WWE2K16 Hands On Impressions (Operation Sports)

[the King Lives]

Last year the WWE 2K series made the jump to the next-gen consoles with mixed results. The graphics were a definite hit, but the rest of the game left a lot to be desired. Missing modes from the 360/PS3 days, smaller roster, confusing season pass, etc. So what does another year under the belt on the new systems do for the franchise?

I was able to check out a preview build of WWE 2K16 in New York last week and came away impressed. Right off the bat, the graphics are definitely improved, and I’m one that thought they looked incredible last year, but there’s a lot of little touches that just really pop out. During entrances there are more crowd cuts as well as cuts over to the announcers (which now is a three-man booth adding JBL to the mix). When talking to Mark Little (executive producer for the game), he said they are looking to make the graphics look even better.

Some of the things that stood out right away were the entrance run-in/break out. We did a Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens match, and while Balor was doing his entrance player two had the option to run in and attack. So Owens came out while Balor was on the entrance ramp starting off his entrance. It turned into a brawl from there and Balor kept on his demon entrance gear for the entire battle. Due to the nature of this event with loud music playing, we were unable to hear the referee telling us to get to the ring. So we had a jarring cutscene where Owens/Balor were at the ring and the ref was throwing out the match. I asked Little about this, and he explained that the ref is asking you to get the ring during the brawl. This goes both ways as well, so if you have already entered and player two is now doing his entrance, you can do a break out of the ring and attack him as well. This only happens in player vs. player matches -- and presumably Universe Mode. Little stated that this would not happen in one vs. one exhibition matches against the AI as the team wanted people to just have fun and not have random run-ins ruin the experience.

During the match you will notice right away that button prompts have been cleaned up and look much sleeker. This was done by removing a lot of excessive color and size to the prompts. It helps with the illusion that you are playing a match on Monday Night Raw and not a video game.

The chain grapple system is still in the game but is much refined. Heels act as heels now as I saw a few chain grapples where the heel pushed the face back to the corner and the ref got between the wrestlers. The heel then had the option to press a button and get a cheap punch in if he chose. And this is one thing that Little explained we would see throughout the game more, heels and faces would act as they should with personalities. Heels will try to cheat, even grab weapons in a normal match and risk a DQ; they will roll out of the ring instead of trying to fight; and they will do other “heelish” things throughout a match.

The reversal window is also better, and reversals feel more like a WWE match now. There are normal, minor and major reversals as well which will allow them to be chained together. However, once you get to a major reversal, the chain ends with no more reversal attempts able to be attempted.

The pin meter has been changed. It now sort of looks like the old Tiger Woods three-click swing box instead of just one spot to click. It basically works the same, but it takes up less real estate on the screen as well as feeling smoother. I obviously have not tried it online, but last year the big complaint online was the pin meter. I’m thinking with the new meter, it will be less of an issue. The meter also resets on every count -- and after a finisher the game did not start the meter until the two count.

One thing I could not figure out was the submission system. It feels a lot like the old UFC systems (from the old THQ games not the new EA one). Both wrestlers have a block on a circle, and you are moving them around to lock in and get the submission victory. I tried it several times and never could truly grasp how it worked. But to be fair, it was a very loud area where I was trying to play the game and could not focus on it as much as I could in say my home. I do think it will need more explanation going forward -- and maybe a quick tutorial in the game -- just to make sure everyone understands the new system as it’s a big departure from just hammering a button over and over again. That being said, even without understanding it fully, I welcome the change.

Some other tidbits I learned from talking to Mark Little:

-There are new OMG moments, but he wouldn’t spill the beans on what they are yet.

-Tag matches have been improved. The partners will actually get a bonus for staying in their corners when they should be to help the tag match feel more like they should.

-Managers have been improved, so like the wrestlers they have their own personalities now.

-There are new tag entrances. Cesaro/Kidd and the Lucaha Dragons both had their entrances.

-As of now, Seth Rollins still has the Curb Stomp as a finisher.

Steve Austin was revealed as the Showcase (story mode of the game), and it covers his career from WCW to ECW to WWF/E. The opening video was impressive (we could not hear it though), showing some major happenings in Austin’s career like the Hollywood Blondes with Brian Pillman and the strap match with Savio Vega. I don’t know if that confirms these wrestlers in the game, but it did make me assume they are in the final product.

I got to play one match of the mode, it obviously was in the WWF portion of his career as it was the King of the Ring finals match against Jake “The Snake” Roberts (also confirming him in the game). A very cool touch was that Jake came out clutching his side (he had his snake and all), and we got a look back from earlier tonight showing Vader crushing Jake in the corner causing the injury. It was a real motion video and really wowed me when it happened. The screen grain was also present as it was in former games to add to the authenticity.

