WWE 2K24 leverages WrestleMania’s impending 40-year milestone to have fun the occasion, and it proves to be a celebration value attending. Fulfilling additions and good enhancements bolster its steadily bettering components, making it the strongest in-ring outing because the sequence’ 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. Different well-worn in-ring moments to obtain consideration embrace establishing huge dives onto a mob of opponents; I hardly ever use it, but it surely’s good to have. That sentiment applies to the sport’s new match varieties: Casket, Ambulance, and Particular Visitor Referee. I’m usually lukewarm on these stipulations in actual life and I received’t be dashing to play them typically right here, however they’re replicated effectively. I particularly like how Particular Referee sports activities a meter that limits ref shenanigans to maintain it from being completely one-sided do you have to 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 respect smaller presentational touches, akin to having real-life referees like Charles Robinson and Jessika Carr seem for the primary time. No matter whose boots you put on, taking part in 2K24 stays a largely good hands-on expertise, even when some strikes may stand to be much less mechanically dense. Forgetting the entire offensive choices at your disposal is simple, however a strong tutorial helps simplify this studying curve. Current match stipulations stay entertaining whether or not taking part in alone or on-line, although the latter vacation spot is, at publishing, a difficult proposition because of spotty connections.
Showcase mode permits gamers to relive iconic bouts all through the primary 39 WrestleManias. Taking into consideration wrestlers who can’t seem attributable to present employment in rival organizations or for being usually problematic, it’s a robust 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, lowering journeys to the menu display screen to determine execute a particular maneuver. Showcases’ wacky finale isn’t fairly as memorable as final 12 months’s huge twist, however the mode is an general enchancment over 2K23’s rendition and an awesome celebration of WrestleMania that evokes 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 or not 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 decisions 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. Fortunately, 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 time bolstered by expanded match varieties, GMs, expertise interactions, and different choices. It additionally feels extra strategic now you can degree up particular person expertise by inserting them in sure matches and negotiate Famous person trades between manufacturers every season. Though Universe mode is much less my jam, I’m pleased to see the enormous sandbox sim get choices akin to Cash within the Financial institution cash-ins and run-ins, plus extra cutscenes that add to its TV-like presentation. The cardboard-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 varieties 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 possibly can concoct, however don’t anticipate any main modifications to its dependable template. That final level applies to just about all of 2K24’s choices: good iterations of a longtime components.
2K24 sees Visible Ideas layer on high quality new bricks to WWE 2K’s robust basis whereas sanding away some tough edges. The sequence has settled into an distinctive, if very acquainted, blueprint, and I’d like to see an even bigger shake-up sooner or later, however the consequence gives the very best bundle because the franchise returned in 2022. Should 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 received’t bowl you over within the broad sense, however its incremental updates and continued polish make it a worthy contender for one more 12 months.
