As someone who's spent their career developing sports games here in London, MyGM mode in WWE 2K24's revamped MyGM has me pining for championship belt glory! For those unfamiliar, this revolutionary form of virtual wrestling General Management transforms you and allows you to switch gears from being just another button-mash gamer to becoming a dynamic (or benign, depending on your goals!) General Managers who can build dream rosters, craft epic rivalries, and navigate professional wrestling's challenging environment from the comfort of their armchair - it truly puts power back in our hands!

Draft Day Dominance: Construct Your Empire

At MyGM, franchise modes in other sports games (Premier League comes to mind), the emphasis is placed heavily on drama and larger-than-life characters rather than statistics and scheduling practices alone. Instead, MyGM makes management fun again! There is much more to buy WWE 2K24 beyond crunching stats and scheduling practices - crafting compelling narratives, managing massive egos, and turning your brand into a ratings powerhouse are among the many elements you have control of to become an ultimate wrestling tycoon! So here is why MyGM is such an innovative solution, and here's why YOU can become the ultimate wrestling tycoon yourself.

Let's dive in, aspirant General Managers, into MyGM, one of the best virtual sports managing situations at this moment, the only one that gives you the power to lead the entire organization, not just a team or a player. Draft Day will be your initial big hurdle, and here are a few pointers from an experienced game dev to ensure you build an unstoppable roster for competition:

• Balance Is Key: Don't be dazzled by big names alone - having main event-caliber wrestlers can certainly add something special, but make sure your roster includes mid-carders and tag teams of different styles and fan demographics as well.
• Think Long Term: Expand beyond established stars when considering your team's long-term needs and draft young talent with big potential for long-term development and rewards -- it can be immensely fulfilling to create your homegrown legends both narratively and strategically!
• Know Your Rivals: Balance Is Key: Don't be dazzled by big names alone - having main event-caliber wrestlers can certainly add something special, but make sure your roster includes mid-carders and tag teams of different styles and fan demographics as well.

MyGM is not the only thing the game offers, and as an avid wrestling fan (and VHS tape-watcher of classic matches), I can't wait to relive these iconic moments digitally through the 2K Showcase. But its real test will lie in how accurately it recreates these legendary rivalries and WrestleMania main events. I would also like to praise the price point for WWE 2K24 that may allow in people who usually buy cheap PS4 games rather than AAA titles, and in a way, WWE 2K24 has a sort of niche vibe... if you're one of these, you won't regret it.

Take A Look Backward: Matches Confirmed (and Hoped for!)

So, which classics will make their debuts into WWE 2K24? While we await an official list, speculation centers on potential clashes such as that between "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Bret "The Hitman" Hart at WrestleMania 13 or The Rock versus Hollywood Hulk Hogan during WrestleMania X8. Here's where it gets interesting - what dream matches do YOU wish would become DLC? Was it Ric Flair and Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat's steel cage encounter at Starrcade '89 or Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio's high-flying showdown at WrestleMania 22 that stands out?

Remember those N64 wrestling games of yore? Well THQ Nordic and Yuke’s definitely do, and those titles are the basis for AEW: Fight Forever.

Coming down the aisle…

It’s been an interesting dev cycle for AEW: Fight Forever, which was created under a publisher and developer that should be well known to fans of the sport. I’m referring to THQ Nordic and Yuke’s there, as the companies teamed for quite a few games back in the 90s and 2K’s.

Well, THQ Nordic did under the plain ol’ “THQ” banner anyway. Fast-forward to the present though, and the band is getting back together, albeit with a wild card thrown in.

That card, of course, is All-Elite Wrestling. AEW debuted back in 2019 and immediately grabbed quite an audience for itself. It got so popular, that it didn’t take long before a video game was announced, though said game wouldn’t actually appear until just now, with AEW: Fight Forever.

The action it presents will be instantly recognizable for fans of THQ’s legacy titles, though it’s not exactly the same as what developer AKI turned out.

Old made new

AEW: Fight Forever is cast in the mold of an N64 wrestling title. If you were wondering if that was the case, then I can definitely confirm that for you right off the top. It was apparently one of the points too, as the formula for that venerated franchise has been puzzlingly lost for decades at this point.

