The previous edition of WWE 2K received flak from both gamers and critiques. The game received a 4.3/10 from IGN and 2/10 from GameSpot. If it wasn’t bad enough already, the game has a ‘Mostly Negative’ rating on Steam. This is a developer’s nightmare. But 2K shows that they have learned from their mistakes, as they introduced the WWE 2K Battlegrounds.
The latest title in the WWE 2K series, the game completely flips the realism route 2K took with WWE 2K20. The game is filled with the chaos of WWE in an arcade-style fighting setup. While the new direction grabs a lot of eyes, it has its drawbacks too.
What does WWE 2K Battlegrounds bring?
The game reminds the players of the much-loved WWE All Stars from 2011. The combat style in WWE 2K Battleground combines the grappling-based roots of wrestling with a feel of Smash Bros. That is if Smash Bros were a wrestling game. The game threw away the majority of the traditional WWE moves, replacing them with acrobatic moves coupled with power-ups. We have everything from explosives to environment-based props and crocodiles. Here is the official trailer.
The graphics have taken a new design too. Your favorite WWE stars now look less realistic and more like caricatures. But the graphics lack the feel you expect from a WWE title. Further, the generic entries for all characters appear as a missed opportunity to add a personality to each star.
The game brings 2-5 minute brawls with simple to understand controls. What’s more? The arena is destructible, allowing players to use parts of the broken stage as weapons. The characters are divided into five classes: Brawler, Powerhouse, High-Flyer, Technician, and All-Rounder. With unique battle styles for each class and multiple game modes, WWE 2K Battlegrounds looks like it is set to redefine 2K’s approach with the franchise.
Published by 2K and developed by Visual Concepts, the game is scheduled to release on September 18, 2020. It will launch on PS4, Xbox One, Switch and PC via Steam and Stadia.
