WWE 2K18

WWE 2K18 brings a lot to the digital squared circle, giving the wrestling fan in me a lot to like. New mechanics and match formats offer different ways to take on opponents, the new graphics and audio enhancements bring a hint of realism, and there are more wrestlers from yesterday and today to play then I really know what to do with.

This is one of the best entries in the series in the last few years, although there's still a lot of room for improvement, particularly on the tech side. It is, in any case, a good game and a solid base to build upon.

WWE 2K18 is the necessary step forward for the franchise after presenting a renewed visual aspect and a product much more updated according to the show that represents.

Despite some light areas of concern with gameplay and some of the auxiliary modes and features, the core of the WWE 2K franchise has been strengthened. It won't scratch every itch that virtual wrestling fans have, but the game is deep and fun. At the end of the day, that's what we're looking for in video games.

Great looking and robust to handle, 2K18 authentically replicates the full WWE experience - right down to the occasional, entirely senseless, unhappy ending. [Christmas 2017, p.82]

WWE 2K18 starts strongly and the nostalgic atmosphere of the game take you back to good old days of the series. But the fact that there’s no other game on the market to challenge it causes the developers to leave some small issues unpolished. Yet, WWE 2K18 is a great sports game and one the best WWE games ever.

Exceptional when it all works, but for the third year running launch-day gremlins prohibit an even greater score.

WWE 2K18 not only offers very good gameplay, but has an insane amount of depth. Depth that I just don’t reasonably see being improved upon this time next year. The Yuke’s/Visual Concepts team has done a valiant job in coalescing the current state of professional wrestling with an illustrious past. That could very well sustain as the lasting contribution for this particular WWE 2K entry.

WWE 2k18 is a solid wrestling games, with some changes and step forward in some modes. However, needs new entries in terms of gameplay and improves its engine.

Featuring an enormous roster of over 200 characters with revamped gameplay, WWE 2K18 is a solid upgrade from last year’s game.

WWE 2K18 is a great wrestling game with a crazy amount of depth that feels a bit too similar to 2K17 to really hit new highs. If you love the franchise, however, this will rock your world.

WWE 2K18 is very similar to the previous installments of the series: the gameplay is still somehow slow, but approachable and easy to learn. If you were hoping for a radical change, you'll be disappointed. On the other hand, if you're looking for a game with a solid roster and full of spectacular moves, well, WWW 2K18 is the right answer.

We still miss the Showcase mode and is a flawed game compared to the best sports games in the market, but it's the best edition in the series recently.

WWE 2K18 offers slight improvements from last entries, although it keeps its more than established combat mechanics. It needs to solve several technical issues outside the fights, that are pretty hard to witness, but there is still time to fix it.

WWE 2K18 is a big improvement over the last iteration of the franchise. The gameplay is great and the new MyPlayer mode is better in almost every way. The game falls flat in the sound department with no voice acting and the annoying commentary make the experience less realistic but it is still a fun game.

WWE 2K18 is a very entertaining wresting game. But, given the similarities it has to it's previous game, it kind of falls short.

Better than last year, but far from the excellence. Much new content, few new features in the gameplay. The game can aim for more but it seems that its creators are already satisfied with the product itself.

The moderately renewed graphic design and the addition of a couple of gameplay elements do not conceal an obsolete plant, often at high risk repetition. Not a bad game.

Drowning in modes, creative scope and possessing the best grappling gameplay in a good while, WWE 2K18 is the best the series has ever been on PS4. All the same, the time is ripe for the series to undergo the sort of far-reaching transformation that both it, and its fans, have long deserved.

It's a shame the game still contains roughly the same amount of bugs and glitches its predecessor did. Visually and atmospherically, however, WWE 2K18 is a considerable step up for the franchise.

Whilst there are some changes, it doesn't feel that different from last year, and the technical issues hinder enjoyment somewhat.

An often excellent, authentic wrestler, but the squared circle action deserves a better campaign. [Christmas 2017, p.73]

WWE 2K18 is another decent entry in the long running games franchise. But as I said last year, it's sad that these games are just decent because they can be and should be great.

It's easy to enjoy playing WWE 2K18. Wrestling games inspire a special creativity that no other sports games can match. While 2K18 feels like it misses the mark and comes in below expectations, it still offers a MyPlayer experience, eight-man matches, online competitiveness, community creations, and more. The graphics and animations are starting to grow stagnant and there aren't too many incremental improvements that can be made until there's a drastic change to the game engine, so I'm hoping that there will be an announcement about that soon.

WWE 2K18 is a recommended purchase for WWE fans who, thanks to the love for this sport, will surely find a fun and rewarding experience. The rest of the players, least interested in the show, take into account the defects that do not allow WWE 2K18 to achieve excellence.

WWE 2K18 is not the long awaiting improvement fans have been longing for. Outdated visuals and stale gameplay prevent this game from being recommendable to those who already own one of the recent iterations of the franchise.

Yuke's seems trapped in a Sharpshooter, that's the only way to explain this uninspired chapter in the series.

WWE 2K18 is a solid entry into the annual series, but is unfortunately let down by a few clunky implementations. The presentation and actual wrestling gameplay are as good as ever and Universe Mode has seen a number of additions to make it far more enjoyable. Unfortunately, the ambitious attempt to revamp MyPlayer misses the mark a little with glitches, repetitive side-quests, and a story that's afraid to deviate even a tiny bit from its set path.

