WWE '13

WWE '13 changes up the gameplay controls and makes the overall wrestling experience more enjoyable than previous games in the series.

The bevy of unlockables, still stellar WWE Universe mode, even deeper customization features, and the nostalgia driven Attitude Era mode makes this the best wrestling game of this generation.

I've always pointed to 2000's WWF No Mercy as the best wrestling game I've ever played, but nostalgia is certainly a factor in that. After playing WWE '13, I'm hard pressed to think of a more enjoyable and complete wrestling game in history.

WWE '13 offers a lot more of what we want (and less of what we don't) than last year's release. It features a lot more customizations, a larger roster, and superior story mode. It feels more polished. This is the game WWE '12 should have been.

The past and present collide in the undisputed champion of current gen wrestling games. [Christmas 2012, p.2]

It has a feature set unlike any other and its commitment to both built-in narrative and player-based customization is greater than anything we have seen from almost any other title on the market, regardless of genre. In fact, the only flaws I can find in WWE '13 are concerning the gameplay engine itself, but the feature set is so huge it's almost like it doesn't even matter.

The Attitude Era mode is what really makes WWE '13 worth purchasing, especially for long-time fans of professional wrestling. I had a nostalgic blast playing through many of my favorite moment from WWE history, and it's great to see half of the game's huge roster filled with classic grapplers from the late '90s.

Undoubtedly the best wrestling game this gen, thanks to its great signature gameplay and the new physics management engine.

If you are an old school WWE fan longing to play with your favorite superstars of yesteryear, then this game is a must buy. Younger fans can learn a lot about the WWE's past by playing through the Attitude Era mode as well.

Although not quite perfect, WWE '13 is probably the best in the franchise that I have played to date and I can't wait to see what lies in store for future iterations.

Not many additions except for the Attitude Era, but it still manages to offer deep gameplay and many hours of fun. There are not too many choices in this genre; however, WWE 13 is complete enough to satisfy wrestling fans.

It is not just loaded with content, but puts one of the interesting eras of Sports Entertainment into the spotlight. It has its flaws, especially when it comes to the engine, but nonetheless as an old school wrestling aficionado I haven't had this much fun with a WWE game in years.

Of particular note is the game's superb single-player experience, which should serve as the foundation for all future endeavors. If anything, the smart objective design and use of archival WWE footage makes us want more – and there's no turning back.

Concentrating on the Attitude Era of the WWE was a wise decision from THQ. The campaign of WWE'13 delivers. The controls are still somewhat clunky and at times technical hitches hinder the matches, but WWE'13 is still one of the finest wrestling games around. [Dec 2012]

The new Attitude Era Mode is enough of a reason to play WWE '13, especially if you were a fan during that time period.

WWE 13 it´s an impressive wrestling simulation game which includes countless options and game modes. Top notch.

This is a must for fans from the Monday Night Wars period. [Feb 2013, p.81]

Simplified contextual controls and overall polish make WWE '13 fast, dynamic and fluent. The number of graphical glitches during fights was considerably reduced and the fighting system is still deep enough to keep things interesting. [1/2013, p.68]

If you were a fan of the WWE from 1997 through 1999, you owe it to yourself to check out WWE 13 out for the Attitude era mode and Superstars. It's an incredibly nostalgic trip through an awesome period in the industry's history. Current fans of the WWE will also find a lot to like here, from the huge roster to the cavernous depths of the creation system. If you are willing to look past the issues, you'll find a lot of fun to be had with WWE '13. Regardless of the future of the WWE license, there is some great single player content here to build on.

WWE '13 may seem like just another licensed product trading on nostalgia, but it displays an understanding of why the Attitude Era was so revered and unique.

In the end, WWE '13 is driven by nostalgia for an era that shocked people and made wrestling mainstream once again. With so much attention paid to the Attitude era, that's the type of wrestling fan who would enjoy this game the most, especially since there isn't much for present-day wrestling fans to enjoy, beyond the updated roster.

Where WWE 13 shines in its attention to detail, especially in the dedicated ways it brings the Attitude Era to life, it falls just a few steps short in other modes.

Subtle refinements and a great campaign boost WWE '13.

