WWE 2K24 leverages WrestleMania’s impending 40-year milestone to have fun the occasion, and it proves to be a celebration price attending. Enjoyable additions and sensible enhancements bolster its steadily enhancing formulation, making it the strongest in-ring outing for the reason that collection’ return.
2K24’s management scheme stays largely unchanged from 2K23 however boasts neat new mechanics, such because the buying and selling blows mini-game. This gamification of the back-and-forth “boo/yay” punch trope provides a enjoyable wrinkle to fight. Other well-worn in-ring moments to obtain consideration embrace organising massive dives onto a mob of opponents; I not often use it, but it surely’s good to have. That sentiment applies to the sport’s new match sorts: Casket, Ambulance, and Special Guest Referee. I’m typically lukewarm on these stipulations in actual life and I gained’t be speeding to play them usually right here, however they’re replicated effectively. I particularly like how Special Referee sports activities a meter that limits ref shenanigans to maintain it from being completely one-sided must you face a crooked official. It additionally fosters strategic dishonest for the participant in stripes.
A staggering roster of over 200 Superstars out of the field varies from fairly good to spot-on within the looker division. I additionally recognize smaller presentational touches, similar to having real-life referees like Charles Robinson and Jessika Carr seem for the primary time. Regardless of whose boots you put on, enjoying 2K24 stays a largely good hands-on expertise, even when some strikes might stand to be much less mechanically dense. Forgetting all the offensive choices at your disposal is straightforward, however a strong tutorial helps simplify this studying curve. Existing match stipulations stay entertaining whether or not enjoying alone or on-line, although the latter vacation spot is, at publishing, a tough proposition due to spotty connections.
Showcase mode permits gamers to relive iconic bouts all through the primary 39 WrestleManias. Taking under consideration wrestlers who can’t seem attributable to present employment in rival organizations or for being typically problematic, it’s a powerful curation of matches. Corey Graves’ commentary throughout transitions to actual footage provides a pleasant contact in comparison with final 12 months’s silent cutscenes. I additionally love that button prompts for aims now seem on-screen, decreasing journeys to the menu display screen to determine learn how to execute a particular maneuver. Showcases’ wacky finale isn’t fairly as memorable as final 12 months’s massive twist, however the mode is an general enchancment over 2K23’s rendition and an awesome celebration of WrestleMania that conjures up me to rewatch my favourite matches from the occasion.
The twin story-driven journeys of MyRise current extra narrative forks stemming from pivotal decision-making moments. Whether you play an indie legend navigating the mainstream waters of WWE or construct the credibility of a low-card act chaotically thrust into the World Title image, I like how selections pack extra significant engagement to their general gratifying tales. It’s delightfully foolish at factors, and I additionally like seeing characters and plot factors from final 12 months’s MyRise reappear right here, including a welcomed continuity to 2K’s alternate WWE universe. Thankfully, created characters and unlockables lastly carry over into extra modes, including deeper returns to my funding in MyRise.
MyGM, a private favourite vacation spot, stays a great time bolstered by expanded match sorts, GMs, expertise interactions, and different choices. It additionally feels extra strategic now you can degree up particular person expertise by putting them in sure matches and negotiate Superstar trades between manufacturers every season. Although Universe mode is much less my jam, I’m joyful to see the large sandbox sim get choices similar to Money within the Bank cash-ins and run-ins, plus extra cutscenes that add to its TV-like presentation. The card-collecting-themed MyFaction has by no means been my cup of tea, and 2K24 doesn’t change this, but it surely’s good to see it obtain extra depth in match sorts and aggressive multiplayer choices. The already stellar creation suite sports activities extra gadgets to construct the good – or silliest – Superstars, arenas, entrances, or championships you’ll be able to concoct, however don’t count on any main adjustments to its dependable template. That final level applies to just about all of 2K24’s choices: good iterations of a longtime formulation.
2K24 sees Visual Concepts layer on high quality new bricks to WWE 2K’s robust basis whereas sanding away some tough edges. The collection has settled into an distinctive, if very acquainted, blueprint, and I might like to see a much bigger shake-up sooner or later, however the consequence gives the most effective package deal for the reason that franchise returned in 2022. If you’re a curious fan who’s held off on leaping again into the digital ring, 2K24 is pretty much as good an argument as any to shake off the ring rust. For diehard fans, this 12 months’s entry gained’t bowl you over within the broad sense, however its incremental updates and continued polish make it a worthy contender for an additional 12 months.
