WWE 2K23 Review: Main Event Material
Looking back now, WWE 2k20 may have been a blessing in disguise. Dropping as perhaps the most broken release in recent memory, WWE 2k20 was nothing short of an absolute disgrace. Such a disgrace, in fact, that 2k decided to hit the reset button and take a break from the series’ annual release cycle in an attempt to salvage the series. And salvage the series they did with WWE 2k22, with developer Visual Concepts not only using the time to stabilize the experience and iron out the insane amount of bugs and performance issues that plagued the prior iteration but also taking the opportunity to reinvent the in-ring action, providing one of the most authentic pro wrestling video game adaptations to date.
With such a strong foundation in place, it would be unreasonable to expect Visual Concepts to risk rocking the boat again too much, with this year’s installment, WWE 2k23, definitely serving up less of a revolution than its predecessor. Instead, Visual Concepts have opted for more of a refinement of the excellent product released last year, and while it may result in a more predictable and less exciting release, minor tweaks to some well-established formulas have resulted in the best game in the series to date.
Lace Your Boots Up
Quite a few would probably agree that had WWE2k20 managed to release in a decent state, the product still would have felt lacking due to how stale the actual wrestling gameplay had begun to feel. Thankfully, with the extra-long development cycle, Visual Concepts took a long hard look at player feedback and provided the biggest gameplay-focused shake-up the series had ever seen.
As you’d expect, then, WWE 2k23 carries those improvements forward and does so to great effect. The combo system from last year makes a triumphant return, allowing players to string together various strikes and moves seamlessly, with each wrestler on the roster having upwards of twenty combos to memorize, leaning heavily into traditional fighting game mechanics. It’s a lot to take in as you also need to remember directional inputs as well as button combinations, and like last year, some may complain that it removes some of the accessibility that wrestling games have historically been known for when compared to traditional fighting games. Take the time to get used to it, though, and the system is a total joy to get lost in, with the combo strings adding more diversity and, in turn, authenticity to each superstar’s move-set. Animations have seen improvements since last year also, with the awkward transitions between strikes and grappling mid-combo nowhere near as intrusive as they previously were.
Of course, combos are all well and good, but what all true fans of wrestling games want is to see their favorite on-screen heroes busting out their signature moves as they lay their opponents out on the canvas. In that regard, 2k23 is as impressive as ever, with each wrestler’s move set being replicated with incredible accuracy. Whether you’re taking opponents to suplex city with Brock Lesnar, hitting your foes with John Cena’s five moves of doom, or stepping into the boots of anyone else on the quite frankly overwhelmingly large roster, matches look and flow in a manner much closer to the real-life product than ever before. The same system of light and heavy grapples that made its return last year is once again the focal point of the combat, with everyone on the roster feeling a touch heavier this year, adding to the impact and sensation of weight felt when moves land.
It feels and looks great. However, my biggest gripe from last year also makes a return. Rather than just being able to simply launch into a move or a throw, players are required to lock arms with the opponent by pressing the circle button, and only then can they enter the input for whatever move they’re looking to perform. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a relatively minor complaint, but it really hurts the flow of the action at times. Having to enter the grapple state with an opponent before being able to carry out a simple suplex or scoop slam, for example, not only feels clumsy, but woefully inauthentic. You don’t see it happen when watching the real deal on TV, which makes it feel even more out of place here, so here’s hoping Visual Concepts considers allowing players to transition straight into moves with next year’s installment.
You’ve probably gathered by now that the in-ring experience is mostly just a more refined version of what fans got out of WWE2k22, but there is one small change that makes a huge difference, and that’s the new kick-out system. Previously, when players were pinned by the opposition, kicking out became a frantic mess of button mashing in an attempt to fill the kick-out meter. It felt unwieldy, and once you had taken enough damage in a match, it almost felt pointless engaging with it as you ultimately had a feel for that threshold beyond which filling the meter would become impossible. While that system is still available this year, it’s accompanied by the new stick flick option, which has players flicking the right stick as a slider moves over and back across a meter with a kick-out zone. The zone starts big, but as you take more damage, becomes smaller and starts moving, making it more difficult to time your flick in time with the slider crossing the zone. It’s a small change, but it has a big impact, as I always felt that even if it was small, there was a chance that I could hit that kick-out no matter how battered and bruised I was. It also captures the drama of last-second kick-outs much closer than frantically trying to fill a button-mashing meter ever did, adding even more to the already stellar attention to detail Visual Concepts has captured.
The Champ Is Here
In terms of modes and ways to play, WWE 2k23 is again more of a refinement than a revolution, but I’m totally fine with that, given how vast the options already were in WWE 2k22. Match types are what you would expect, with the usual plethora of gimmick matches, including Hell in a Cell, TLC, and the Ladder matches all correct and present. The big headline addition this year is the War Games match, which sees two rings placed side by side and surrounded by a steel cage. You can opt for four-on-four or three-on-three versions of the match, with the results being as chaotic as you would expect. With the way that entrants into War Games are staggered, it can get frustrating at times as you can potentially find yourself outnumbered at various points during the encounter, with it effectively turning into a handicap tag match at set points. But that is the nature of the War Games match as we see it on our TV screens, so while frustrating, it is at least authentic.