Outside of the addition of Attitude Mode, '13 is very similar to '12, but that isn't a bad thing. Although THQ has a number of issues to fix either by way of a patch or in next year's iteration, people looking for a solid wrestling game shouldn't be disappointed.

The loading times are lightning fast compared to earlier installments and the extraordinary roster has more than one hundred wrestlers, in addition to a wealth of DLC characters.

WWE 13 is a very up and down game. There is a lot to enjoy with this version, and the negatives mentioned do not outweigh them. The gameplay is solid, albeit some minor issues, and the Universe and Attitude Era modes give wrestling fans, both old and new, something to enjoy.

The franchise is most definitely at its most complete here in '13, with a massive roster, a focus on a golden age of wrestling, and lots of visual and functional tweaks to rein in the franchise's ambition and instead start making the many modes and options a little more polished.

WWE '13 remembers when wrestling, and by proxy, wrestling video games were great. It remembers the pageantry, the silliness, and the death-defying stunts that made wrestling such a hot commodity a decade ago.

What its "half-modern, half-Attitude" roster might do, however, is appeal to lapsed wrestling fans - those who stopped watching in the early noughties. This is a reminder of why their era was so great and offers a great nostalgia-bomb through a flaming table of joy.

WWE '13 is another great match from Yuke's, but calling it better than WWE '12 is tough. If you're hoping to re-ignite a wrestling addiction, WWE '13 is a great gateway, but the organization's more ardent fans (like us) will enjoy this year's effort while still clinging to their copies of WWE '12 like an Anaconda Vice.

The best wrestling package of the year, though we hope the gameplay is freshened up a little more next time.

WWE '13 is a game with a clear and compelling fighting system. Because of this it is easy to get in to the wonderful Attitude Era, that lets you live some of the most legendary moments in wrestling history. It is a shame that the other modes haven't received as much love from developer Yuke's.

While WWE '13 has a lot of problems, I think it's a far better overall game than WWE '12, but still lacks the polish that SvR '11 and past series entries have had.

After last year's encouraging switch-up, the developer hasn't done enough to iron out encounters in the ring. A little imagination would go a long way with WWE's next installment.

If you enjoy creating your own shows, forming your own factions, and designing your own stable of pro wrestlers, you'll view WWE 13's creation suite as the best there is, the best there was, and possibly the best there will be, with options more diverse than Mick Foley's wrestling personas. Yet the gameplay, AI, and controls have not significantly advanced from last year's title, making WWE 13 more uneven than the "People's Eyebrow."

It will tickle you with nostalgia before slapping you with its frustrating countering system. [Issue#92, p.80]

The game is fun, but sadly it doesn't reinvent the wheel, and if you happened to have bought WWE '12, there is no great evolutionary leap nor distinction between the two, making this essentially an unnecessary purchase.

WWE 13 is far more fun than its predecessor, but this is largely down to some slight improvements to the core mechanics and the addition of hero-era nostalgia.

A decent wrestling game with a solid combat system, as long as you're able to ignore repeated flaws from its predecessors.

If you have played WWE 12 this new game is very similar, but the new mode Attitude Era is essential for fans. Probably one of the best wrestling games in the current gen.

I found myself experiencing overused animations, buggy graphic errors, and incredibly forceful controls (I quickly had to resort to button mashing if I had any chance of actually winning a match). It's as if the developers created too much of a flashy shell, with a huge cast of playable characters, extended game modes, content libraries, and deep customization around a somewhat empty core that is the game itself.

There's enough content on disc to justify the purchase, but don't expect any massive gameplay improvements over what WWE '12 had to offer. But from a presentation or story mode angle, this is a huge step up from the previous game, despite the graphical and audio issues.

Despite its niggles, WWE Universe is a terrifically flexible mode that offers endless hours of enjoyment for the committed. For the more casual player, and the lapsed wrestling fans WWE 13 is aiming for, the main draw is the Attitude Era mode. It's flawed, sure, but many of its foibles can be forgiven when you're playing out moments that recall a time when professional wrestling was fresh, fierce and relevant.

WWE '13 has all the potential to be great. Varied game modes, a slew of classic wrestlers to choose from and an unheard of commitment to historical accuracy all form the foundation for what should be an excellent wrestling game. Unfortunately, the gameplay is so weak and the entire game suffers for it.