It’s uncommon {that a} recreation will get a second evaluate on VGC, however the newly launched Swap 2 model of WWE 2K25 has an attention-grabbing story behind it.
There was a time when one of the best wrestling video games might be discovered on Nintendo platforms – particularly the Nintendo 64 period, due to the legendary trio of AKI Company developed titles WCW/nWo Revenge, WWF WrestleMania 2000 and WWF No Mercy.
It is also argued – although with considerably much less conviction – that the WWE Day of Reckoning titles on GameCube had been additionally among the many most interesting wrestling video games of their period. Since then, nonetheless, Nintendo followers have been given quick shrift to some extent.
Whereas the Wii noticed its fair proportion of WWE video games from THQ, they both featured waggle controls or had been closely visually downgraded in comparison with their Xbox 360 and PS3 siblings. No less than it acquired some WWE video games, although: the Wii U didn’t obtain a single one.
After lacking out on 4 annual editions in a row, issues gave the impression to be trying up for Nintendo-owning wrestling followers when 2K introduced that it was bringing WWE 2K18 to the Swap, however that turned out to be an unmitigated catastrophe with excessive slowdown and numerous game-breaking bugs leading to a Metacritic rating of 35 for the Swap model.
Deciding to not attempt once more, 2K ditched the Swap for the rest of its prolonged lifespan, that means Nintendo gamers have been with out an annual WWE 2K recreation for practically eight years.
Now, with the discharge of Swap 2, 2K has determined to attempt once more with a port of WWE 2K25, which was launched on different codecs again in March. On paper it’s a purpose for Nintendo gamers to rejoice, however they’d be forgiven for being cautious of leaping again in given the shambles that was WWE 2K18 on Swap.
Fortunately, these issues aren’t obligatory, as a result of 2K has lastly managed to ship a worthy port on a Nintendo console, giving gamers their first genuinely sensible Nintendo wrestling recreation in generations.
Though 2K25 was additionally launched on PS4 and Xbox One – consoles which have energy extra much like that of Swap 2 – 2K has as an alternative tried to push the boat out and provides Nintendo’s new console a port of the current-gen PS5 and Xbox Sequence X model as an alternative. This implies entry to The Island mode, one thing not out there on the last-gen variations (and even the PC model).
Naturally, there’s a visible downgrade in comparison with the PS5 and Xbox Sequence variations, however it’s not as wild as you’d think about. Put them side-by-side and the distinction is apparent, particularly in background element equivalent to crowds and arenas, however entrances present that the character fashions are effectively detailed and loading instances are strong sufficient.
All of the modes and match sorts from the opposite variations are included on Swap 2, together with the brand new Underground and Bloodline Guidelines match sorts, the brand new backstage arenas, intergender matches and this yr’s Showcase mode based mostly on the Bloodline.
As ever, it’s the gameplay the place issues can reside or die, and it’s an virtually flawless providing right here. In virtually each state of affairs all the things runs at a strong 60 frames per second, and even if you attempt to push the sport to its limits with an eight-person match it shrugs off your efforts at breaking it and continues to run delightfully easily.
Once I say ‘virtually’, it’s as a result of once in a while the motion will swap to a close-up, in an try and imitate a TV broadcast, and when this occurs the body charge drops to 30fps. By itself that is removed from a deal-breaker, however in sure conditions this could make the sport a tad tougher.
Reversals contain urgent the X button with split-second timing, and one of many pinfall kick-out mini-games includes flicking the best stick upwards with much more exact timing. When the body charge is halved this could have a real impact in your possibilities of success.
The latter can at the least be addressed by switching to a button-bashing mini-game within the Choices as an alternative of a timing-based one, however not everybody likes hammering their controller buttons and a few modes equivalent to MyFaction drive you to make use of the timing-based methodology as an alternative.
This brings us to the opposite most important subject with the sport, and to be truthful it’s not one which’s unique to Swap 2. Provided that WWE 2K25 was initially launched again in March we’re now 4 months into the sport’s life, which implies this re-review additionally offers us an opportunity to analyse the state of its reside service providing post-launch.
MyFaction – which is basically the sport’s model of Final Group / MyTeam, and has gamers gathering ‘playing cards’ to construct up a roster of superstars – has revealed itself over time to be each bit the money-grabbing mode it was final yr.
