they didn’t remove a mode or change things drastically for no reason, they simply worked on and improved what they had already built last year.

The gameplay is largely the same, which is a good thing, as there has been a long-running joke between my brother and me in that the first thing he would ask me about the new WWE game would be, “Have they changed the control scheme again?”, so it was nice this year to say “no, it’s the same as last year, they haven’t moved counter to RB… no, its X this year… no, wait! You wiggle the thumb stick!”.

It’s been great that the control scheme got a positive reaction in WWE2K22, and they decided to keep it the same. WWE2K23 does have a slight change but it’s one of my favourite little adjustments, the ‘pinning’ mini-game is now a moving bar, whereby you have to stop it at the right time, you can press X or you can flick the right thumb stick up, I really like this new mechanic, it’s much more preferable to the old ‘button bashing’ mechanic. 

The models in the WWE2K23 really are a bit hit-and-miss in that some look photo-realistic while others look like a bad Madam Tussauds waxwork, it really shows who your main eventers are, and who is just an afterthought.  If your model could be used as a passport photo you might main-event WrestleMania, but if your model looks like a police sketch described by someone who saw the perp at night, from a distance, whilst squinting… you’re probably in the dark match. 

The 'My GM' mode is one of my favourite modes in the history of gaming and is something that I will pour hours upon hours into, so when it returned last year, I was thoroughly disappointed with what it offered, it was such a bare-bones mode and so much was missing. My review at the time stated that I hoped that they would flesh out the next instalment.

Well, here we are, and I’m on my 5th season after several hours and can confirm it has vastly improved, there are some niggles which I will highlight, but it has improved. You can now choose between several new General Managers, including Xavier Woods, Taylor Breeze, and the best General Manager of all time - Eric Bischoff. New matches are now available - which were completely missing last year - you also have mid-card titles added in. The gameplay loop is largely the same, but with these simple additions, it really adds some depth. 

Now, as I have already mentioned - some niggles remain. You play 25 weeks, so still no full calendar year, and WrestleMania Backlash does not come after WrestleMania - which is really strange. You also can’t defend titles in Triple Threat matches and Fatal Four Ways, there was a situation during gameplay whereby I had a wrestler ask me to book him in a match – which  I did… then the next week, he complained that I hadn’t put him in a match in that previous week, so there is still some refinement needed, but I enjoyed my time with My GM mode and will definitely keep on playing it.

The My Rise mode has also had a nice upgrade, you start by picking a path - The Legacy or The Lock – in The Legacy, you play as a wrestler living in the shadow of your highly decorated aunt, and as you go through the campaign you deal with having high expectations placed on you. Can you surpass their legacy? Can you forge your own path?

In The Lock, the campaign is about forging your own path whilst effectively fighting the WWE machine, trying to be yourself whilst the WWE push you into a bad gimmick.

I liked The Lock campaign more, as I enjoyed the story, and it resonated well - especially when thinking of the creative decisions that have been made in WWE over the past few years, it really resonates. Through both paths, you can engage in side missions, and they really do vary - some are entertaining, and some are a bit of a slog. in this version, all missions are in the same location, and people stand about in the same room, so it feels very static and could have done with being able to explore the arena and find missions backstage in various places - but both stories are worth your time.

I’m on record in saying that the Showcase mode just doesn’t do it for me, and this year doesn’t really change that. Instead of Rey Mysterio, this year focuses on John Cena, one of the biggest wrestlers in the last twenty years, and I was surprised that you don’t actually play as Cena you instead play as his various opponents. The Showcase is focused on Cena’s greatest losses instead of his biggest wins, it’s a nice twist and does solve the big problem of playing as one character over and over.

It was cool playing as a variety of wrestlers, but the problems of previous  Showcase modes start to creep in really quickly. Triggering some of the goals is really finicky and takes multiple attempts; you have to spend various amounts of time watching film footage - which are usually the best parts of the match - I just don’t find it very engaging.

John Cena - whether on TV or in interviews - is quite engaging and funny, but here in the interview segments he just keeps reiterating that ‘he tried’ or ‘gave it his best’, it really lacks any depth or insights, I was really surprised how flat Cena felt. I would say I enjoyed it a bit more than in WWE2K22 -  mainly for playing as various Superstars - but this mode could do with some fresh ideas, or preferably being a completely new mode.

Summary

The game has taken the ideology of ‘refine, not redefine’ and it works great. Instead of throwing it all out and starting again, it simply builds upon last year, creating a familiar experience but with much more added depth.