A month ago, we received a deluxe copy of WWE 2K19 to review. At that time, we were excited to see how the WWE games have evolved since the bankruptcy of THQ and the sale of the Smackdown vs Raw franchise. Over the last 10 years, the WWE universe has expanded exponentially with WWE forming the WWE Network, creating NXT and 205 Live. This expansion has made WWE 2K19 the biggest wrestling game in WWE history to date with a roster of over 200 wrestlers. Despite its massive roster, WWE 2K19 leaves die-hard wrestling fans leaving their Yes! Chants at the door.
WWE 2K19 sets out to provide a memorable experience to its audience but falls on the way to the ring. The games in-game graphics fail to live up to its visually appealing trailers by disappointingly providing a mix mash of wrestlers. A majority of the wrestlers highlighted in the trailers have accurate renditions in the game but a majority of the rest feel as if a 3rd party studio made it, with characters being bigger or more offish than their real-life counterparts. The 3D models for Becky Lynch, Ronda Rousey, Adam Cole, Alexa Bliss, and Baron Corbin are just a few examples of poorly designed character models that leave WWE fans asking for more. Sadly, The audience feels as if they were warped from Smackdown vs Raw 2011; the audience models feel slightly more rendered than its previous counterparts with updated signs and chants but makes players wonder what Yukes and 2K have been working on for the last six years.
Some of the WWE Legends are well designed while other feel like they were thrown together at the last minute. The side apron feels like an unrendered product from an alpha test. Characters outfits and hair does not flow properly and at times moves through the character’s body for no apparent reason. A majority of WWE superstars outfits are good visual renditions but the lack of multiple options makes the game feel dated. Characters will rubber band across the ring when something gets in their way rather than colliding with other objects. The weirdest experience we had was when a character’s arm fused to the ring rope and he was unable to move out of the area until the AI slammed us out of the glitch. With EA stepping up the work that they are doing to make sports games more realistic, 2K seems to be falling behind the pack.
WWE 2K19’s music is probably its best feature with entrance music for over 150 superstars and a modern soundtrack that gives players an assortment of genres to listen to while the game is idle or loading. Players can decide and alter what music plays during the loading screen through the Jukebox option. The game boots up with Passion by Awolnation which attempts to set the theme for the game telling the player to blow their mind. The current WWE roster has become known for their former independent wrestlers who are known for stealing the show. Unlike previous WWE games, the player can not import customer music to use as entrance music. Like other sports games, the commentary gets old quickly unless a different wrestler is added to the equation; if a wrestler is added to a match in a certain way, the commentary team will make comments unique to that wrestler and their background. One prime example of the alternating commentary is when Finn Balor and Becky Lynch are in the same match. After a while, you just strangle Michael Cole and Punch Cory Graves and wish JR and King were back.
The controls for the game are rather simple once you figure them out but trying to learn them without entering tutorial mode is an absolute nightmare. Finisher and signature moves are strictly tied to the Y / Triangle button while varying grapples are limited to the RB/R1 and A/X button. Melee moves are tied to the X/ Square button which can be held for strong attacks. The game allows players the opportunity to jump their opponents before the match starts in a breakout jump interactions. This option allows players to get the advantage before the match which can make the match a lot easier.
Although WWE 2K19’s controls are rather simplistic, the games hit detection system and aim system is a chaotic mess. Characters will swing at nothing rather than attacking their opponent or at times kick through the enemy to no effect. This issue can create a lot of anger and frustration, especially when trying to break a pinfall or submission. At times the wrestlers will move awkwardly and sometimes be warped across the ring in unexpected ways. During our time playing WWE 2k19, we experienced a few glitches that made playing the game extremely frustrating. At one point our character was fused to the ring rope and was unable to move until an opponent had stomped our player into submission. These little glitches and poor targeting system made winning matches in the My Player story rather frustrating.
