WWE 2024 carries on the iterative tradition started by WWE 2022, wherein the annualized franchise has improved with each subsequent release. Fans still have a lot of questions about WWE 2K24 and upcoming WWE games, but it's evident that the series is still headed in the right direction. After spending a few hours with it, it's evident that it keeps all of the essential gameplay elements of the genre while making fresh, occasionally unanticipated improvements.
Considering all things from the preview, it appears like WWE 2024 is headed toward "finishing" the story of the WWE 2K franchise, with a particular emphasis on the harsh, cruel realities of the sports entertainment industry.
WWE 2024 Showcase Matches Bring the History of WrestleMania to Life
WWE 2K's Showcase mode stands out due to its slingshot technology, which combines real-world film and gameplay. Although it has always been a fantastic addition to the series, there is something extra special about it when it is used in conjunction with WrestleMania. Viewing the Grandest Stage of Them All through this lens is more comprehensive than seeing earlier footage of Rey Mysterio or John Cena in the last two entries. Even if you haven't seen the match, the WrestleMania 5 footage is still highly entertaining for all gamers. However, going through that all over again for WrestleMania 39 made me miss the show very much. That should hold for every WrestleMania match that fans have watched live or on television, demonstrating how intense and different each one can be.
Furthermore, there are two significant gameplay enhancements in this year's version. The first is that the game mode's criteria are more clearly communicated, teaching players how to perform tasks that might not be part of their normal skill set. In this sense, WWE 2K23 made some progress, but if every match is as good as the three we saw, players won't ever be in the dark about what they need to do. Second, it's more varied than Showcase Mode with John Cena. They were always up against John Cena because fans were role-playing the people who had defeated him to highlight his "Never Give Up" mentality.
This year's lineup has a greater number of both male and female Superstars, a wider range of matches, and more face and heel changes to keep things interesting. As players assume the position of the victor, a wider range of playable characters and opponents keep the gameplay from seeming monotonous. It's a straightforward idea, yet it makes every match feel distinct throughout the whole range. We were able to use new skills and deal with different movements in every match by taking on the roles of Rick Rude, Rhea Ripley, and Roman Reigns. It also seemed like the best Showcase Mode presentation yet.
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WWE 2024: Playing Ambulance Matches and Improved Backstage Brawls
Along with significant updates to Backstage Brawl, WWE 2024 will feature four new match types: Special Guest Referee, Ambulance Match, Casket Match, and Gauntlet Match. At this point, the game's violent aspect becomes relevant because some of these match types and upgrades are actually about absolutely crushing an opponent. We were limited to playing Ambulance Match and Backstage Brawl, but it appears likely that many of them focused on the same themes. For instance, shutting the coffin functions similarly to shutting down the ambulance, and a Special Guest Referee has a reputation for being dishonest. Though the specifics of its introduction are still unknown, the Gauntlet match will probably be just as intense as the other three match types.
The object of an ambulance match is to subdue the opposition to the point where they can't escape the ambulance by closing both doors. Reversals are allowed with plenty of time and room, but first players must complete a button-tapping mini-game on both doors. This is made simpler by brutalizing the other player, and since it's a no-disqualification contest, there's plenty of opportunity for difficulty. If they so want, players can even climb atop the ambulance, engage in combat, knock opponents over the top, and jump from it. Players can effectively transform the match into a Backstage Brawl by using the backstage ambulance to win if the conflict spills over into the backstage area.
In related news, the original Backstage Brawl now allows for four players and features additional additions like a functional elevator and throwable Cokes. The drinks make for a nice chuckle, but the mayhem increases with the number of players. This makes the mode much more harsh, and the functional elevator lessens the effort of climbing to the summit. It was enjoyable to attempt to observe everything and observe how different encounters transpired because there are weapons and interactions everywhere. The AI seemed to want to drag us to several encounters during this battle but would either get lost or finish up standing around doing nothing or having trouble using the elevator. This was the only instance of a problem with the AI that we witnessed in our preview. Not only is it important to note that, but it's also important to note that this was an early build. In either case, the experience was not overly negatively impacted.
Ultimately, it appears that WWE 2024 wants to highlight the riskiest matches possible through these additional matchups. It appears that WWE 2024 is the most severe game since the franchise's revival with WWE 2022, in addition to returning WWE 2K match styles like WarGames, Hell in a Cell, and so on.
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WWE 2024's General Gameplay Improvements Go a Long Way
The Trading Blows mini-game is one of the best of several fantastic gameplay enhancements that balance off the new match types' extreme roughness. Players must go back and forth while holding down the A button and releasing it at a specific time once they find themselves in this chopping contest, which can be triggered in a few different ways during a battle. It continues until someone releases it in a smaller gold zone rather than a green one, or misses the timing three times. No matter who we were playing as the back-and-forth is a wonderful way to gamify Strong Style, and every hit made us feel like Gunther.
This extends to Super Finishers, which require players to accumulate all three Finisher charges to use them. They function in-game like standard finishers once players have amassed enough charges, but they have a unique presentation and visual flair that highlights the damage being inflicted. Additionally, by using new weapon kinds, top-roping into groups of opponents, and employing a ton of powerful maneuvers, players might put themselves in danger. On-screen visual signals that indicate whether players are too "EARLY" or too "LATE" in their reversal efforts are another minor enhancement that helps players improve their in-ring techniques.
All things considered, WWE 2024 is simply another iteration of the brand, but unlike other annualized franchises, it offers enough content to make sense of its place in the series. Fans anticipated that, therefore if WWE 2K24's MyGM Mode and MYRise Mode meet these expectations, it's safe to assume that many of them will be pleased with the finished product.
