WWE 2K20

WWE 2K20 is a game that still needs a lot of work, both in the graphics and gameplay/AI/physics areas, to be on par with the previous titles in the series. However the awesome roster, big Universe mode and some improved controls keep it from being a complete disappointment.

Quotation forthcoming.

Even with all the game bugs in WWE 2K20, there is still a decent wrestling game underneath.

A sorry mess at the time of launch, but worth persisting with if you’re a series fan. [Issue#184, p.73]

Despite what you might have seen or read on social media, WWE 2K20 isn’t unplayable or broken. Or at least not in my experience. But it also doesn’t push the series forward in any way, nor is it polished. MyCareer mode has an entertaining story to tell, but it’s not worth the price of the game alone, and other modes don’t really offer anything groundbreaking or truly new. So overall, while WWE 2K20 isn’t terrible, there’s no reason to pick it up if you already have WWE 2K19 in your games library.

I love the game that is bubbling under all the excess garbage. This year’s MyPlayer is pretty much what I would have liked to see before in the series, even though I had to play it with Plan B characters as photo uploading in-game didn’t initially work. Despite its crappy presentation, MyCareer is also endearing and inspiring. If you, like me, advocate equality in all things, WWE 2K20 is worth your attention if the entertainment it features is your thing – and only when it’s fixed to the state when all the playtime won’t be spent on bewildering bugs and glitches. A tip to 2K and Visual Concepts; don’t even bother with the next year’s iteration until this one is fully patched.

With its revamped controls and tighter focus on growing your custom wrestlers in MyCareer, WWE 2K20 has a lot of good ideas propping it up. Unfortunately, the game is propped up on top of an uncharacteristically weak foundation. WWE 2K20 is an ugly video game, with gross-looking noodle hair, weird character faces, and PS2-looking NPCs. Add to that a lengthy MyCareer story fueled by corny and sloppy writing, and you get a game only the dedicated parts of the fanbase will love. At its core, there is still a great deal of fun in playing WWE2K20, but the technical issues, poor visuals, and bad writing make this year an easy one to skip, especially if you’re still playing through WWE 2K19.

There’s no doubt that Visual Concepts have an affinity for the world of sports entertainment. The huge roster, plethora of modes and atmosphere they’ve created here is admirable. Unfortunately, the technical side brings the whole thing crashing down, with glitchy, broken mechanics and some bizarrely woeful representations of the stars that are an obvious step down from previous entries. Even die hard WWE fans (such as myself) will struggle to maintain much interest here, which is a huge shame.

WWE 2K20 is a missed opportunity. A game that should not have been released in this state and that raises the need for 2K to release the game biennially rather than annually. It must improve a lot.

WWE 2K20 is a buggy mess, but its gameplay also feels notably worse than previous years.

Ultimately, WWE 2K20 is the same old story of good ideas and bad execution. Having both female and male main characters in the MyCareer story mode is great. When presented alongside the "Four Horsewomen" mode/documentary, it shows 2K's commitment towards inclusivity. However, this is frequently undone by a plethora of bugs and glitches. In just a short amount of play-time, you're guaranteed to run into any number of them. Even if you can inexplicably manage to look past these problems, you're treated to original content that's also pretty flawed. Wrestling fans deserve better.

WWE 2K20 lacks anything new,with a poor story mode and bad animations, and the wrestling is plagued with technical issues that ruin any kind of enjoyment you may have.

WWE 2K20 features a lot of modes and a full WWE roster but that’s all you get in the game. If you want to enjoy the game, you have to get along with numerous technical issues, forget about any online feature, and get used to the awkward narration of MyPlayer.

The core product still has a good deal to offer. Unfortunately a bevy of technical and gameplay issues give the impression that Visual Concepts needed more time with this title. I imagine that 2K20 will continue to receive patches and support that make it better, but in its current state it is impossible to recommend this over last year's version of the game.

I am still excited to see what WWE 2K21 will look like, especially since Visual Concepts will have the time to actually learn how this engine works and use it properly, but it really is a drag that the entry with some of the best features just plays like hot garbage.

An entertaining wrestling game buried underneath a mound of technical issues.

WWE 2K20 is a complete debacle, and in the running for the worst entry in the series to date. Outside of the solid 2K Showcase and plethora of match options, this is a downgrade in almost every way. The visuals are repulsive, there are glitches everywhere you look, and the gameplay has been significantly compromised.

In the past when I have reviewed these games I have generally come down on the “yeah they are flawed and stale but if you’re a big fan of the product it’s worth checking this new one out”. I genuinely felt like last year’s game was turning a corner for the franchise. Unfortunately the only corner they turned was the corner of the ring and they “turned” it into an unescapable hellmouth where your character clips through the geometry around the stairs. This game is bad- very bad. Even if you’re a huge WWE fan you shouldn’t play it. 2K should take a year off, scrap this engine, and start over from scratch.