I asked but was shot down on questions I know everyone reading this are going to have. This includes: online improvements, Universe improvements, creation suite improvements, and My Career improvements. All of these and others will be revealed at a later date.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I loved how the game played. I liked how it played last year, but the rest of the game fell flat. With that, I feel this year’s in-ring action blows away WWE 2K15. But the demo was bare: only 12 wrestlers, one on one/tag matches, and one Showcase match so the game is in a big wait-and-see mode for me.

http://www.operationsports.com/features/2309/wwe-2k16-hands-on-impressions/

 

 

YOU"RE ALL WELCOME.. WHERE ARE THOSE DOUBTERS NOW?

Edited August 24, 2015 by The Renegade

[DrJoeyMagnum]

Jeff shut up, your behavior is pathetic, you cry about always being insulted and losing all your friends but that's because your immature nonsense, countless times you've attacked other members for their opinions yet get all defensive when your own opinions are questioned (and comically say you're leaving the only to comeback a few days later claiming you're just a "hot head"), You're suppose to be a fucking adult but you act like spoiled child, FUCKING AUDAY has shown more maturity then you and he's in his teens for christsake. So you were right about the showcase but who cares? you're still going to be seen as an complete asshole anyway and your "haha I was right" dickhead attitude will only alienate everyone even more. So cop the fuck on Jeff

[the King Lives]

Jeff shut up, your behavior is pathetic, you cry about always being insulted and losing all your friends but that's because your immature nonsense, countless times you've attacked other members for their opinions yet get all defensive when your own opinions are questioned (and comically say you're leaving the only to comeback a few days later claiming you're just a "hot head"), You're suppose to be a fucking adult but you act like spoiled child, FUCKING AUDAY has shown more maturity then you and he's in his teens for christsake. So you were right about the showcase but who cares? you're still going to be seen as an complete asshole anyway and your "haha I was right" dickhead attitude will only alienate everyone even more. So cop the fuck on Jeff

when he's constantly attacking me. please dude whatever you're in the fucking UK you don't live here in the US not to mention every fucking one of you had the audacity to call me a fucking liar and tormented me with that every single day. so yes i'm saying it how i'm saying it. i was fucking right and every fucking one of you were fucking wrong.. go back to your country.. you're drunk

[seanironmaiden]

The Fucking UK?!?

Where did you learn Geography dumbass.....

[DrJoeyMagnum]

Well done for showing your ignorance, I don't see what me living in IRELAND has to do with anything 

[Bob_Van_Dam]

Well, I think just the video package covers WCW/ECW.

 

With Stone Cold Steve Austin on the cover, it’s no surprise that the showcase experience starts at one of his pivotal matches.

In 1996, Austin and Jake the Snake Roberts faced off in the final King of the Ring match. Both had been injured earlier in the night, with Austin receiving stitches on his lip and Roberts coming off a brutal fight with Vader.

[the King Lives]

Nopecause the ign article from a few days ago mentioned short lives visit to wcw and the selectable match was kotr 96 it wasn't the first match

[Bob_Van_Dam]

What fucking matches from WCW and ECW will they put in?

[Mizalike]

This is confusing did you Jeff test out the game or not, plus joey he was rude to me bout the my topic cause I asked about if there was gonna be a roster reveal. I'm not starting but I read every one of your comments and I think it's sad I know I'm not personally everyone's cup of tea but I'm trying to be liked, not hated. 

[the King Lives]

Austin vs eaton for the wcw tv title Austin and pillman vs Anderson and flair 

austin vs sting

 

austin vs whipwreck

Only matches I can think of

And no I did not test the game

[Bob_Van_Dam]

I'd love to see how they capture that small ass ECW arena.

[Cerb]

Nopecause the ign article from a few days ago mentioned short lives visit to wcw and the selectable match was kotr 96 it wasn't the first match

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwckk1Ffvv4&feature=youtu.be

as you get the pin tutorials in this match in guessing it is the first one. @ 3:33

[Brianthespaz86]

I am so begging that they have the Raw block letters arena(AKA. Old School RAW. I am dying for them to put it in one of these games.

[seanironmaiden]

That would be great. I think what these showcase modes need is a longer run of matches in close chronological order leading up to a certain event.

Eg, 4 Raws in a row maybe and then the PPV. Just like in real life it allows for more of a story to be told and makes the big matches seem more important. 

Last year's Showcases felt very disjointed in that there was often jumps of months in between the matches that you played. Didnt feel part of an overall story, rather just a random selection of matches you had to play. 

[DrJoeyMagnum]

Hey Jeff I'm still waiting to see what me being Irish has anything to do with you being an arsehole 

[the King Lives]

I'd love to see how they capture that small ass ECW arena.

i don't really see it being a problem. Visual Concepts has had experience capturing small arenas for the NBA games right? I don't know since i haven't played an nba game since 06. just asking. I know we probably wouldn't get an ECW on TNN or Nitro arena but a WCW Saturday Night and an ECW Bingo Hall arena is good enough for me. Mikey Whipwreck to be honest i didn't even know who he was till i heard he was going to be included and looked him up and totally forgot about his debut match against Billy Kidman at Road Wild 2000 i believe it was. 

