WWE 2K23 Preview: Small changes make for TV-quality brawls

WWE 2K22 built the series from the ground up to correct WWE 2K20’s flaws.

It then made sense that the forthcoming WWE2K23 doesn’t overturn all that hard work but builds on it in hopes of getting back into the rhythm of yearly releases.

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Gameplay improvements are mostly refinements, small changes that make for a smoother overall experience.

That’s not an insult. They bring the game closer than ever to the wrestling you see on TV.

The Roman Reigns entrance is a great example. He now has a double World Cup entry and wears both belts over his shoulders.

Some moves have been combined to keep the pace of the rounds, and new finishers have been added to add some pizzazz.

Payback moves are also back. These are secondary moves that allow for a number of bonuses.

They can make you step out of a pin or spit “poison mist” in your opponent’s face.

These moves can turn the tide and are more integrated than ever.

Payback moves are now tied to your impulse bar, which is also used for signature moves.

This adds a layer of resource management to the mix that helps prevent button-pushing.

The biggest introduction is the new WarGames game type that fans have been asking for endlessly.

Despite introducing two rings of wrestlers fighting at the same time, the team did a fantastic job of making it work.

As each athlete enters the ring, they add an extra layer to each fight.

Players can throw as many weapons as they want, capturing the absolute chaos of reality.

Although everything looks promising so far, there is still room for improvement.

By the time the last wrestler enters the ring, the first few fighters are so exhausted that they can easily be pinned and the match is over.

We also had the chance to try showcase matches where you fight John Cena.

Since you can try out some of his former opponents, this is a huge improvement over 2K22 where you only played as Rey Mysterio.

However, these games still require you to fill out a checklist of moves to complete, which isn’t particularly fun.

You’ll be rewarded with a cutscene showing how the game played out in real life, which is a nice touch.

Overall, WWE 2K23 does exactly what it needs to do, which is to take the goodwill established in 2K22 and hold on to it.

It doesn’t make big changes but improves on what fans enjoyed in the last game.

People will surely enjoy it even if it doesn’t break new ground.

Written by Ryan Woodrow and Georgina Young on behalf of GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN.

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