Under the better-than-ever graphics and great-as-ever core wrestling gameplay, WWE 2K18 is a largely disappointing iteration. It wastes too much of its ambition on the poorly written and dull MyCareer RPG mode, leaving its other promising modes to languish for another year. What few enhancements we get to the carry mechanics and eight-person matches are welcome, but not as much of a year-over-year refresh as would be needed to keep the excitement level as high as it’s been in past years.

Even if WWE 2K18 keeps on using the same old engine its predecessors used, the developers clearly improved the game's overall visual presentation. The new MyCareer mode and the Promo Engine 2.0 also add welcomed improvements. WWE 2K18 isn't the brand new game wrestling fans have been asking for years but it offers more than enough to have fun.

The single matches and the Universe mode undoubtedly represent the most enjoyable part of WWE 2K18, since they highlight the technical improvements made by the game. Unfortunately the lack of a true story mode, replaced by an extraordinary sluggish career mode, makes this latest iteration a missed chance.

Yuke’s and Visual Concepts hit a dead end. In theory the franchise needs to take a break, leave no stone unturned and come back bigger and better. A lot of positive elements and drama that is worth of the WWE brand are wasted somewhere between technical problems, incoherent mechanics and leftovers from WWE games long gone.

While WWE 2K18 does hit enough right notes for a recommendation, it still leaves something to be desired. As much as I like the style of these newer games, I miss being able to be as nonsensical as the older ones would allow. All in all, it's a toss-up for me.

Another WWE 2K game is here, and another ˝almost there˝ disappointing result. It looks like the only thing that they really tried to improve are the fighter models, and that’s it. Bugs are still present, there’s also a lootbox system, and although there are a number of things that should be fixed and changed, sadly this is currently the best wrestling game out there.

Sold like it's a revolution, WWE 2K18 is merely an evolution of the previous game that mainly shows the big ambitions of the devs and their small budget while the awful QTE system still harms the gameplay in a big way.

Even though some aspects of the game, like the visuals and the roster- have been much improved, this year’s WWE suffers from a shallow My Career mode some bugs and, of course, loot boxes.

WWE is back again, but this time the game doesn't offer what we expected: the same bugs and glitches as last year and a terribly frustrating reversal system. It offers a lot of modes and is graphically improved, but that just isn't enough.

With some new features and advancements, WWE 2K18 shoots for the title of best wrestling game ever - it just falls a little short where it counts.

WWE 2K18 has numerous visual improvements this time around compared to past years and with that being said, gameplay remains the same and the usual technical problems still exist.

Overall… I really wouldn’t recommend you get WWE 2K18… maybe if it’s on deep deep discount but it’s just not a polished game at all. If you still have it, maybe dust off the old N64 and grab some mates and have a good old fashioned Slobber Knocker that way instead.

2K’s fifth WWE game has all the style and none of the substance of WWE games of old. All show and no actual in-ring talent, everything new in WWE 2K18 is quickly superseded by an uneven graphics engine and a career mode that’s certified G for Grody.

WWE 2K18 is great if creating wacky wrestlers is all you’re interested in, but those looking for solid in-ring action or a compelling career mode will be let down yet again. If WWE 2K18 were a wrestler, it’d be Jinder Mahal – all flashy show muscles, no fundamentals. I realize a lot of hardcore fans will buy WWE 2K18 regardless of reviews, but if you actually want the series to change, it might be time to tap out.

Though WWE 2K17 was definitely taking the franchise into a better direction, WWE 2K18 is a huge disappointment. Loading times are long, gameplay is frustrating and MyCareer-mode is a let-down too. The visuals and the huge choice in wrestlers are amazing, but they can't save this game.

WWE 2K18 is in desperate need of an overhaul. It's an entertaining game in WWE Universe mode, but most else is beyond retirement age, and many complaints fans have had for years have not been addressed.

For WWE fans, there is a lot to like with the package, but ultimately, bad design cripples what could be a real winner. While I was not the biggest fan of them, the removal of the showcase events is a huge loss for longtime wrestling fans.

WWE 2K18 sees the series spinning wheels in nearly every aspect. Sure, the game looks great and the Creation Suite is just as good as ever, but with every other mode and even gameplay lacking improvement in some ways, it feels more like a jobber and less like John Cena.

More frustrating because of the things it gets right than the blindingly obviously problems with bugs, a dull career mode, and a strange new loot box system.

Much like being a fan of the real thing, WWE 2K18 is often more of a chore than it is fun. Hilariously, yet tragically, I still find myself hoping it'll be better next time.

This series has remained stagnant for far too long, and WWE 2K18 doesn't change things.

WWE 2K18 makes only a modest attempt to improve on last year’s offering, which means this game is still not very good.

The whole thing feels rushed and incomplete. The lack of a proper roster update is the tip of a terrible iceberg. The game is a chore to play and despite being a big wrestling fan (or perhaps because of it) I never really had any fun. WWE 2K18 costs $110, but feels like a freemium mobile game. A failure on so many levels.

Clearly a lot of work went into this year’s installment, but the end result simply did not come together in the slightest.