As mentioned, it’s also the first game to spin out of All-Elite Wrestling, so it’s instantly notable for a few things. But while basing a first offering on the bones of the aforementioned was a pretty fantastic idea for the brand’s gaming debut, there’s a lot more to it than just the shadow of the N64.

AEW, even though it’s a wrestling company, has managed to differentiate itself quite a bit from the market leader in the time it’s been around. It’s much more open to bloodshed, it’s obviously got some different pay-per-views and match-types, and it’s of course got a roster that’s as unique as possible given the state of contracts today. Fight Forever seeks to bring all of that to life for game fans, and it does so pretty darn well.

Modes and more

In addition to the full slate of singles, tag, and “rumble rules” Battle Royale “exhibition” matches, Fight Forever also brings online play and a pretty nice career mode to bear. The latter a loose retelling of AEW’s first year too, complete with some branching options, so it’s not just a series of random matches.

The Road to Elite actually sends your chosen grappler out into various cities for some sightseeing, fine dining, and even talk show appearances. He or she can also hit the gym, buy some gear and even make alliances or enemies. It’s pretty cool, and is actually fun to play.

Oh, and you can play mini-games too. Available both via the main menu and from within the career mode, the mini-games are well realized, though are somewhat odd that they’re present at all. If you’re playing a wrestling game after all, you kind of just wanna wrestle.

Finally though, I have to mention the create-a-wrestler. It’s not… great. As wrestling games go, Fight Forever’s creation suite feels slim at best, offering relatively few options and almost no bells and whistles. If you’re looking to bring past icons of the ring into your version of the company, or carry across those who work for other promotions, you’re going to have a lot of problems. A lot.

It’s nearly impossible to create passable stars thanks to the dearth of possibilities here. There isn’t an ability to write on clothing or build custom designs for example, and even the hair and facial options are slim. This in particular is something that really needs to get focused on for future AEW titles.

Plays like a champ

As disappointing as the above is, we’ve gotta move on to Fight Forever’s biggest plus: its gameplay. I know I mentioned this above, but it’s absolutely worth its own segment.

Fight Forever plays like a dream for those who loved the classic N64 games I mentioned. You will literally be able to slip right back int playing it on the higher difficulty settings if you logged hours on No Mercy or WCW vs The World. For those who never indulged in those older games though, know that this is also an incredibly easy title to pick up and play.

AEW gives players punch and kick buttons, a run button, the ability to climb the turnbuckles, block and reverse moves, pull weapons from ringside, and of course pin your opponent for the 1-2-3. All of that should sound right in line with any other wrestling game really, but there’s a big difference with its grapple button.

Unlike other wrestling games, once you engage a grapple in Fight Forever, you can select a move from one of three categories. That’s a big difference between the N64 games I’ve been harping on, which have weak and strong grapples only. In Fight Forever, once grappled you have the choice of engaging a kick or punch-centric move, on top of something like a suplex or slam.

Getting deeper into a match, you’ll want to pull off a ‘signature’ and then finishing move to put your opponent away. Those are based on your momentum meter, which builds as the match goes more and more your way. Once it hits one of those levels, first Signature and then Special, you either hit the d-pad or right analog stick (respectively) from the grapple to hit the move.

The control scheme here might seem more streamlined and simple than other games in the genre, and it is. But that’s the beauty of it. The controls result in a slower and less chaotic game, and one that I feel the self-tag of “arcade” falls short in describing. I’ve always thought of the N64 games as being more strategic, and that’s true for Fight Forever as well.

Real wrestlers, cartoon looks

Another fairly major way that AEW: Fight Forever differentiates itself is with its looks. Well, both it’s looks and its sounds really, or lack thereof in certain in-game situations. But before we get to the latter, let’s talk graphics.

As you can no doubt tell, Fight Forever eschews the need to get ultra-realistic. Instead of getting every crease in a grappler’s face just right, this game goes almost in the complete opposite direction. And that’s also in keeping with those classic 64bit titles.

Fight Forever does serve up varying body types, heights, and weights (which do impact some moves), but the overall look is more ‘animated’ than real-life. Personally, I love that, and prefer that kind of a look overall. But that said, it could conceivably be a negative if you don’t. It’s kind of up to your own preference.

