WWE 2K14: Hands-On Thoughts

The WWE video game franchise has been “2K-ed.”

Kind of.

Sporting improved animations, an overhaul in the locomotion system and more ways to apply your favorite moves, the first hands-on of “WWE 2K14” was a promising one, even if it doesn’t look all that much different from “WWE ’13.”

Just weeks after the trailer debut, which set the internet ablaze with criticisms of the game’s visuals, “WWE 2K14” looks better than what the trailer showed. New walking and dragging animations, along with “fidgets,” which allow characters to adjust wrist bands and play with their hair, highlight the “better-looking” “WWE 2K14.” However, that’s not the say the graphics are much of an improvement over “WWE 13.” More a polishing than a complete new coat of paint, the gameplay additions in this year’s version of the game is what 2K believes will set the game apart from its predecessors.

One of the first noticeable differences is the attention to strikes. For years, grapple maneuvers could usually be a successful deterrent to any strike. This year, 2K has done two things. The first is speed up strikes, which makes it easier to you to gain control of a match with your fists and feet. the second is cut the amount of damage they deliver. What this does is change the pace of matches and allow for more opportunities to set yourself up for big maneuvers. Unlike previous games where gamers could use strikes a whole match in order to gain an advantage, 2K has made sure that grapple maneuvers are what set the match apart in terms of damage, while strikes are a way to get the upper-hand in order to get the opportunity to perform the moves you need to get the pin.

The reversal system has also been revamped. Until the “anything you can do, I can do better” reversal system last year and in games prior, “WWE 2K14” has a much simpler reverse system that keeps the matches going at a brisker pace. Once a move has been reversed, the chain usually ends with a grapple and the match continues.

Another cool addition is that “Comeback” moments are now linked to Signature and Finishing maneuvers. 2K Games’ Corey Ledesma showed during the gameplay section of this week’s press conference a match where The Ultimate Warrior, who will be included in the game (as a pre-order gift) for the first time since the says of the Playstation’s “WWF: In Your House” using his Comeback option and then swiftly and smoothly transitioning into his trademark Splash and pin. This recreates the unpredictability of a WWE match, but also increases the authenticity of the brand.

2K also promised more moves in this year’s version including more OMG moments and “Catapault” finishers, which allow gamers to throw their opponents into the air and apply their finishing maneuver- think a Press into an RKO or a Sweet Chin Music. While this new option does hurt some of the realism 2K has developed with the better match pacing and animations, it is fun to apply some of these holds, with the new twist.

“WWE 2K14” is scheduled for an October 29 release.

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 13819 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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