WWE 2K25 Hands-On Preview

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The appeal of WWE has never been greater. Recent television narratives have revolved around Cody Rhodes concluding his saga and securing the Undisputed Championship, a feat that was highlighted in last year’s WWE 2K series with Rhodes gracing the cover.

This year, the spotlight’s on my WrestleMania XL rival, Roman Reigns, and his Bloodline crew. It’s them I’ll be going up against!

The Bloodline encompasses much more than just Roman Reigns; it’s deeply rooted in his familial background. The name Anoa’i, as well as the family itself, carries significant weight if you recognize them. Here’s why they might seem familiar to you.

For many years, the Samoan family has made a significant impact in the world of WWE. Notably, Jey Uso, who won the Royal Rumble in 2025, and his brother Jimmy are part of this lineage. Their father, Rikishi, is a distinguished member of the WWE Hall of Fame. If you trace their ancestry back to the 1970s, you’ll find that the Anoa’i family can be traced to when the Wild Samoans tag team first appeared in the then WWF.

And, of course, you can’t talk about the Anoai family without bringing up The Rock.

Because WWE 2K25 is all about honoring that tradition in this year’s 2K Showcase, it’s important to understand why.

WWE 2K25’s Showcase Celebrates the Anoa’i Family

As a devoted admirer, I’ve been privileged to attend three thrilling Showcase events that brought me face-to-face with illustrious members of the Bloodline Dynasty. These encounters offered me the unique opportunity to revisit history, create my own chapter, or even alter it at will. Each match was preceded by an enlightening introduction by Paul Heyman, elucidating the rich legacy of the participants.

In each bout, the participants’ skills were highlighted effectively. For instance, the Queen of the Ring ’24 match between Nia Jax and Lyra Valkyria showcased Nia as a powerful enforcer-style wrestler, a detail that enhances the gameplay with a cinematic flair. This aspect is evident in real-life matches too, but may not always translate seamlessly into the game version.

As WWE’s popularity reaches Attitude Era heights, its video games should reflect that same intensity. With WWE 2K25, they are heading in the right direction by paying tribute to a legendary wrestling dynasty and offering gameplay that mirrors the excitement we experience each week.

At the start, Lyra attempts to launch attacks, yet Nia’s size and strength make it challenging. In fact, Nia seems unfazed by some of Lyra’s moves, causing visible worry on Lyra’s face.

Narrative elements have consistently played a key role in WWE’s most memorable bouts, and now they’ve been integrated into gameplay too. Naturally, when reenacting past fights, maintaining accuracy regarding the events that transpired is crucial.

It’s well-known that Nia Jax’s character doesn’t resonate well with spectators, particularly those involved in online wrestling circles. If you take on her role in Showcase, expect to be met with boos. It’s encouraging to see Visual Concepts not rewriting history as Vince McMahon might; Nia effectively portrays a fearsome villain, and she carries that same image in the game as well.

She doesn’t flow with ease like Lyra, and if I were to attempt quick and intense play, I’d struggle to maintain pace. The game design effectively mirrors each player’s performance within the arena.

As a dedicated gamer, I must say that revisiting a narrative isn’t merely about reminiscing past moments; it’s about reenacting them. To illustrate this, let’s consider the epic showdown between Roman and Seth Rollins in the Royal Rumble ’22, where you have the power to alter history.

In this case, Reigns successfully defended his title, however, the win was declared a disqualification. The focus here isn’t just on winning, but rather imposing penalties, which is a trend we’ve seen more of lately in the live events.

During the Main Event at WrestleMania XL, Reigns decided to attack Seth with a chair, an action that led him to lose his Undisputed Championship. More evidence of their intense animosity was displayed recently, at the Royal Rumble, when Seth viciously stomped Roman with both feet.

In the course of this exhibition game, it’s not only about securing victory; it’s also about causing discomfort. Keeping that in mind might lead to a loss if you focus too much on it.

