WWE 2K14: What I’d Like To See In The Next Game

By Rob Boggan

Last year I did an article on WWE 13 and five ways that THQ could make it more awesome. Apparently, someone took note of that post as a good chunk of the things I, and many other gamers wanted, were implemented. Unfortunately THQ pretty much imploded and left the WWE franchise up for grabs. Thankfully Take Two purchased the popular franchise and shipped it down to their 2K division, who just so happen to make some of the best sports games possible. Yukes who helped develop previous WWE games are still on board with the now repackaged WWE 2K series, and for the first time we could see some serious changes. While the details surrounding the new game are scarce, that didn’t stop me from putting together another wish list of what I’d like to see from the next entry in the WWE franchise.

New Character Models:

Seriously guys, this was the number one item on my list last year and is number one with a bullet this year. I would absolutely love for some revamped and up to date character models please! I understand that it’s hard to keep up with the ever evolving look of each character on the main roster, but please don’t copy and paste. CM Punk looks IDENTICAL in WWE ’13 as he did in WWE ’12 and aside from a few small animation changes his entrance was identical as well. Also, if there wasn’t the issue of copy/paste, there was the amount of detail that went into each model. Characters like CM Punk, or Randy Orton looked exactly like their real-life counterparts but the character models for new Kane, or even Booker T looked like they were thrown together at the last minute. Please people at 2K games, I beg of you, fix this!

NXT Roster:

Nothing big here, very simple. WWE has a development roster. Put them in the game.

Fix The Glitch:

There were a TON of glitches that somehow not only made it into the retail version of WWE 13 that were insanely frustrating. One thing that got to me would occur while playing a tables match. Every way I wanted to put an opponent through a table was, for the most part gratifying, except when I wanted to perform a top rope attack. The table would break each and every time, but my opponent would be left floating in the air like some sort of digital spirit. Weirdness. Another glitch that I’m sure pissed off upset a lot of people, happened whenever I would visit WWE Shop, that would trigger a master reset of sorts and all my customized data would be lost. That’s all custom attires, championship settings, the whole shot. There’s several small glitches that I believe could’ve been fixed with the simplest of double checks but I don’t know if it was minor oversight by THQ and Yukes or they just simply didn’t care.

Give Me A True Career/Season/GM Mode:

As a kid, I would play with my WWF action figures and take one of my favorite superstars from Joe Blow to the champ, after a series of thrill a minute matches that always lived up to the hype (At least the hype in my mind). I would love to see something like this in the next WWE release, with deep customization and multiple scenarios to go through. Now, before you guys get all defensive and start talking about Universe Mode, that’s not what I’m talking about. I would like the ability to take ANY superstar and start them at the bottom of the ranks, and choose the path to their success. Maybe I want to take a tag team specialist and turn in into a singles superstar. Maybe I’d like to take a loner and turn him into a major tag team player. Whatever the case may be, I want to be able to make it happen. Maybe I’m the type of gamer who would rather make the show instead of being in it. The return of GM mode would be another welcome change for those who love the simulation aspect present within the WWE and feel more comfortable with the role of show-runner. The addition of either of these modes would instantly add much more replay value to WWE 2K14.

Better Graphics/Physics Engine:

Being a 2K Game, I’d expect a major overhaul anyway, but I added this because of how awesome it’d be. I’d love to see a better physics engine fit for a wrestling sim. If I perform a suplex close to the ring ropes, the animation completes business as usual, instead of having a rubber band effect like in the old Smackdown vs Raw titles. What I mean here is, essentially having rag-doll like physics in the game for added realism. In addition to that, I’d like to see better finisher strength as well. Too many times have I performed a finisher on my opponent, only to have him/her rise a few seconds later like nothing had happened. There is always the finisher strength slider in the game, but even that is rendered almost useless in cases like a TLC match. Speaking of TLC (Tables, Ladders, and Chairs) I’d love to see MORE weapons interactions added in cases of Extreme Rules or No DQ matches. More table actions, perhaps being able to swing ladders differently, or adding some of my favorite weapons like a trash can lid, or cookie sheet. I would also like to see better interactions with the Hell In A Cell or Steel Cage matches. Add in the ability to use the Steel Cage as a weapon, or open the Cell door. Make a Falls Count Anywhere match an actual Falls Count Anywhere match. Allow gamers the ability to move around the arena, fight in the crowd, on stage, backstage, add in some stage interactions (i.e. throwing an opponent off the stage, climbing pieces of stage equipment).

Give Us A True Wrestling Sim:

This last one is a bit generic, but this is where I go off on my soap box.Wrestling fans have waited to get a true all-inclusive wrestling sim that somehow accomplishes to portray what we like about wrestling in the first place. Give us a game that changes like the actual product does. Include dynamic rosters that update as time goes by, give us FULL customization of the characters in the game, give us constant DLC (Classic arenas, classic characters, classic match types), make a true to life wrestling game instead of one that feels rushed. One of my favorite games to play has been MDickie’s Wrestling Revolution, and it’s because that has to be the most complete wrestling game I’ve ever played. It’s a bit unsettling that a mobile developer with half the money and half the manpower could crank out one of the most original, and engaging games I’ve ever played. If 2K Games and Yukes can churn out a hit even remotely close to that, I’d be happy. I have a sneaky suspicion that 2K and Yukes have something major planned, as there was not even so much of a whisper about the new title at E3, and that could just be wishful thinking, but I’m holding out for otherwise.

I’ll more than likely end up buying the game regardless, but I still expect big, big things this time around. What’s on your wish list? Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below, on Facebook, or tweet us your wishlist.