WWE 2K19 has multiple game modes that the player can choose from ranging from standard quick play to WWE universe. With WWE Universe, players can manage the shows based off of who they want to win. The WWE Universe allows players to step into the shoes of a variety of WWE superstars or manage the show. This game mode replaces the popular general manager mode but allows players to establish rivalries, cut promos, set match stipulations, and determine the winner of each feud. Players also have the ability to choose whether a player is booed, cheered, or gets a mixed reaction; they also have the option to form new tag teams and establish rivals. WWE 2K19 offers two other game modes that provides players with multiple hours of gameplay.
In WWE My Player game mode, players can create their own superstars and work their way up to become the head of WWE by starting out as an indie talent. The player’s character sets to prove himself to his opponents, his mentor, his coworkers, and himself. A majority of the game focuses on how the player takes out his anger toward the Authority. Each decision made seems to have no lingering effects which feels rather disappointing. If WWE wants to create a unique and interesting story, they will need to create multiple scenarios that the player can choose from rather than ones that end up not mattering. Also, WWE, do not include John Cena into the story if you can not have him do the voice acting for his character, it made the story feel like a bad dream rather than a rise to the top. In order to make the WWE My Player story easier, players will need to level up their superstar by winning matches or side matches and completing certain stipulations.
Players also have the option to take part in the WWE Showcase which walks the player through some key moments in the career of Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson). This game mode gives players the opportunity to peek behind the curtain and see the man behind the wrestler and provides an emotional experience while he is recollecting on past WWE moments. Certain matches in the Daniel Bryan showcase can last a decent amount of time but the game fails to initiate checkpoints which makes the player restart the match completely if they lose or if they turn of the game. Unlike the My Player game mode, WWE Showcase allows players to skip objectives in order to progress through the story.
WWE 2k19 offers a standard play menu that allows players to wrestle in Extreme Rules, Hell in a Cell, No Holds Barred, and other specialty matches. Players have the opportunity to choose between 1 on 1, 2 on 2, triple threat, fatal 4-way, 5-man, 6-man, 8-man, handicap, and Royal Rumble matches. These matches types give the potential for WWE fans to create the matchups from their dreams. The player can choose if a certain WWE title is on the line in the match and the champion does not even have to be involved. We learned about this option when holding a 30 man Royal Rumble match for the WWE Smackdown title and instead of AJ Styles coming out as the final participant Demon King Balor came out. The link for the WWE Royal Rumble Match is provided here.
WWE 2k19 might have the biggest wrestling roster today date but its flaws overpower the roster size and game modes. When editing the player’s move-set or crowd reactions, a majority of moves, signs, entrance themes and taunts are locked behind pack unlocks similar to microtransactions. Players can unlock the different items by purchasing packs. Packs can be unlocked by completing challenges in either Daniel Bryan’s Story, the My Superstar mode, or WWE Universe. There are a variety of packs that the player can choose from but the combination pack allows players to unlock random moves, superstar gear, banners, taunts, entrance setups, boosts, and victory reactions. Players can use either tokens (black) or deluxe tokens (red) to open RNG booster packs. Players can also unlock legends through the games move set options feel rather limited compared to some of their previous counterparts but this is potentially due to being locked behind the booster pack unlock system. A locker code system is enabled in the game but there are no special codes to unlock yet.
WWE 2K19 provides players with a great story and a large roster but the in-game bugs, mixed graphics, and gameplay mechanics detract from the experience. The WWE My Superstar story mode was refreshing but felt rather limited compared to the old Smackdown VS Raw titles. When tasked with certain story challenges the AI felt nearly impossible to beat. The graphics have improved in some ways but the fact that all the wrestlers are not equally detailed makes 2K19 feel like a rushed product rather than a professionally developed AAA title; the Legends of WWE seemed to receive higher definition character models compared to their new age counterparts.
WWE 2K19 is a fun game to play with friends in the room but its solo experience could use some more work. The player can experience realistic sound effects in the game that resembles a live WWE experience. Overall 2k19 may not be the best wrestling game in WWE franchise but it provides players with a decent enough wrestling simulation that they will be appeased for the current year.