Absolutely, there are moments when one might fancy imagining dream team-ups that didn’t occur before, and it’s these scenarios where the phrase “make history” becomes relevant. In the annals of wrestling, The Wild Samoans and The Dudley Boys stand out as some of the most accomplished tag teams ever.

During the four hours I spent playing WWE 2K25, I freely confess that I repeatedly watched the Tables Match of theirs multiple times. Indeed, I even set a table ablaze on more than one occasion.

WWE 2K25’s Gameplay Is An Absolute Blast

The reason I keep rewatching the earlier mentioned Table Match is all due to the sheer enjoyment I derived from playing WWE 2K25.

The game’s gameplay offers a harmonious blend, capturing the essence of real wrestling matches while retaining the excitement found in traditional arcade fighting games. The control system seems to be a fusion of Tekken-inspired combos with the precision you’d encounter in other sports titles.

Instead of merely pressing buttons for simple combos, you might overlook some of the game’s most memorable moves and power attacks if you don’t explore further techniques.

Reintroducing Chain Wrestling brought about an intriguing strategic depth, but it also introduced moments of annoyance. There wasn’t always a straightforward method to respond when your opponent grips you tightly, leading to aggravating situations where you find yourself unable to retaliate effectively.

It’s twice as frustrating because there are numerous straightforward prompts available for you to respond to various actions, and these interactions resemble a Quicktime Event, but they demand lightning-fast reflexes.

2K and Visual Concepts noted that the version of the game they were showcasing was a preliminary build, which was evident in certain areas. Occasionally, interactions with the game’s environment weren’t smooth.

As a player, I found the demo usually gave me the right cue to power slam my opponent through an obstacle. However, there were instances where it failed to prompt me even when I was facing objects like tables or barricades. This discrepancy was particularly noticeable during matches in the game’s unconventional arenas, especially the NXT Parking Lot, where such moves could have significantly impacted the outcome of the fight.

It’s great that this feature extends beyond just an amusing Easter egg and plays a significant role in the main gameplay. However, there’s plenty of chaos ready to erupt, resulting in some wild, exaggerated situations within the game. Even when you find yourself stuck in a long battle lasting 20-30 minutes, the ensuing chaos is anything but boring.

It’s crucial to ensure that your adversary is incapacitated before attempting a risky move like diving off a moving ambulance. If they aren’t, they might follow suit and capitalize on any mistakes you make.

Just as with the assortment of weapons found within these arenas, indiscriminately attacking others with chairs or sledgehammers may prove successful, yet it’s crucial to remember that your adversaries will always be prepared to retaliate.

This method effectively discourages repeated actions in the game by introducing an extra tactical aspect. Additionally, it becomes quite intuitive to identify which objects you can collect, eliminating any uncertainty about whether a particular item is interactive or merely decorative.

The downside is that at times, it seems a bit tricky to determine exactly what information I’m receiving even when I press the right button in front of the chair.

In order to inflict pain on your opponent, it’s crucial that you overpower them, especially if you’re playing as Rhea Ripley against Dominic Mysterio in an Intergender Wrestling match. Knocking Dom out following a brutal assault is incredibly gratifying.

WWE 2K25 Is Shaping Up To Be A Smash Hit

As WWE’s popularity rises to Attitude Era heights, the video game versions should mirror that level of excitement. The upcoming release, WWE 2K25, is heading in the right direction by acknowledging a legendary wrestling empire and providing gameplay that matches the action we see each week.

An early version, not fully representative of the final build due in March, still has a few unpolished elements.

Despite running out of time while playing the game, I found myself yearning for more experiences. The gameplay seemed somewhat restricted, yet I can’t help but feel enthusiastic about seeing how 2K Showcase honors the Bloodline.

A glimpse into WWE 2K25 barely hints at its full potential; there’s a wealth of unexplored content just waiting to be uncovered, and I can hardly contain my excitement until the game drops next month!

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2025-02-05 20:13