You find an engine that works and you re-release it.
And you re-release it again.
You add new stuff in there.
As many bells and whistles to keep people interested outside of the ever-changing roster of playable characters.
The problem comes when you realize how worn out everythings become.
Thats what happened last year withWWE 2K15.
They started anew with a style that grounded the game and added forlaugh if you willrealism.
In other words, it was less 1980s WWF and more 1980s WCW.
Its a double-edged sword, though, because then you have to start all over.
The core game was better for it, but it came at a tremendous cost.
That brings us toWWE 2K16,where the healing process can finally begin.
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WWE 2K16builds on last years model with the same basic game style.
Not as happy as I was to see the Vaudevillains show up.
Luckily for them, they dont have any immediate roster anachronisms this time around.
Though if its not your thing, you’ve got the option to always turn off the option.
The same concept behind it is used to reimagine the submission system.
The weaker they are, the easier it is for you to keep on them.
That last paragraph probably didnt make much sense and I apologize.
The other big change in the matches is that you are limited with reversals.
Wrestlers can evade only a certain amount of times, though that count regrows over time.
Its a good way to balance the range that the bigger guys have in their attacks.
The entrances are fixed up noticeably.
This plays into another new trick, the Break Out.
Or maybe Sin Caras on his way to the ring and Randy Ortons waiting for him with an RKO.
Its a cool gimmick.
The Undertaker has a ghost bike.
Thinking about it, Im more disappointed that that isnt something thats happened in the actual WWE.
MyCareer returns, improved big time over last years attempt.
Last year had some good ideas, but it was pretty boring overall before ending out of nowhere.
The Creative Suite returns, and thankfully, its better than last years.
Now it lets you deform the wrestlers head, which allows more freedom.
Want to make Sloth fromGoonies?
Great, have at it.
Want to give your guy a big, cartoony, Strong Bad-like head?
The ability to change fabric on everything from pants to elbow pads is a nice addition.
Its just a better package overall.
Even a Sonic the Hedgehog that didnt look half-bad!
Create-a-Story is still missing, but honestly I never really used it for myself.
I just like seeing what craziness people online can put together.
Now they go back to the well withWWE 2K16cover boy Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Through 2K Showcase you play through Austins WWE career.
The drawback is, of course, that youre stuck playing as Austin for an eternity.
Get used to it.
*Suddenly has traumatic flashbacks to Shawn Michaels vs.
Triple H and their 500 rematches*
Its worth your time anyway, if only for the presentation.
Here is no different.
Its a great reward for winning your matches and pulling off the correct objectives.
The in-game cutscenes reenact the key moments and do it better than any WWE game before it.
Animated gestures are completely on-point.
Completing objectives in your matches also unlocks bonus matches in Austins career.
Namely his WCW matches as Stunning Steve and his short-lived ECW run.
Now, the silliest thing about this mode is his match against Shawn Michaels atWrestleMania XIV.
Mike Tyson was involved as the enforcer/secondary ref and was really damn important.
I wonder if hes friends with Mr. Dream fromPunch Out.
Now for the problems with the game.
The biggest one for me is the whole Diva situation.
Dont get me wrong, Iunderstandit.
WWE doesnt want women getting punched by dudes since theyre all PG these days.
But it still annoys me for various reasons.
Mainly that it makes the women wrestlers into this island thats there for the sake of being there.
Theres just a handful of women and whatever female creations you have who can only take on each other.
It feels pointless, yet would be offensive if they were removed completely.
I dont think its as big a deal as they like to think it is.
Chun-Li has been fighting Ryu for years.
Did anyone ever make a big stink about that?
My talk earlier about the struggles of starting over on a game lends itself to the commentary.
We have years and years of Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler recordings.
Weve been tired of hearing Lawler talk about educated feet for forever.
Not only does JBL sound completely disinterested in everything going on, but you easily forget hes even there.
I went about twenty minutes in the Royal Rumble without hearing him say a word.
And theres the glitches.
Ive long made my peace with that.
No matter how much the games improve, well always have ridiculous glitches in ourWWE 2Kreleases.
It really wouldnt be the same without them.
A year has passed and we now have some meat on those bones.
Its regained its weight and its definitely worth checking out.
Oh, and Run DMCs Tricky regularly plays during the menu screens.
Thats a major plus in my book.
Rating:
4.5 out of 5