It provides a continuing slew of ‘Persona’ playing cards which unlock alternate outfits not simply in MyTeam however in all different modes too, however in most conditions it’s all however inconceivable to unlock these by means of regular grinding.
As an alternative, getting these Persona playing cards requires a mix of some huge cash (to purchase a bunch of limited-time packs), loads of luck (to get the particular playing cards you’re on the lookout for) and a hell of loads of talent (some Personas must be unlocked by means of challenges, lots of which stack the chances in opposition to you to a ridiculous diploma).
This could be dangerous sufficient had been it confined to MyFaction, however each time a Persona card is launched there it additionally seems within the roster in each different mode as “?????”.
It’s significantly galling for many who select to spend $129.99 / £119.99 on the sport’s most costly model, the Bloodline Version, which provides a bunch of DLC characters however – due to the MyFaction Persona playing cards – nonetheless sees the roster with 51 locked “?????” on the time of writing, lots of which are actually near-impossible to unlock.
It’s significantly galling for many who select to spend $129.99 / £119.99 on the sport’s most costly model, the Bloodline Version, which provides a bunch of DLC characters however – due to the MyFaction Persona playing cards – nonetheless sees the roster with 51 locked “?????” on the time of writing, lots of which are actually near-impossible to unlock.
We’re as soon as once more asking 2K to contemplate a one-off payment on the finish of the sport’s life which unlocks all of those Persona characters and makes the roster ‘full’, however we don’t see it occurring.
One other factor which exacerbates that is the dearth of cross-platform progress. Gamers must signal right into a 2K account to play on-line, however their progress continues to be separate on every platform. I’ve put about 150 hours into the Xbox Sequence X model since launch and unlocked a bunch of Persona characters there, so it’s irritating to basically be ranging from scratch once more on Swap 2 as an alternative of with the ability to proceed my MyFaction, MyRise and Universe progress on the transfer.
The Group Creations function can be not cross-platform on Swap 2, which is an enormous blow. Regardless of being based mostly on the PS5 and Xbox Sequence variations, Swap 2 gamers can’t entry the massive library of player-uploaded wrestlers out there on these codecs and as an alternative must entry a much smaller library of wrestlers created on Swap 2. That is maybe as a result of Nintendo model not permitting gamers to add their very own photos (a case of Nintendo desirous to keep away from apparent dodgy pics?) however it’s irritating nonetheless.
On a constructive flip facet, the mode we thought can be extra problematic has turned out to not be the case. The Island is an open-world journey the place you run round speaking to different superstars and taking over varied duties, however regardless of boasting a bunch of outlets and numerous customisation gadgets which will be purchased with the sport’s digital forex these can all be simply prevented for essentially the most half and are far much less intrusive than MyFaction’s Persona playing cards.
Certainly, with the next addition of the second and third chapters, The Island has over time develop into a surprisingly fulfilling diversion with a pleasantly old-school really feel, from the static dialogue screens to the very foolish duties, to the truth that it unlocks (equally foolish) wrestlers and customized elements by means of regular gameplay.
“The Island has over time develop into a surprisingly fulfilling diversion with a pleasantly old-school really feel, from the static dialogue screens to the very foolish duties, to the truth that it unlocks (equally foolish) wrestlers and customized elements by means of regular gameplay.”
The results of all that is that the Swap 2 model of WWE 2K25 is a worthy port regardless of that includes some points, a few of that are already current on the opposite variations of the sport. The sheer variety of modes and the big roster (unlockables apart) means it’s very simple to place loads of time into it with out ever having to the touch the modes that don’t enchantment to you.
What’s extra, the actual fact it’s based mostly on the current-gen variations whereas the PC model is predicated on the last-gen ones means gamers trying to take pleasure in WWE 2K25 on handheld would clearly be higher off taking part in it on Swap 2 than on Steam Deck, given the additional options out there.
There’s room for enchancment right here. A few of that is distinctive to Swap 2 – the drop to 30fps for infrequent close-ups impacts some timing-based gameplay and it actually does want Group Creations parity with PS5 and Xbox Sequence subsequent time – whereas different points, equivalent to how MyFaction and its Persona outfits have been dealt with, are the identical throughout the board no matter format.
Regardless of this, nonetheless, the nice far outweighs the dangerous right here, that means Nintendo house owners lastly have a genuinely sensible WWE recreation for arguably the primary time because it was even generally known as WWE.
