Last week, we wrote about three things we hope to see in WWE 2K18. This week, 2K released a producer’s blog about some the new features that will be included in the latest installment of the wrestling game.
There’s too much information revealed in this first producer’s blog that it will only result in a long article if we cover it all. Instead, we will look at the major takeaways from the blog, including the much-needed change that will happen at the WWE announcer’s booth in WWE 2K18. 2K also announced that this is the first in many informational blogs that the company will release. Let’s begin by looking at the audio of the game.
Improved Audio
The biggest complaint over the last few years with the WWE 2K franchise has been the audio, especially the commentary. Hearing Michael Cole, JBL and Jerry “The King" Lawler has gotten infuriatingly bad, and it has continually gotten worse. It’s bad enough we have to hear them in real-life, but to endure them virtually is equally as terrible. Who can't remember this gem from Lawler from WWE 2K17?
In WWE 2K18, 2K made the decision to make a change and insert Corey Graves and Byron Saxton. While Cole remains as the play-by-play announcer, the introduction of Graves and Saxton finally gives fans new voices to the game. While Saxton is almost as bad as JBL and Lawler, Graves has been a rising star on commentary so hearing him call a match in WWE 2K18 will be a treat.
In addition to the commentary, 2K has added more crowd chants and ambient noise to the WWE 2K18. There are times in WWE 2K17 where the crowd audio would go out and you are pretty much wrestling in a quiet arena in front of 20,000 people. It takes you out of the game and makes it almost unplayable. Here's hoping that problem has been fixed. I am very interested in the crowd chants; not only how they will sound, but when those chants will be activated.
The Roster Has To Be Better
“All of these feature additions and improvements are only made better by the largest roster in WWE gaming history.”
This seems the catchphrase for every single edition of WWE 2K, but the roster always disappoints in some way shape or form. The “largest roster in history” usually means three Big Shows, five versions of Kane and a Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake but nothing else.
2K needs to up their game this year. You have an abundance of divas to include in WWE 2K18, not to mention an entire cruiserweight division to showcase. Don’t get me started with the NXT superstars that should be in the game including Ember Moon, Bobby Roode, and Kassius Ohno. This is not the year for 2K to give the claim of a large roster and not deliver. Fans are expecting a big selection to choose from, and not have to get online-created versions of their favorite wrestlers.
WWE Universe Mode
The holy grail for this game is to get Universe Mode to work correctly. With the brand split that took place last year, the mode will be much different from last year's version with all the pay-per-views and shows represented in the current WWE world represented.
Additionally, it was also announced in the blog that more cutscenes and something called Superstar goals would be added to Universe Mode. The big issue with Universe Mode is the rivalries all start and end the same way and according to this blog, the story system will see a significant change with better build up to matches, which the mode should have had for years. This may be the year where this mode is going to live up to its potential finally.
What are your thoughts about WWE 2K18 at this point? Let us know in our comment section.
