WWE 2K14 (Video Game Review)

THQ created several WWE licensed video games from 1999 up until the recent release of WWE 13 with some being great and others being a steaming pile of crap. Many fans were excited when Take-Two Interactive took over the series, after the fall of THQ, and hoped to see some new life breathed into the series. However, fans ended up with more of the same and saw that the company has a long way to go with the WWE series.


While pages could be filled with the many flaws of WWE 2K14, we would first like to highlight some of the best parts of the game. WWE 2K14 still contains the same revamped story that fans enjoyed from last year with some minor improvements. The new story mode now focuses on the last thirty years of WrestleMania which is something diehard fans of the series will love. However, pretty much the same format exists were players will finish objectives and unlock extra matches or attires upon full completion. Gamers pick up the series each year to get something new and innovative which is everything that WWE 2K14 is lacking.

WWE 2K14 has improved on character motions giving the player a little more creativity during matches, however, the game contains very few new matches besides The Streak which is just a readaptation of the Slobbernocker Mode. The game's campaign gives players an up-and-close personal look at the legendary clashes of Wrestlemania and is divided into five periods. Players will be able to jump into 45 matches and become some of the most legendary characters in the history of WWE. Players will notice that most of the story revolves around historical facts instead of new and original ones. However, many fans will be disappointed with the game's roster since corners have been cut and it is not up-to-date. Since 2K is known for keeping an updated roster in the NBA games especially, NBA 2K14, then there is no excuse for this in WWE 2K14. Roster issues are something that most all players of the series will have a hard time overlooking.



The next addition to the single player campaign revolves around The Undertaker. The player can choose between two choices: Beat the Streak and Defend the Streak. If you choose Beat the Streak then you will pick your character and try to take down the Undertaker. The next option Defend the Streak allows you to take on the role as the Undertaker and fend off several WWE Superstars in a survival-style mode. The Streak can be entertaining to a point, but doesn't represent the real matches of the Undertaker, since it lacks many of his actual opponents. The A.I. can be exceedingly challenging in Streak Mode and many players may find themselves getting infuriated as they beat you to a bloody pulp. However, some may find solstice in trying to top the leaderboards in order to keep fighting forward.

Once you move past the single player portion of the game WWE 2K14 is pretty much the same as last year's title with very few exceptions. Players can use the Creation Suite to customize their championship belts but they end up looking like crap and on top of that, you can still not change the reputable wrestlers' features. Most of WWE 2K14's problems lie in its terrible graphics, sound and gameplay. The game's character molds look exactly like last year's with little improvements alongside the identical gameplay. Take Two Interactive would have been better off just adding new DLC to WWE 13 and calling it a day. No one wants to pay $59.99 for a game that is almost the exact replica of what we got last year especially when fans have been begging for improvements for years.

Fans of the series can still enjoy the Create-a-Superstar mode which remains pretty much the same with being able to use the template of established superstars to create your own custom variant. The ability to create your own entrances and finishes remains in tact alongside the option to customize your own WWE Championship. Lastly, players can even customize their own universe in WWE Universe mode. In the end, the game doesn't lack in the ability to customize your own world, but all of the added customizations feel rather pointless when you feel like in our in the exact same game as last year.

Another big complaint was that WWE 2K14's collision detection mechanics are clunky, alongside the inconsistent A.I. The online modes from WWE 13 are back with slightly more stable servers. However, some may argue that the servers are more stable because there just isn't as many players on them. Most fans don't want to pay full price for a game to just relive one long déjà vu moment. In regards to the sound, the commentary in WWE 2K14 still remains vague which becomes painstakingly repetitive. We also found that there were many moments when sound would disappear completely leaving you scratching your head. Basically, most of the sound and graphical glitches you endured in WWE '13 return in WWE 2K14.


CLOSING COMMENTS

All-in-all, WWE 2K14 is a complete mess alongside being an almost exact duplicate of last year's release with very minor improvements and additions. WWE 2K14 lacks everything a new release should be and Take Two Interactive has a long way to go in order to deliver the product fans deserve with WWE 2K15. While we can not recommend this game to most of our readers there is the exception of the most hardcore wrestling fans who frankly will pick up this new title no matter how good or bad it is.


WWE 2K14 is now available from all major retailers for the MSRP of $59.99 and can be purchased for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. WWE 2K14 is rated T by the ESRB for Blood, Crude Humor, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol & Violence. For more information on the game, check out the official WWE 2K14 website.


Game Features:

• Single Player
• Online Multiplayer
• Online Leaderboards
• DLC Support
• Trophy/Achievement Support

Game Information:
Developer: Yuke's
Publisher: 2K Games
Platforms: PlayStation 3 (reviewed) & Xbox 360
Release Date: October 29, 2013

Score: 4.5 out of 10 Pros:

• Relive great moments in 30 Years of Wrestlemania Mode
• Fun customization options
• Improved character motions

Cons:

• A complete carbon copy of WWE'13
• Sub-par graphics, sound and gameplay 
• Inconsistent A.I.

ZergNet