WWE 2K16

Wrestling fans rejoice: WWE 2K16 is a step in the right direction for this aging series. Once again, the world of WWE is brought to life in incredible detail, featuring some key improvements to the original formula, and some much-needed upgrades to the overall presentation that make previous entries feel dated.

If you’ve played a WWE game before, there might be little incentive to make you get this new entry. However, if you got the previous year’s version and felt like the formula was in dire need of a new coat of paint, check this review to see if WWE 2K16 has everything you were looking for in a wrestling game.

Clashing and Grappling

Veterans of WWE 2K15 will feel like little has changed in terms of overall gameplay when it comes to WWE 2K16. However, once you go into some of the deeper gameplay mechanics, some clear improvements begin to show. For starters, balance issues have been addressed, like players spamming reversals. Now, there’s only a set number of reversals allowed per match, which makes matches feel faster and with fewer stalemates. Additionally, WWE 2K16 features the most impressive roster we’ve seen so far in a Wrestling game. With over 100 professional wrestlers to choose from, players are sure to find their favorites here. And we haven’t even talked about the game’s impressive creation suit.

Endless Customization

One of the strongest elements of the WWE games’ formula has always been the impressive amounts of customization possibilities. WWE 2K16 improves over its predecessor’s limitations, going back to the freedom players first experienced in Yuke’s WWE 2K14.

With 100 custom character slots and a solidly improved assortment of customizable suits and capes, players will be able to create an army of their dream wrestlers. The game’s improved visual quality does wonders for customizable characters: now, you can create wonderfully realistic abominations or celebrity lookalikes that can duke it out on the ring with some of the most well-known WWE superstars.

Aside from the customizable characters, players can also create their own shows, arenas, and championships: all of them features that were removed in WWE 2K15. If we keep into consideration that this game already features over 100 licensed wrestlers, we get one of the richest rosters in the history of wrestling games.

Improved Visuals and Audio

We touched on this earlier, but the visual improvements made in WWE 2K16 can’t be overstated. Character models look better than ever, and so do their facial animations and attire.

The new cloth physics looks impressively fluid and realistic, giving some wrestlers a much-needed secondary animation layer. Small things like sweat have also been revamped, the same with how the hair flows and moves during a fight.

The commentary team’s roster has also increased in size this time around: John “Bradshaw” Layfield joins WWE veterans Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler, spicing up the previously stale commentary.

Pros:

• Improved visuals
• Matches feel faster than they did in previous games
• Tons of customization options

Cons:

• Extremely long load times
• A few physics glitches
• Balancing issues