WWE 2K15

WWE 2K15′s greatest addition is the MyCareer mode. It finally gives us a way to play out our WWE fantasies with our self-made superstars. The new character models are also a nice touch, but they’re offset by the loss of customization options.

While it may lack more than several features that we might have taken for granted in the last handful of WWE titles, WWE 2K15's gameplay enhancements are a necessary boon and provides a well-invested platform for its future.

It is a step in the right direction - but nothing more. While the more tactical fight system plays refreshingly different from the past-gen versions it still lacks refinement and balancing.

Between the narrower historical mode, the shuttered creation suites, and the dearth of combat options for bigger groups, WWE 2K15 has lost some of the tools that brought previous entries to the main event.

WWE 2K15 is a technical step forward, but falls short of the expectations due to some uncautios changes to the gameplay. We knew it would've been a chapter of transition, but its failings are too many and make it even worse than some of its most recent predecessors.

Plagued with animation issues and horribly out of date, but plays the best game of 'pro wrestling' anything has in some time. [Issue#119, p.80]

The first step of the beloved wrestling franchise towards the next generation of consoles was not the one we hoped it would be.

Its methodical pacing will put some off, but those wanting a wrestling match simulator will welcome 2K15 with open arms.

WWE 2K15 is the equivalent of an upper mid-card wrestler attempting to crack the glass ceiling of the WWE. It's close to achieving its potential, but just comes up short in a few key areas.

It looks wholly authentic and is the best-looking game in the franchise to date, but with less content and few meaningful changes, WWE 2K15 needs to get back in the gym.

WWE 2K15 feels like a real step back for the series in many ways, not the generational leap forward that we hoped for.

With WWE 2K15 wrestling fans finally get to play a good looking game. Unfortunately the game is severely lacking when it comes to content.

A relatively promising next gen debut, but it’s still missing lots of older features. And even with a few new ones it’s hard to think of this as anything but a work in progress.

This package might have been acceptable, or at least understandable, as a new-generation launch title. But one year into the new console generation, WWE 2K15 is a disappointing effort that makes for a shaky foundation going forward.

Feels unfinished. [Jan 2015, p.84]

it leaves the sinking feeling that the wrestling you love lacks the spark to be special anymore. At no point does WWE 2K15 gel into something truly special.

No matter how much things have changed, bad gameplay is the same now as it was then, and the questionable design decisions and performance of this game have a bargain-bin feel about them. If you're hankering for some good wrestling times, look elsewhere. This one's down for the count, even if you can play as Sheamus.

WWE 2K15 is a slick product but on closer examination it hides numerous problems and flaws. It’s the game of tomorrow with the problems of yesteryear, a transitional game between platforms that feels like very little care has gone into crafting the ultimate simulation in sports entertainment. And that’s the bottom line.

The gameplay is slow, sluggish, clunky and terrible. My Career doesn't feel like a career mode at all and all of the gutted creation modes and match types really just sealed the deal for me.

Creation options also feel somewhat limited, particularly as you can't create a female wrestler. [Issue#156, p.116]

WWE 2K15 for XBox One is definitely different from the previous games but is easily the best looking game in the series to date.

Wrestling superfans will get more out of the game than others, obviously, as the true-to-life presentation is pretty nice, with all the logos, arenas, music, and wrestlers that you could hope for. However, there’s a distinct feeling that the game was rushed to meet a deadline – something that’s only backed up by the two-week delay from which the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of the game suffered.

The leap to new-gen is more of a stumble for WWE, as it drops elements of existing content and recycles a lot more, giving little feeling of quality.