Another year means another game in 2K’s wrestling series and yet another journey into the WWE universe in digital form. The usual question with any long-running franchise is, of course, whether this year’s iteration has improved on the formula enough to make the purchase worthwhile. Fortunately, WWE 2K19’s return to the old focus of over-the-top fun provides just what the series needed to feel renewed, and if you have missed out on some of the recent titles in the series, you should definitely consider giving this year’s iteration a try.

The main reason for this updated feel would be the new My Career mode which follows the tale of your custom wrestler as he makes his way from the indies, through NXT (with more than a few hiccups on their journey there), and finally on to the main roster. This new campaign is filled to the brim with references to wrestling history that even casual fans will be able to recognise and feels like a love-letter to the scene (both inside the WWE and without, even if the indies and other promotions get some shade thrown their way). This earnest story resonates with a likeable protagonist, properly motivated adversaries and some of the hokey-est moments thanks to visits to the broken universe and other trope-filled storylines.



Once you’ve completed this, you can also sink your teeth into the great story of Daniel Bryan’s career throughout his run in the WWE with this year’s return of the superstar showcase. With commentary from Daniel himself, featuring some of the biggest moments of the man that the WWE universe chose to embody what they wanted from their wrestlers, it is definitely a must play through for anyone who is as excited to see him back in a ring.

Outside of these new additions, you’ll also find the towers modes, with various challenges to keep you busy while storing up your various forms of virtual currency to buy unlocks, former wrestlers, new gear, and boosters for the chance of getting hold of moves to outfit your CAW with. From my time so far with the game, it doesn’t seem like these purchases need to be made with real money to see any kinds of real returns as it were, and that is a relief in the modern gaming space of overly-tuned RNG and exploitative measures that can be found out there.

...it doesn’t seem like these purchases need to be made with real money to see any kinds of real returns as it were, and that is a relief in the modern gaming space...

Another returning feature that has, in the past, seen its own ups and downs is the WWE universe mode, where you can book and play through the shows and PPVs that make up the years shows. With some improvements to basic layouts and mechanics, this once again feels worthwhile to pursue in comparison to last year’s version.



One thing that is absent, and thankfully so, is the long load times that have plagued the last two iterations of WWE 2K. No longer will you be sitting through unbearably long loading screens while just waiting for the NXT parking lot to load in, or the next cutscene, match, or royal rumble. This goes a long way to make the experience feel so much more smooth and like much less of a grind or chore to get to anything you wish to play.

No longer will you be sitting through unbearably long loading screens while just waiting for the NXT parking lot to load in, or the next cutscene, match, or royal rumble.

Unfortunately, something that has not been given the real once over to align to a more fun-loving casual nature is the control scheme of the game. Any new players would feel almost as lost as the first time picking up a UFC game; when trying to work out how to target specific limbs or work their opponent where they need to be, never mind sticking by the current reversal system (which even for returning veterans, this takes a good while to get used to again after playing similar games). Perhaps we’ll see some further simplifying of these as we go forward, as this can only help to draw more players in.

On the topic of other items that needed an update, the graphics and physics this time around don’t feel like much of a step up either. More than a few times, the middle rope will decide it has had enough with how the world expects them to behave and will attach themselves to a nearby wrestler, or a prop backstage will have a very strange reaction to being used as a weapon. Certain wrestlers, like AJ Styles or Triple H, look amazing and move exactly how you’d expect. Others, especially the members of the female roster, have been quite poorly realised in the game and move in quite the unnatural way.



That said, some models are very deliberately built to not move or act in any kind of realistic way. This being the focal point when playing with modes like big heads or “Minecraft” on, with awkward strikes and grapples being the name of the game in these situations. A 16 and even 8-bit filter can be placed on the action for that old school feel too. These little touches provide more than enough entertainment to lighten the mood when needed.

With all that said, it really feels like the team that made the latest 2K wrestling game are fans of the “sport” and it shows in the little things. Things like firing up a match with Aleister Black, getting assigned a random opponent of Velveteen Dream and then having Andrede “Cien” Almas attack you after winning with the black mass just feels so right. The inclusion of the independent scene and focus on the newer generation of wrestlers journeying into the company seal the deal on what is one of the best showings for 2K in capturing what professional wrestling is all about.

Now if you’ll excuse me I need to get back to seeing if I can win a 30-man royal rumble with Edge (at least they gave you a slightly better model this year) for the number one spot in big head mode!