It is nearly the end of another year and that means it’s time for another entry in the WWE franchise with WWE 2K19. Last year’s entry was a 💖definite improvement and easily the best entry since 2K Sports took the reigns.
However, despite the improvements, some fans still walked away from the series feeling a little bit disappointed when it was all said and done. The WWE 2K franchise has a habit of very slowly introducing new features or🅰 reintroducing old ones that fans have long wanted to see make a return.
This year WWE 2K19 has taken several new steps that help refine the formula once again introducing new matches and more creation tools to satisfy even the most demanding of wrestling fans. However, now that the long-awaited Fire Pro Wrestling: World has been r𒀰elease🅺d the 2K’s series isn’t the only hardcore wrestling franchise available on the current generation.
The Fire Pro Wrestling series is a grappling fan's dream come true and with that in mind, fans are spoilt for choice for a change. With a game like this on the market, you have to think the developers at 2K have taken notice to see what all the fuss is about competition always works for fans. So does WWE 2K19 still have what it takes to maintain its number one contender spot or will Fire Pro become the undisputed champ of th♐e squared circle?
30 Best: The Graphics Are Better Than Ever 𒁃
Last years entry WWE 2K18 was a significant improvement over 2K17 and this year's wrestling title takes this evolution a few steps further. Truthfully, WWE 2K19 isn’t going to be a revolution for fans who haven’t played the series for a while but if you’ve played 2K18 and 2K19 back to back the upgrades are subtle but nice.
Lighting and shadows have definitely received another boost 📖this year, hair ren⭕dering doesn’t look like spaghetti anymore, and facial animations have improved. The improved camera cuts really help add to the visual presentation too.
29 Worstꦆ: WWE 2K19 Is The Best It’s Ever Been, But It Needs A Year Off 🦹
WWE 2K19 may be as po🦋lished as this series has ever been there’s so many nice touches and tweaks that add to ꦚthe experience.
However, the game’s engine still feels the same and it’s probably time that 2K went back to the drawing board and created a new engine from the ground up.
The best⭕ solution to this would be for the series to take at least a year off and provide a constant flow of updates, patches, tweaks, and new wrestlers in the form DLC. This would help the game stay up to date with constant drama inside and outside the ring whilst giving the developers time to work on something special.
28 🎶 Best: The Showcase Mode Is Back
Daniel Bryan was given the all clear to wrestle after a heitus that forced him to enter retirement at the height of his career. Not only is Bryan back from retirement but the much-requested Showcase Mode is back too aptly feat𒅌uring the man himself.
Showcase’s story is connected together through the use of interviews and documentary clips which are very good🦩 especially if you’re a fan of Daniel Bryan. The developers have clearly put a lot of love into the renewed ShowcaseMode and fans of previous versions will love this.
27 Worst: It Could Do With More Than One Showcaseᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ Mode
It’s great to see the Showcase Mode make its triumphant return this year with Daniel Bryan being the focus of the game’s story. However, even though it would have been a lot of work for Yukes it would have been nic🐻e if they included more Showcase Modes featuring other wr✅estlers too.
Of course, there’s the downside that not every wrestling fan will automatically like Daniel Bryan and may find themselves not connecting to the Showcase.
In this case, it wou🌱ld have been a good idea to include a Showcase Mode for a legend like R🐈ic Flair and female wrestler like Alundra Blaze/Madusa.
26 Bes▨t: An Excellent Selection Of Legends
With more than 50 Legends wrestlers in WWE 2K19, the game features some of the best in recent years. The usual suspects are back like Mr. Perfect, Macho Man Randy Savag⛄e, Ultimate Warrior and with the likes of The Million Dollar Man and Rowdy Roddy Piper finally back on the roster fans of the 80s and 90s can relive the what many consider the golden era of wrestling.
In addition, there’s a good selection from the Attitude Era and the Monday Night Wars like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Goldberg, Booker T, Diamond Dallas𝕴 Page and more. A bonus for Hulk Hogan fans is that his name can finally be included and announced as a created character now that he’s back on go💯od terms with the WWE.
25 💮 Worst: Wrestlers That Have Been Held Back As DLC
After the developers of WWE 2K19 finished announcing their full🤪 roster for the game a lot of fans were quite upset that there were ✨several wrestlers missing. Some of these at the time was Bobby Lashley and several NXT stars.
So far 2K have announced there is going to be a “Rising Stars” pack featuring NXT stars and a “Titans Pack” featuring Bobby Lashley, The War Raiders and Raymond Rowe. However, it could be argued that there’s no reason why 2K can’t release these wrestlers in free updates in the same manner as EA’s UFC games.
24 Best: Create A Wrestler Will Keep You Busy For Hoꦐurs
In the last few years, the WWE 2K games have set a standard for character creation modes𒅌. Those who are willing and have patience can create some incredible looking characters with tools that wouldn’t꧋ look out of place in an RPG.
Whether it's making an incredibly accurate Hulk Hogan or a Dragon Ball Z character c💧omplete with a cell shaded appearance the options are almost limitless. In addition, you can edit everything from their entrances, music, managers, Titantron videos and more.
23 ♉ Worst: Missing Wrestlers From Last Year ꦛ
As good as all the new superstars and legends that have been included in this year's entry are, WWE 2K19 is bafflingly missing a large number of wrestlers that were included in last years. Unless there’s another unannounced DLC pack on the way there are several w♑restlers missing like the current NXT champion Tommaso Ciampa, and one of the top 205 contenders Tಌhe Brian Kendrick.
In addition, there’s a lot of notable omissions from the Legends Roster like Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley, The Natural Disasters, the Fabulous Freebirds, and the Von Erichs. While it’s understandable that they shake up the roster it’s disappointing to not include wrestlers that were already in WWE 2K18.
22 🅘 Best: WWE 2K19 Brings The Fun ꦓ
One of the most frequent complaints aimed that the WWE 2K games ꦛare that they take themselves far too seriously. This is especially true for those who like to invite a group of friends around for some couch multꦇiplayer.
The games have always been accused of being too much of a simulation when in reality the action is full of color💃ful characters in theatricꦫal predetermined matches.
So to address this, 2K have included silly additions like Big Head Mode, Zombie Triple-H, Golden AJ Styles, and Box Man which looks like a Minecraft character.
21 Worst: The Commentary Still Needs A Lot I🎶mprovement
If there’s one area of the WWE 2K series that needs a complete revamp it is the commentary. Sadly, it is probably the most consistently bad feature in the series and WWE 2K19 will also have gamers reaching for the audio settings to turn off commentary, it’s certainly doesn't live up to the quality of NBA 2K19.
In fairness to this years entry, there are some minor improvements in the Showcase and MyPlayer Modes. There’s even a nice a touch with the commentators giving us a rundown of each wrestler during entrance🍃s. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make up for the phoned-in catchphrases, repeating the same lines over and overඣ again, and even getting the wrestler's names wrong.