WWE 2K16

WWE 2K16 does so many things right that a little forgiveness is in order. Everyone involved seems to recognize that mistakes were made with WWE 2K15 and went out of their way to send the series in the complete opposite direction. The disconnect between character's appearances and occasional stiffness speaks more to a lack of polish than effort, and the result is a generally positive experience that helps renew faith in yearly WWE installments. In fact, WWE 2K16 is so comprehensive, I imagine people will have trouble finding reasons to upgrade to WWE 2K17 next year.

WWE 2K16 takes a big step back towards being the exhaustive suite of wrestling wish-fulfillment it’s expected to be.

Despite the few gripes, I had a fun time playing this game. WWE 2K16 brings a bigger roster, more creative options for gamers, a revamped career mode that is mostly good and a bevy of other improvements to make the experience worth it. It’s a nice step up from last year’s game.

The Bottom Line is that WWE 2K16 gives the fans what they wanted – the full suite of Creation modes, a more robust My Career mode, and the biggest roster ever. This is now a huge, deep game that will satisfy the most-demanding WWE fans, and it makes WWE 2K15 look like a Demo.

WWE 2k16 solves almost every problem that the previous game had, making it one of the most enjoyable wrestling games of the last few years.

An extremely playable and very substantial wrestling simulation. A great comeback after being down for the count with WWE 2K15.

WWE 2K16 keeps walking forward when it comes to what it offers. Its a game that fans will love, the best of the later years and that has plenty of hours of enjoyment. However, it is in need of better technical and even interactive aspects.

WWE 2K16 is the team back on their way to greatness, and a definite turning point in how wrestling games should be made.

It could be better, but 2K16 is one of the most enjoyable wrestling games of the last few years.

WWE fans will love this game, but some aspects such as wrestling mechanics and the general graphical appearance need to improve in the future.

Yuke’s is finally coming around and has avoided many of the mistakes of last year’s edition. [Dec 2015]

WWE 2K16 strikes the perfect balance between technical wresting and Attitude Era brawling. Minor online issues hold it back, but the moment-to-moment flow of each match, the huge roster, and the stellar tribute to Stone Cold Steve Austin all combine to make this a must-play for anyone remotely interested in the WWE.

I think we’re still one year away from the greatness that 2K is truly capable of. In the meantime, WWE 2K16 will do a pretty good job of being the No. 1 contender.

It's no exaggeration to call this phenomenal between the ropes. [Christmas 2015, p.78]

The strides made in-ring make this an essential play, but [the] missed [outside ring] opportunities sting harder than a Big Show turnbuckle chop. [January 2015, p74]

WWE 2K16 is one of the best WWE games released in years and is the WWE game you want to get if you own a PS4 or Xbox One.

It still has some rough edges, but WWE 2K16 remains a very satisfying experience.

After the bad debut on the next-gen with the last year’s chapter, the WWE saga comes back in great form. The complex and tactical gameplay make it a game for a few fans, but enthusiast will have a great time.

WWE 2K16 is a return to form for the series, and it is great to see that the development team has managed to right the ship.

Another step in the direction of a more complete, tactical and realistic wrestling experience, outside and inside the ring. Better flow, yet slower pace.

Still, it’s a far better game than last year’s effort and well worth checking out for most wrestling fans out there – especially when the online issues get resolved.

With a huge (and mostly up-to-date) roster, a Stone Cold-obsessed Showcase mode and a fine-tuned MyCareer, the WWE 2K series finally delivers the best wrestling game since Here Comes The Pain.

A bigger roster, more finely-tuned gameplay mechanics and a more versatile creation system help make WWE 2K16 the current-gen superstar that it wants to be, even if some inconsistent ideas and bugs do hold it back from time to time.

WWE 2K16 isn’t without its flaws, but it’s the most feature-rich wrestling game to come along in a while, with a right massive roster, a good deal of likable modes and well-fleshed out main attractions in the domains of 2K Showcase and MyCareer.

WWE 2k16 is a great improvement after the 2K15 iteration. Better gameplay, a big roster and all that wrestling fans need to be happy. It could be better in terms of visuals and has some minor bugs and glitches.

