Can I get a hell ya!!! 2K gives gamers who doubted them a reverse pile driver with an impressive return to the ring with WWE 2K22!
Things have been less than favorable with the relationship between 2K Sports and WWE as of late. WWE 2K20 crapped the bed so badly that the stench continues to hang around the industry, to the point that WWE executives have considered talking to EA to take over the brand if things don’t turn around. However, that didn’t stop 2K from touting that its newest release, WWE 2K22 would “hit different,” despite many burned fans going, “Yeah, right” collectively afterwards.
But, ironically, the game is like WWE itself. Just when we think things are getting too long in the tooth to innovate, that one surprise comes along that jars you and reminds you why you were a fan to begin with. WWE 2K22 definitely feels like the comeback the series has been needing, and while not everything is laser-focused, there’s enough energetic fun here to make it worth recommending to wrestling fans. Even with its little flaws, it’s the WWE game this generation clearly needed.

Revamped Gameplay For the Better
One huge area where WWE 2K22 shows considerable improvement is with its gameplay. Gone are the frustrating meters that forced you to tap buttons like a bandit (for the most part – the pinning mini-game still kind of has it) and the poor hit detection that leaves you wondering just how someone struck you. In its place is a new wrestling system that, surprise, feels quite natural.
It’s basically built around counters, combos and grapple techniques. That’s not to say everything works, as there can still be occasional slip-ups. But, overall, it’s a system that feels way more focused than WWE 2K20’s. It resembles more of the frenetic nature of an actual wrestling match, with its arcade-y feel and its tightened down precision. It actually feels like…gasp…wrestling!
Not to mention cinematic moments with finishers are nicely ramped up, and you can even create some nice highlights in a reel if you feel like showing off after a hard-fought victory. The camera angles actually look like they do a lot better here, instead of capturing the action from a weird angle.
I also have to give a shout-out to reversals. Instead of just coming along at random, there’s a system here that, once dialed in, feels a lot better than before. You’ll still occasionally miss something out of frustration, but that’s more around user error than something in the system.
And once you learn more of these basics, you’ll feel right at home.

The Modes Are the Thing, But…
WWE 2K22 comes jam-packed with modes. Along with being able to wrestle in quick matches, you can check out the return of MyGM, a mode that lets you take control of the WWE programming however you see fit. It’s not too bad, to say the least, but it’s missing some of the qualities that made it such a hit in WWE Smackdown: Bring On the Pain, if that’s the entry I remember correctly. Still, fans of that sort of thing won’t be too disappointed here, and it does add some needed depth.
There’s also MyUniverse, allowing you to book the show however you want, so that you can create something around storylines, championships and what-not. It too has its limitations, with some actions out of your control. But it’s definitely not bad, as you can probably do better booking than some of the WWE staff these days. (Don’t tell them I said that…)
MyFaction and MyRise allow you to create a wrestling stable or superstar however you see fit, borrowing a bit from the MyPlayer and MyCareer modes of NBA 2K22. Again, not shabby in the least, though some things are slightly missing, like the Road To Wrestlemania approach. Still, fans will be pleased.
There are cards to collect, and, fortunately, 2K opted to do away with microtransactions (at least, for the most part) in favor of good ol’ fashioned collecting. It can take quite a bit, but the bigger deck you build, the more prominent you can make your company. It’s a nice goal to build towards and, thankfully, without all of NBA 2K22’s politics. Thank Pete.
Perhaps the two things that work best for me are Create-a-Wrestler and the Showcase mode.
Create-a-Wrestler is still one of the best modes around, with lots of deviants waiting to be put together, and some entertaining combos awaiting. You’ll be busy recreating some other superstars out there, or just seeing how you look dressed up like a weirdo.
Showcase is excellent, highlighting the ups and downs of WWE superstar Rey Mysterio. From his Halloween Havoc days with Eddie Guerrero (VIVA LA RASA!) to his championship runs, there’s a lot here; and the cinematic effect during matches, where Mysterio himself provides amazing background, is awesome. Even if you’re not normally a fan of his, this is worth checking out.

A Strong Presentation
Where WWE 2K22 distances itself from the 2K20 train wreck is with its presentation. The visuals are quite impressive, and mostly glitch-free (whew!), thanks to solid wrestler animations, smooth frame rate, nicely detailed arenas and some fun in-ring camera work. And the wrestlers don’t look like mutants either, which is a plus.
However, it is worth nothing that a good portion of the roster is outdated. For instance, Keith Lee, William Regal and Kyle O’Reilly? With AEW now. And that’s not even counting the free agents that have since left the company. More will be added via DLC soon, but this is a bit of an odd roster. At the very least, though, it’s loaded, and you’ve got your share of dream match- ups. (Rock vs. Ultimate Warrior, anyone?)
The sound is great as well! The sound effects deliver on every aspect, including ring announcing, wrestler themes and the weapon effects. I’m also a fan of crowd noise, particular chants (even Keith Lee’s is here, oddly enough) and other little things. That said, the running commentary between Michael Cole and Corey Graves is a bit dry. This is one of those instances where I sorely miss Mauro Ranallo.

Going For the Gold
There are little things that WWE 2K22 could do to become a true championship contender, like tighten certain things within the gameplay and add a little more depth to some modes. (Not to mention beef up the roster with some NXT contenders – they’re out there, guys.) But, that said, kudos to Visual Concepts and 2K Sports for actually putting in the effort and turning around the WWE 2K train wreck into something steered towards greatness.
The gameplay feels the freshest it’s been in years, the presentation brings out the best in next- gen consoles (and current-gen isn’t too shabby either); the roster is loaded with superstars, legends and other oddball inclusions; and the extras will keep you busy for hours on end.
You’ll be entertained by what WWE 2K22 has to offer. And that’s not a promise – it’s a spoiler.

The Final Verdict: Oh, hell yeah. WWE 2K is respectable again thanks to an entry that reinvents the gameplay into something creative, while at the same time loading up the superstars, presentation and modes. And that’s the bottom line!