WWE 2K18 (Xbox One) Review

There are times in life when a pivotal decision has to be made, one that defines a person. All Adam "The Atom" Grisly ever wanted was success, even if it meant selling his soul to corporate overlords. Was becoming a 'Company Man' the right decision? That remains to be seen. After all, the only other path available to him was that of a 'Fan Favourite'. That meant appealing to the crowd, playing the underdog, and being the most charismatic and talented wrestler in sports entertainment. Adam doesn't believe he's that person, so he's following orders, doing favours, and biding his time. Alone in the locker room after a humiliating defeat, The Atom took solace in the fact that he made his opponent look good, and maybe next week he'll get his turn.

WWE 2K18 is the latest entry in one of the longest-running wrestling videogame franchises. It boasts the largest roster yet, new moves, and a plethora of other additions. Strictly in terms of content, there's hardly any room to complain. However, when it comes to this genre, it takes more than a massive roster and dozens of game modes to hold the player's attention. There needs to be fantastic in-ring action, compelling storylines, and unique features. Due to its yearly release schedule, the WWE 2K series has had a lot of opportunities to tinker with its formula. Now if only they had the time to actually perfect it.

First off, the wrestling has seen some improvements. Some of the changes are a little more subtle than others, and coming to grips with all of the added mechanics takes a while, but overall it's a good effort. In order to give matches a better "flow" numerous animations have been added. To give an idea of what to expect, if a wrestler falls down near the edge of the ring, they'll recover by grabbing onto the ropes and pulling themselves up. Moves are "sold" more effectively, so if someone takes a massive slam, they're going to be feeling it for a long time. Hits to the head and legs look more convincing than before. There's also the ability to drag or carry opponents, such as towards the turnbuckle for a superplex, or the announcers table for a back-breaking slam. Utilizing this feature isn't all that intuitive, but seeing as how every button on the Xbox One pad is used for something, there aren't really any options to simplify things.

Further changes include the submission system, which has been given an optional control scheme. Now players simply have to mash the appropriate button in order to escape submissions. The A.I. is also less likely to exhibit strange behaviours, such as failing to perform moves after grabbing their opponent. Unlike previous games, up to eight wrestlers can compete at the same time, which is great for Royal Rumbles and other largescale matches. However, in order for these massive bouts to occur, the frame rate has to take a significant drop, which sucks away some of the atmosphere and impact.

Speaking of the Royal Rumble, this match type is far more exciting than in past entries. There are now more ways to eliminate an opponent than before, so less time is spent awkwardly attempting to shove someone over the ropes. Other match types such as the Elimination Chamber and Backstage Brawl have also seen slight improvements. Even the fans who prefer to sit back and let AI opponents battle it out will appreciate all of these minor fixes. Overall, matches are better paced and more natural, which makes them more enjoyable for spectators as well as participants.

The MyCareer mode is where guys like Adam Grisly can make their mark in the WWE. At first, it almost feels like newcomers are strapped to a rocket, as they blast their way through the Performance Center. In about a month, they've already won the NXT championship belt, and are well on their way to a spot on the Smackdown or Raw roster. This is where the brakes are immediately slammed, as players struggle to lead their created wrestler out of the undercard and through the glass ceiling. To add to this, the choices they make will determine if they're 'Company Man' or 'Fan Favourite' material, which has an effect on the storyline.

Much like any other job, WWE Superstars have to follow the orders of their superiors. Every week, they're given a new task, whether it's win a match, lose a match, or cut a promo. In any case, they're expected to deliver a stunning performance. The storyline doesn't progress if the wrestler fails to do their job. Every event is bookended by the backstage. This is where guys like Adam can chat with co-workers or find out what's next on the schedule. Being able to walk around this area seems like a cool idea, but it quickly devolves into an agonizingly slow process. Navigating a simple menu would have been much faster and more convenient. The backstage is also subject to a lot of slowdown, which makes navigating even more arduous.

Turning a nobody into a legend is not just a matter of booking; it also requires a high level of physicality and skills. In other words, there are RPG elements. Winning matches earns the player virtual currency (or VC), which can then be spent on stat increases, new clothes, or practically anything else. Spending points for unlocks isn't a new feature in this series, but never before has it been such a grind. If Adam wants to invest a single point into the strength of his punches and kicks, he has to spend about 1,200 VC. On average, the rookie earns around 300 VC for every match. That's a lot of work for one point.

Part of the reason why Adam dresses so plainly is because customizable gear is locked away behind loot crates. Occasionally these mysterious bins will appear as rewards for story progression, but most of the time they have to be purchased, and they're prohibitively expensive. Also, since VC is shared between stat boosts and gear unlocks, there's no way that The Atom can justify vanity-appeasing expenditures. Besides, in order to earn a little extra cash, he has to wear a custom-designed T-shirt. There is profit in merchandising, but not nearly enough.

Between the grind for VC, the constant load screens, and the boring backstage segments, MyCareer is nothing more than a slog. Players simply aren't going to have the patience to work week after week for the small morsels of interesting narrative. Not to mention their created wrestler is forced into a bland move-set with no special abilities, unless of course they can afford the abominable VC requirements for everything, and score a few lucky drops from loot crates. Thankfully, none of the other customization modes suffer from this unforgivable limitation. Any wrestler created outside of the MyCareer mode is allowed full access to the entire suite of clothes, skills, and moves.

The WWE Universe Mode also makes its return, allowing the freedom to create a unique WWE program. Decide on the roster, the matches, and then micromanage everything as they see fit. Again, this is a solid addition to the series, and it benefits from a handful of added features. Rivalries, both friendly and otherwise, will develop between Superstars. This lends an interesting dynamic to the program, as rival wrestlers might interrupt each other's matches to get a cheap shot in. Customizable championship belts and even arenas allow imaginative wrestling fans to basically create their own federation.