But even with that design choice, all of the named wrestlers look like themselves. The animation is terrific as well, and the arenas look fantastic. But as I mentioned, that’s on the visual side. On the sound side… meh.

The in-game set list isn’t anything to write home about, though that’s nothing new for a wrestling title. As for the themes, wrestlers personal tracks are only played in small bits through the limited entrance scenes. And while in-ring sound effects are great, with satisfying impacts and grunts, cut-scenes and such are almost all unvoiced.

Oh, and play-by-play and color commentary? Yeah, there is none. AEW has a fantastic booth, with the likes of Taz, Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, and one of the greatest booth guys of all time in Jim Ross. And yet, even with all of that talent, there’s only an outro, where a very brief summation of the match is given. Make of it what you will.

Overall

AEW: Fight Forever is definitely an acquired taste, and it’s got some bugs here and there as well. But that said, it’s also undeniably fun. Even with the rough spots, the title’s ‘pick-up-and-play’ nature makes it a solid wrestling option for fans of the sport, and a ton of fun for fans of this specific brand. A solid gaming-start for AEW.

A copy of this game was provided by THQ Nordic for this review

AEW: Fight Forever
Release Date: June 28th, 2023
Platforms: PC (reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch, PS4, Xbox One
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Developer: Yuke’s
MSRP: $59.99 USD

The post AEW: Fight Forever (PC) Review appeared first on BrutalGamer.

The champ is back? The next entry in 2K’s wrestling series debuted last month, bringing a sharp all-around package with great looks and play.

Note: The following review missed its originally scheduled posting date. The error just came to our attention, and you’ll find it published in full below.

You can’t see me

The WWE-faithful have been on quite a ride for the last few years. While WWE 2K19 didn’t exactly set the world on fire, it was followed up by 2K20, which crashed and burned. The former title took off like crazy after that, pulling in loads of new players and absolutely rolling through the pandemic era, til last year’s release of 2K22.

That game brought the series back to life with a number of improvements, and finally gave fans something fresh to play after the lengthy break. And it appears as though developer Visual Concepts will be getting a title run all its own, because WWE 2K23 is just as good. Actually, in some ways, it’s a bit better.

That’s not to say that you’ll find this year’s WWE game to be all that big of a departure from last year’s installment. There’s a lot in this game that is definitely going to feel familiar, there’s no way around that. But even so, what you will find is a nicely refined and frankly terrifically fun game.

The squared-circle

If you’ve played a wrestling game in the modern age, any wrestling game really, then you know what 2K23 is all about. As with all of the successive “WWE 2K” titles, 2023’s builds on what’s come before, enhances certain elements (like looks and sounds), and revamps the roster so that it more closely resembles the current year WWE.

So in that way, if you’re looking for something really different, you’re going to have to look elsewhere. What you will find here is a full cadre of match-types to play, multiple modes to try out that are both online and off, and an incredibly in-depth create-a-wrestler suite. Then on top of all of that, there’s the Showcase.

This year’s Showcase mode, which spotlights a single grappler and tells the story of his career, centers on John Cena. Yes, I know, he’s been the focal point of a Showcase mode before, but this one’s very different. That’s because you don’t play as Cena.

No, instead of lacing up the boots as the Champ, you’ll instead take him on in a series of matches that spans his WWE run. That means taking on the roles of wrestlers like The Undertaker, RVD, and Brock Lesnar, sometimes even variations of them, in differing time periods.

Each match presents a different set of marks that you’ll have to hit too, like landing certain moves and taking the fight to specific areas of the ring. Doing that unlocks new things, including both wrestlers and parts for the creation suite.

While there is a certain level of monotony to fighting more or less the same guy over and over again, it’s also pretty neat to play as wrestlers that you might not have even glanced at before. I never had the desire to play as Lesnar, or the most recent incarnation of The Undertaker for example. But I genuinely had fun trying out their moves, which again isn’t something I’d have done of my own volition.

It’s kind of a tradeoff I guess, but I took to it a lot more than I have in the past. For once, I actually wanted to complete the mode instead of just giving it a shot, then closing it out to go back to exhibition.

