The WWE 2K games have never been good. Showcase Mode in the earlier entries teased a small slither of narrative greatness, but so much of this potential was mired by gameplay mechanics that tried to makജe sports entertainment feel like a genuine simulation of the craft, instead of leaning into its evident absurdity and larger than life superstars. Wrestling is silly, and for decades the games have seemingly failed to realise that.
It fell short time and time again, with WWE 2K20 being so bad that Yukes was ousted as developer and the entire series took a year off. The series’ reputation was in tatters, so 2K decided to take stock and step away as it crafts a game that lives up to the brand’s legacy. Now they're back, with WWE 2K22 set to launch on March 11 for almost every platform under the sun. Except for Nintendo Switch, they’ve learned the lessons in that department.
I recently attended a press conference for WWE 2K22 which unveiled the open secret of Rey Mysterio being the game’s cover star, w🌼hile also teasing a number of modes and mechanics set to debut in the upcoming game. MyGM mode will return for the first time since Smackdown vs Raw 2008, hinting that perhaps Visual Concepts is looking to the past - when wrestling games didn’t suck ass so much - and trying to replicate their brilliance instead of chasing a similar formula to NBA, NHL or FIFA. That’s the right move.
Showcase Mode is also making a return, one of the few positive elements of the WWE 2K series that focuses on wrestling history with a level of detail and respect that you’d seldom see outside of dedicated cont♛ent creators. In the past we’ve seen superstars like Shawn Michaels and Triple H have their entire careers compiled into a sequence of matchesꦕ recreated in the game, accompanied by beautifully produced video packages and additional details never seen in the original broadcast.
This mode was excellent, and leaned into the passion of wrestling fans who pick up these games time and time again even if they’ve never been that good. We do it for the history, the nostalgia of stepping into the shoes of our favourite superstars and reliving storylines that have long become iconic. For some reason, this mode was torn away and never touched upon again. I don’t know why, and it was universally panned by critics, so to see it set to return ꦏwith a focus on Rey Mysterio is such a treat. With any luck, we’ll even see the Custody of Dominick Ladder Match between himself and Eddie Guerrero.
Mysterio has had a fantastic career both in and outside the WWE, and I hope his foray into Showcase Mode isn’t afraid to delve into that legacy and depict his highest highs wi𝓡th a level of respect that we’ve never seen in games before. We’ve been able to recreate those matches ourselves with a bunch of indi𓂃vidual parts, but never have they been depicted with a level of curated spectacle. This could also be expanded upon with downloadable content or additional expansions focusing on specific superstars, maybe take John Cena and go beyond his bitter rivalry with CM Punk. The Man Who Can’t Be Seen is the most iconic wrestler of my generation, so take advantage of that reputation and go to town.
We don’t know if WWE 2K22 will be good yet, I’m fairly confident it will once again be a mediocre depiction of the craft that fails to recognise what makes it so special. Yet the atmosphere feels different this year, it feels like the team has taken a step back and recruited people who know the business and what made the best wrestling games so long-lasting. I’m talking WWF No Mercy, Attitude, and Here Comes The Pain, titles that are about arcade action and over-the-top hijinks rather than making sure grapples are realistic and pinfalls aren’t even counted by referees half the time. If it ain’t broken, that might just be enough. Sure it will be buggy, but if the core gameplay and selection of modes ꩲare fun, that inconsistency might just become part of the charm. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for now.