Game modes are also just as varied as last year and have been improved upon significantly. The main draw for me in any wrestling game is the career mode, and thankfully Visual Concepts’ MyRISE is better than ever before. Creating a customer superstar from scratch, players can opt for either the female-focused The Legacy story path, which sees you taking on the women’s division as a WWE Superstar that comes from a family of wrestling royalty and has a ton of pressure to live up to, or the male-focused The Lock, which sees you enter WWE as a well-established talent who has already made a name for himself on the international scene. Whichever you opt for, you can expect the usual mix of taking on side stories and decision-based main stories that offer a plethora of entertaining narratives similar to those that grace our screens every week. While the writing is still lacking in parts, it’s a huge step up from last year’s effort, which was, quite honestly, nothing short of dreadful and totally missed the mark when it came to replicating the weird and wonderful world of WWE. Voice acting can still be a little ropey at times, unfortunately, with wrestlers often sounding like they were put in front of a microphone at gunpoint in a dingy shed somewhere, but overall both The Legacy and the Lock provide a heap of entertainment.
Universe mode also makes its return, though, as always, it’s hard to judge the value of this mode until a few weeks of playtime have been dedicated to it. From what I’ve experienced so far, though, it definitely feels like cutscenes are more frequent, and the new momentum system allows you to build up momentum through playing, which can then be spent at the end of matches to trigger certain scenarios. Options include things like being able to launch post-match attacks on your opponent, or alternatively, shaking their hand, and just allow for more control generally on how rivalries play out. All in all, Universe mode feels like the same robust sandbox it has always been, allowing you to play puppet master within WWE as you create your own rosters and shows, all with a little more control over how your superstars interact with one another. For those that want a little more structure to their sandboxes, MyGM mode makes a welcome return, allowing players to take control of one of WWE’s official brands and rosters, asking you to manage budgets, shows, match types, and overall production, all while trying to ensure that your brand dominates the TV ratings battle. Last year’s attempt was a little light on detail, but this year allows for control of a show at a much more granular level, with MyGM feeling much closer to a full-fat wrestling management sim.
And if that wasn’t enough, Showcase mode and MyFACTION make their expected appearances. The former focuses on John Cena this time around, but, in a neat twist, you’ll take control of his most historic and infamous opponents as opposed to controlling Cena himself. This is a huge departure from previous showcases, such as last year’s Rey Mysterio-oriented outing, where you control the star of the showcase themselves across their biggest matches, and honestly, it’s a change I hope that Visual Concepts’ sticks with given it avoids the same sense of repetition that has plagued previous iterations of the mode. While Showcase is, as always, a one-and-done mode with no replayability, MyFACTION is the usual microtransaction-laden space that will aim to hook players in the long term and empty their wallets. Asking players to build a deck of superstars by either earning or buying card packs before taking them online to battle other players, it’s a mode that I have little to no interest in due to the predatory nature of randomized card packs. For those that do like these Ultimate Team-type experiences, though, it is there should you like it.
Title Winning Presentation
Given WWE 2K23 represents a return to an annual release schedule for Visual Concepts, I did have some concerns that presentation and performance would take a hit, given the annual development cycle led to a lot of the troubles suffered by WWE2k20.
With great relief, I’m able to say that the technical and presentation end of the game is, without a shadow of a doubt, a new high for the series. Performance is rock solid rather than rock bottom, and each wrestler on the roster has been recreated with stunning detail. The lighting system that impressed so much last year is just as transformative this year, especially during the stunningly recreated entrance walks of each superstar, with light bouncing off your wrestler’s skin and the packed-out arenas to an eerily realistic degree.
A couple of old issues do return, such as the unwieldy hair movement that no developer of wrestling games has ever truly been able to get right, and the slightly dead-eyed look of some superstars, but overall, WWE2k23 is simply stunning to look at, and it’s clear that the extra horsepower granted by the PS5 is now finally being used to provide a product that is a serious visual step up from last-gen versions.
Conclusion
While some will no doubt question whether returning to an annualized release schedule was wise given the jump in quality Visual Concepts was able to deliver by taking a year off prior to WWE 2k22, WWE 2k23 makes enough refinements to its in-ring action and improves its core modes to such an extent that this is absolutely a must-buy for wrestling fans. With two chunky career modes to get stuck into, Universe and MyGM modes offering more control than ever before, and Showcase mode changing up the formula to great effect, there’s a ton of fantastic content here that’s sure to keep players busy over the next year. If you’re itching for some satisfying wrestling action that has never looked as good as it does here, then don’t hesitate to pick up WWE 2k23, as it truly is championship material.
Final Verdict: 4.5/5
Available On: PS5 (reviewed), PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PC; Publisher: 2K; Developer: Visual Concepts; Players 1-8; Released: 17 March 2023 (13 March for those purchasing Deluxe/Icon Editions); ESRB; T for Teen; MSRP: $59.99
Full Disclosure: A review code was provided to HPP