[Bob_Van_Dam]

Not knowing the originator of the Stunner(Whipwreck)...wow. I see it being a problem with entrances, the gap between the ring and guard rails were small and the arena itself was small. NBA games are a whole different story, their general arenas are team based so they're always playing in a big arena unless it's a big basketball gym in MyCareer, the giant park online or the big rec center online. Or even the rooftop on Blacktop.

 

Plus the NBA series doesn't have as much entrance theatrics as WWE Games.

Edited August 24, 2015 by Bob_Van_Dam

[the King Lives]

Not knowing the originator of the Stunner(Whipwreck)...wow. I see it being a problem with entrances, the gap between the ring and guard rails were small and the arena itself was small. NBA games are a whole different story, their general arenas are team based so they're always playing in a big arena unless it's a big basketball gym in MyCareer, the giant park online or the big rec center online. Or even the rooftop on Blacktop.

 

Plus the NBA series doesn't have as much entrance theatrics as WWE Games.

yeah i'm sorry lol i think i do remember the ppv where whipwreck debuted in wcw but vaguely remember as that was 2000 and i never want to be reminded of that clusterfuck era of wcw ever again lol. 

and yeah i know nba games are totaly different. even if we got an ecw arena kinda like the small size that was in caa in 2k14 i'd be okay with that. it's something.  If somehow shit changed and there's no wcw or ecw presence at all (which i'd be shocked) i'll just create my own in CAA i guess but i want WCW/ECW to atleast have flair/anderson finally in a game together which would be the first time since wcw/nWo thunder lol

i played nba2k14 via PSNow on ps3 and i thought it was good presentation wise and didn't even realize they got to the point of doing pyro and stuff.  I really hope that when they worked on universe that they did take pyro, etc into account cause just having jbl/lawler/cole talk before a match just ain't gonna do it for me.  Also the 3 man commentary is absolutely dreadful from what i saw in the kidd/cesaro entrance video. but what i do like is you hear the crowd first, then the music plays pretty much how it is IRL. Which brings me to the undertaker... will they finally have his entrance correct with the 3 or 4 bell tolls, lightning etc? That would be effing epic.

[Auday]

Actually, Jeffrey you wasn't right about it. Because you got your info from the guy called caveman, and even him admitted it was all byllshit so don't try to come in and act like you knew it all because you know fuck all. You all wanna make sure Jeffrey's info isn't real? Well he told one of the members that Baron Corbin is a dlc and it turns out Corbin is in-game on the disc so fuck you bitch. Also just saying most people assumed a lot of shit about Stone Cold showcase, some people got it right by luck, you're not special. Also why did you lie and say you got the info from Marcus? To feel special? You never ask this question. fuck you and fuck your ignorant ass, we would all appreciate it if you fuck off.

[jbl328]

LMAO!

[King87]

Actually, Jeffrey you wasn't right about it. Because you got your info from the guy called caveman, and even him admitted it was all byllshit so don't try to come in and act like you knew it all because you know fuck all. You all wanna make sure Jeffrey's info isn't real? Well he told one of the members that Baron Corbin is a dlc and it turns out Corbin is in-game on the disc so fuck you bitch. Also just saying most people assumed a lot of shit about Stone Cold showcase, some people got it right by luck, you're not special. Also why did you lie and say you got the info from Marcus? To feel special? You never ask this question. fuck you and fuck your ignorant ass, we would all appreciate it if you fuck off.

chill auday let him live bro. I don't like to see ya pissed off like this. Jeff is the black sheep of the forums he knows it and so most of us its ok homie lol I'm just hoping yo ass make a more detailed kevin Owens model when the game drops on pc...so far we have a lot of info about the game and its coming straight from 2k,ign and this new info from people who actually played the game hands on let jeff be brother we all know what it it is already

[Auday]

Actually, Jeffrey you wasn't right about it. Because you got your info from the guy called caveman, and even him admitted it was all byllshit so don't try to come in and act like you knew it all because you know fuck all. You all wanna make sure Jeffrey's info isn't real? Well he told one of the members that Baron Corbin is a dlc and it turns out Corbin is in-game on the disc so fuck you bitch. Also just saying most people assumed a lot of shit about Stone Cold showcase, some people got it right by luck, you're not special. Also why did you lie and say you got the info from Marcus? To feel special? You never ask this question. fuck you and fuck your ignorant ass, we would all appreciate it if you fuck off.

chill auday let him live bro. I don't like to see ya pissed off like this. Jeff is the black sheep of the forums he knows it and so most of us its ok homie lol I'm just hoping yo ass make a more detailed kevin Owens model when the game drops on pc...so far we have a lot of info about the game and its coming straight from 2k,ign and this new info from people who actually played the game hands on let jeff be brother we all know what it it is already

The thing is, he's an asshole.

[DrJoeyMagnum]

Will I ever get an answer to why me being Irish and living in Ireland (not apart of the UK) matters Jeff?

[Penguin]

Will I ever get an answer to why me being Irish and living in Ireland (not apart of the UK) matters Jeff?

It matters coz you are a smelly stinking drunk Irishmen.LOL!

 

 

[DrJoeyMagnum]

blocked lol