WWE 2K25 Hands-On Preview

The WWE product has by no means been extra standard. Tv storylines have targeted on Cody Rhodes ending his story and capturing the WWE Undisputed Championship, one thing that final yr’s entry within the WWE 2K collection acknowledged with Rhodes as its cowl athlete.

This yr, the eye turns to Cody’s WrestleMania XL opponent, Roman Reigns, and the Bloodline faction.

The Bloodline is way more than simply Roman Reigns, although. It performs off Reigns’, whose real-life identify is Leati Joseph Anoa’i, household heritage. If the Anoa’i identify and household sound acquainted, there is a cause for it.

The Samoan household has seen their bloodline (pun meant) in WWE for many years, together with 2025 Royal Rumble winner Jey Uso and his brother Jimmy. Their father, Rikishi, is a WWE Corridor of Famer. You may return additional and hint the Anoa’i household heritage again to the Nineteen Seventies when the Wild Samoans tag workforce debuted within the then WWF.

And, in fact, you’ll be able to’t discuss concerning the Anoai household with out citing The Rock.

So why does all this matter? As a result of WWE 2K25 is about celebrating that heritage on this yr’s 2K Showcase.

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

I had the possibility to expertise three totally different Showcase occasions that includes outstanding members all through the Bloodline Dynasty with the power to relive historical past, make historical past, or change it. These matches come full with an introduction by Paul Heyman explaining the legacy of these concerned.

Every match performed to the strengths of these concerned. For instance, the Nia Jax versus Lyra Valkyria Queen of the Ring ’24 match establishes Nia’s energy as a heavy enforcer-type wrestler. It is a good contact that provides a cinematic component to the gameplay that, whereas current on the reside product, is not all the time featured in-game.

With WWE’s recognition hovering to Perspective Period ranges, the online game variations must match that pleasure. WWE 2K25 is on the best path, paying homage to an iconic wrestling dynasty whereas delivering satisfying gameplay that matches what we watch each week.

The struggle’s opening moments characteristic Lyra making an attempt to get in any offense she will, however Nia is simply too huge and highly effective; she’ll even no-sell a few of Lyra’s strikes, and you may see Lyra’s concern on her face.

Storytelling has all the time been an necessary a part of WWE’s finest matches, and now it is current in gameplay as effectively. In fact, with the deal with storytelling, it is necessary to remain true to what has occurred while you’re reliving previous matches.

It is no secret that Nia Jax’s character is not standard with followers, particularly these lively within the web wrestling neighborhood. Regardless of having to play her in Showcase, you may be booed. It is an amazing signal that Visible Ideas is not forcing revisionist historical past in the best way Vince McMahon would; Nia works as a monster heel, and he or she performs as one, too.

She would not management as fluidly as somebody like Lyra; if I attempted to play quick and aggressively, I would not be capable of sustain. It is a good gameplay contact that matches how every athlete performs within the ring.

However, critically, resurfacing a storyline is not nearly reliving moments; it is about recreating them. Take, for instance, the Roman vs. Seth Rollins Royal Rumble ’22 match, the place you’ll be able to change historical past.

Positive, Reigns already retained his championship, however he did so through disqualification. Right here, it is not nearly successful; it is about inflicting punishment, one thing the reside product has leaned into in current reminiscence.

We noticed Reigns select to assault Seth with a chair in the course of the Primary Occasion at WrestleMania XL, a choice that value him his Undisputed Championship. Then, simply final week, on the time of writing, on the Royal Rumble, we noticed extra of the private hatred these two males have when Seth curb-stomped Roman with each toes.

Throughout this Showcase match, your goals aren’t simply to win; they’re to inflict ache. When you get hung up on that, although, you’ll be able to simply nonetheless lose.

In fact, generally you simply need to create fantasy match-ups we by no means noticed, which is the place the “make historical past” comes into play. The Wild Samoans and Dudley Boys are two of probably the most adorned tag groups in wrestling historical past.

I am not ashamed to confess what number of instances I replayed their Tables Match throughout my 4 hands-on hours with WWE 2K25. And sure, that included lighting a desk on fireplace.

WWE 2K25’s Gameplay Is An Absolute Blast

Replaying that aforementioned Tables Match time and again solely works due to how a lot enjoyable I had with WWE 2K25.

The gameplay strikes a superb steadiness between an genuine wrestling expertise and an arcade-style fighter. The controls really feel like a mix of Tekken-style combos with some precision you’d count on in different sports activities video games.

You may mash buttons to carry out fundamental combos, however you will be lacking out on a number of the extra iconic strikes and slams.

The return of Chain Wrestling helped add a brand new layer of technique, although there was some frustration concerned. There wasn’t a clear-cut solution to counter in case your opponent locks you up, which can lead to some irritating sequences the place you are unable to counterattack.

It is doubly annoying contemplating that there are many easy, straightforward prompts so that you can counter different strikes, which play out like a Quicktime Occasion, albeit one which requires split-second reactions.

2K and Visible Ideas confused that this was an earlier construct of the sport, and there have been some indicators of that. Interacting with the atmosphere wasn’t all the time good.

The demo usually did an excellent job of prompting after I might energy slam my opponent via an object, however generally, I wasn’t provided that immediate regardless of dealing with a desk or the barricade. This was most noticeable when preventing within the sport’s non-traditional arenas, most notably the NXT Parking Lot.

Fortunately, that is greater than a enjoyable Easter egg than a staple of the core gameplay, however there’s nonetheless a variety of mayhem ready to be unleashed right here, resulting in some inventive, over-the-top eventualities in-game. Even for those who’re deadlocked in a prolonged 20-30-minute struggle, the mayhem that awaits you is past entertaining.

Better of all, for those who determine to attempt to arrange a high-risk maneuver, reminiscent of a dive from the highest of an ambulance, you want to ensure that your opponent is down and out. In any other case, they’re going to climb with you and punish any of your missteps.

The identical is true for utilizing the assorted weapons mendacity round these arenas. Smashing everybody with chair photographs or sledgehammers is efficient, however your opponents are all the time able to counter.

Associated

I Bought Caught In A WWE 2K24 Ladder Match For An Hour, And It Was Chaos

I shudder to repeat the horrors I witnessed in that ring.

It is a superb solution to forestall transfer spamming, including one other layer of technique to the sport. The excellent news, too, is that it feels apparent which gadgets you’ll be able to decide up, which suggests you will not must guess if a chair is usable or simply set ornament.

The unhealthy information, although, is that it generally feels a bit finicky when making an attempt to determine what you are selecting up regardless of urgent the proper button straight in entrance of stated chair.

You may must beat your opponent to make them undergo, particularly for those who’re enjoying as Rhea Ripley in opposition to Dom Mysterio in an Intergender Wrestling match. Knocking Dom out after beating him senselessly is oh-so-satisfying.

WWE 2K25 Is Shaping Up To Be A Smash Hit

It is an earlier construct that is not indicative of the total launch construct come March, so there are nonetheless some tough gadgets across the edges.

Nonetheless, I left our hands-on time with the sport, desperately wanting extra. Issues felt a bit restricted as to what we might play, however nonetheless, I am excited to see how 2K Showcase pays respect to the Bloodline.

This preview solely scratches the floor of what to anticipate in WWE 2K25; there’s a lot extra ready to be found, and I am unable to wait to leap in when the sport releases subsequent month.