The first gameplay trailer for WWE 2K18 is out this week, five weeks before the game hits PS4 and Xbox One, but seeing the game in motion has given us concerns about 2K’s annual wrestling game. Concerns we can only hope will disappear when WWE 2K18 debuts next month.
The new 2K18 clip is pretty evenly divided between wrestler entrances and in-ring action. There aren’t any big surprises, now that the annual roster reveals have come and gone, but we do get to see a few entrances that weren’t part of last month’s marketing materials. A variety of match types are also represented, from cage and ladder matches to tag team brawls. The WWE 2K18 gameplay trailer even features a few shots of the expanded backstage areas. What it doesn’t feature is an array of character models that might give us some semblance of confidence in the latest iteration of the long-running wrestling series.
We were pleasantly surprised when the first set of WWE 2K18 screenshots showed drastically improved character models for John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins and several other main eventers from WWE’s gigantic roster of superstars. But there are some really terrible looking models in the WWE 2K18 trailer. And not just WWE Alumni or young talent being rendered for the first time. Chris Jericho’s character model is probably the most egregious. But it’s also kind of insane that Yuke’s has been making wrestling games for more than 20 years and still can’t seem to model female talent in a way that doesn’t make them look like horror movie villains when they smile.
To be fair, WWE 2K18 still looks better than its predecessors, even when you account for the trailer’s low points. Arena lighting looks spectacular this year and the WWE 2K team continues to find new ways to stretch one of the largest rosters of any game, regardless of genre. But seeing some of the series’s most consistent problems return in the game’s first trailer has us concerned WWE 2K18 is going to be another disappointment wrapped up in pretty packaging.
For an early look at at WWE 2K18 , take a few minutes to watch the gameplay trailer published on Monday morning. Then head down to the comments and let us know if you’re planning to check out WWE 2K18 when the game hits consoles in mid October.
WWE 2K18 is in development for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Switch. The game hits PS4 and Xbox One on Oct. 17.
Be sure to check back with Player.One and follow Scott on Twitter for more WWE 2K18 news in 2017 and however long 2K supports WWE 2K18 after launch.
