RJ's Two Cents - WWE 2K16 Thoughts

By RJ Marceau

Last Sunday, for my 22nd birthday I got WWE 2K16. This was the first WWE game that I got since WWE 2K14 after not getting last year's installment. My initial reaction this game was Wow. This has to be the best wrestling game I have ever played. The graphics, in ring moves and authentic gameplay makes this game a must have. The game is also more challenging than any other WWE game I have ever played. In past WWE games reversals happened all the time and it made it almost impossible for gamers to lose on legendary difficulty. The difficulty to this game makes it more enjoyable since it's an actual challenge vs. the CPU. 

The roster is better than any other WWE game. With over 100 playable characters you can play as main event level stars like Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns and legends such as Bret Hart and Stone Cold. The game has lower tier superstars like Curtis Axel, R-Truth and Heath Slater, which allows you in the My Career mode to translate from a rookie to a veteran. The Divas available are limited but it only really hurts in the WWE Universe mode. The lack of Divas makes the rivalries limited but I don’t think it’s a huge deal. The roster would improve with the addition of the Four Horsewomen but besides that I have no problem with it.

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The game has three different modes with WWE Universe, My Career and 2k Showcase. The Stone Cold 2k Showcase is amazing. It starts from 1996 all the way up to his last match with The Rock. The video packages between each big match are great and give you a glimpse of the storylines at that particular time.  The 2k Showcase unlocks most legends so to get them you must play the 2k Showcase. My favorite moment/match of this mode is vs. Bret Hart at Survivor Series '96 and WrestleMania 13. 

The WWE Universe mode is similar to past installments and allows you to assign any superstar or diva to NXT, Raw or Smackdown. You can have 3 rivalries on each show and pick the duration of these feuds. The mode isn’t anything special but it’s always fun booking the WWE your own way. 

My Career mode is definitely my favorite mode in this game. In my game, I downloaded Braun Strowman as a CAW and have used him. The mode starts off with you attending an NXT “tryout” with NXT trainer Matt Bloom teaching you all the new holds and moves. Once you go through this you start a tag team with Baron Corbin that lasts until after your NXT debut match at least that is what happened to me. I have had a rivalry with Simon Gotch and Tyler Breeze and currently the #1 contender for the NXT Title.

​One thing that has confused me or irritated me is that I was the #1 contender and faced the NXT champion Kevin Owens at the NXT ARRIVAL show and it was none title. I am a week away from the next NXT PPV so hopefully will get a title shot. Besides that one issue, the mode is great but it takes a lot of time to get through it. A match on NXT and WWE Superstars each week takes time especially since the NXT specials are quarterly and you can’t advance. 

Overall, this is my favorite WWE game ever and definitely recommend it to any WWE fan or gaming fan. My favorite superstars in the game are definitely Kevin Owens, Finn Balor, Cesaro and Bray Wyatt. This game is definitely worth the money and is a must buy.