Look at the carnage in the ring

While you’re playing through all of those modes too, you’ll notice that the controls in WWE 2K23 are better than ever. The game is even easier to ‘pick up and play’, giving both newcomers and longtime fans a chance to enjoy some grappling. But at the same time it also has a level of intricacy to it that will cater to those who want to take the time to perfect their play.

I hadn’t played 2K22 in a while, so for me it did take a little while to get back in the swing. Once I did though, it was a joy to time out moves, engage reversals, and chokeslam foes through announce tables. All of which comes via a button layout that’s pretty straightforward… at first glance.

WWE 2K23 gives players heavy and light attack buttons, buttons for running, climbing the ropes, exiting the ring, and a number of contextual options like pulling a weapon from under the apron and clearing off those tables I mentioned. There’s also the all-important grapple button, which has a number of uses after it’s successfully engaged.

Once you grapple an enemy, you can dole out a heavy or light wrestling move or hold, choose to carry them and go into a different set of moves, or whip them into the ropes. And even that has options, as you can whip to a corner or whip them over the top rope to the floor too, should you so desire.

I know this all probably sounds like a lot to master for those who’ve never played a wrestling game before, or for those who are lapsed fans. It’s really not though, and once you spend a little time under the game’s learning tree, you should get the hang of things in no time.

King of the Ring

WWE 2K22 already looked pretty good. Of course it had some bugs, I think everybody knows this line has them, but 2K22 was a sharp looking title regardless. 2K and Visual Concepts’ big comeback had both terrific graphics in general and some great animation. So does 2K23 do an even better job of it? Yep.

Now don’t get me wrong, it isn’t head over heels better than its predecessor, but WWE 2K23 does indeed up the ante a bit in terms of the audio/visual package. The cast of superstars have never looked better, as Visual Concepts has created a game that’s likely as photo-real as a sports title can get at this point.

Likewise the arenas look great, reflecting the official shows and pay-per-views of the WWE pretty much perfectly. And on the other side of the presentation-coin, the audio is awesome too. Wrestlers all have their signature themes, and the commentary team does a serviceable job of bringing the action to life. That’s not an easy thing to get done, when you consider all the wrestler names and move-titles that are packed into one of these.

But again that’s not to say it’s perfect. I did notice a few little glitches here and there, some animation seemed off at times (particularly with the ropes), and video tended to have stuttering issues on the PC version. I will note that I did not have that problem at all with the Xbox edition, which I was also able to spend some time with.

I want to also touch upon the creation suite here. This probably could go into another category all by itself, but the creation features are superb in WWE 2K23. The options are ridiculously deep, as the game gives players the ability to build everything from shockingly detailed custom superstars to full shows and arenas.

Along the same lines, Community Creations is back as well, meaning you can upload and download creations. And let me tell you, that continues to be a highlight among highlights for fans like myself. If you want to let the incredibly talented WWE 2K community have at the game for a few weeks, you’re going to be able to grab some of the best-looking created superstars you’ve ever seen. Last year’s game is evident of that, so if your favorite isn’t in the game already, just give it a little time and you’ll probably be able to get him or her anyway.

A minor gripe here though, and it’s a grating one for me at least. But it still bothers me that you cannot upload songs to use for custom entrances. A number of wrestling games had allowed for that in past console generations, and the option seems to have drifted into oblivion completely at this point. It’s aggravating to have a fantastic looking Scott Steiner coming down to ringside, Buff Bagwell in tow, without his signature sirens. Yeah, you can place the NWO theme in there, but it’s not the same.

I don’t know what could be done about that though, given the minefield that is licensing and such, but I felt like I had to whine about it for a second.

Overall

It’s tough not to recommend WWE 2K23 wholeheartedly. Even if you’re solely a fan of bygone wrestling eras, there’s bound to be something here to keep you engaged and entertained. And if you find the roster lacking, remember that you can always download something new, thanks to the game’s incredible creation utilities and online Community Creations features.

A copy of this game was provided by 2K for this review

WWE 2K23
Release date: March 14th, 2023
Platforms: PC (reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PS4, Xbox One
Publisher: 2K
Developer: Visual Concepts
MSRP: $59.99 USD

The post WWE 2K23 (PC) Review appeared first on BrutalGamer.