With the new limited reversal system and a much higher overall production value, WWE 2K16 is the competent fighter we always knew it could be. The fuller roster and a wealth of creation modes mark this year's installment as a notable comeback for the series. Only the submission system, the occasional glitch, and the some issues with the UI for creation modes hold WWE 2K16 back. Otherwise, WWE 2K16 crushes its predecessor with the impact of a Stone Cold Stunner.

2K and Yuke's are on the right path: many of the issues of the previous chapter are now fixed, and there's plenty to do in this 2K16 edition. There's still much room for improvements, but this is a good starting point for the definitive wrestling game.

Yuke’s made some improvements taking the series in the right direction, but do not expect any revolutionary changes, because the most important aspect – the combat system – was only slightly modified. [13/2015, p.38]

WWE 2K16 comes with a huge roster and brings back some of the stipulations missing from last year's iteration, but it still delivers a cumbersome, slow gameplay that you can love or hate.

The latest game in the long running WWE series finally gave wrestling fans the titanic amount of content they wanted, and even changed some mechanics in a smart way, perfecting the whole combat system. The more realistic pacing, though, is still a bit too slow, and some kid-friendly choices due to the PG era are really out of place, especially when you consider that the Showcase gravitates around Stone Cold Steve Austin. Also, the Divas and their “revolution” have been almost ignored.

An improvement over last year's WWE 2K15, 2K16 still isn't perfect but it introduces a brilliant roster, an immersive Showcase mode, and plenty of match types to get hot and sweaty with.

The match variety and creation suites are awesome and the 2K Showcase mode is a great trip down memory lane, but the overall "WWE Universe" experience that the game touts doesn't quite translate yet. WWE 2K16 is a solid competitor, but it's not a main event talent.

WWE 2K16 is clearly a step in the right direction. The game may not be perfect visually but it has a lot of content and fun new gameplay elements (the new submission system has got to go though).

The best WWE game for years, which may seem like faint praise but WWE 2K16 works as both a sports sim and a quality fighter in its own right.

WWE 2K16 fixes some problems inherited from the last episode of the series, especially in terms of content. But it keeps trailing certain issues that makes it unworthy of our expectations, unworthy of the platforms it runs on.

WWE 2K16 is a game which is full of content. Unfortunately it also contains a lot of bugs and the rivalry system doesn't add anything. The game features a good amount of modes, but these are only fun if you know how the game works.

This is the best WWE-game we have played in the last few years. It is full of content and the lineup of wrestlers is amazing (120>!), although it is a pity that they are not all the same when it comes to their abilities. The game is full of bugs, annoying submissions and it just does not deliver the quality you would expect in a sports game. The MyCareer mode misses out on depth and storytelling, but the WWE Showcase-mode is awesome.

Due to last years’ visual overhaul, these wrestlers continue to look better than ever. Unfortunately, WWE’s gameplay hasn’t made the same strides as its graphics. Reliving Steve Austin’s career will likely appeal to a lot of wrestling fans, but it’s more fun to watch than to play.

This is a game that delivers all the personality and fame-centered features of the wrestling world in detail; however in the process it compromises, rather ironically, a more realistic feeling of combat as in the actual sport. WWE 2K16 is a game that is better to watch than play, although it will probably satisfy hardcore fans.

Despite relative improvements in presentation, WWE 2K16 ultimately makes a crucial mistake when it comes to understanding professional wrestling: the fiction is a lot more fun than the reality.

WWE 2K16 definitely makes some strides in the right direction, but with Showcase mode becoming a little stale and Career Mode somehow taking a step back, it's clear that 2K is very much still getting to grips with the series.

With the largest cast of wrestlers the franchise has ever seen, 2K and Yukes have done a solid job righting the WWE 2K ship. That being said, there is still a lot of work to be done.

You'll have fun, but the flaws are too great to ignore. [Issue#168, p.91]

WWE2K16 is a game with so many various bugs that sometime soon sentient societies will rise up to worship them. If this does not bother you, and you can laugh away regular trips to the monster factory of technical horror, then maybe you will be able to find moments of joy in the substandard gameplay on show.

Worse than the technical shortcomings, off-the-mark combat, and terrible omissions from the roster, Yuke's failure to capture the heart of WWE makes WWE 2K16 such a disappointment. The modern WWE is overflowing with talent. The series’ inability to deliver on the magic of WWE's characters and athletes, beyond number crunching and subpar combat, indicates that this series is still far from being able to relive the magic of the squared circle inside your living room.