WWE '13 Review
WWE '13 Review
FINALLY... Attitude HAS COME BACK, to a WWE game!
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii
Developer: Yukes
Players: 1-4 offline, 2-6 online
Genre: Professional Wrestling, Fighting
Buy if you liked: Previous WWE games, MMA
Things have been pretty crazy in the 'WWE Universe' in the past year or so.
Brock Lesnar returned suddenly, but then seemed to disappear just as quickly. The Rock returned, won a match and then disappeared, only to return later and make claim to the WWE Championship. Paul Heyman returned and started to manage an increasingly pipe-bombing CM Punk.
Perhaps the most shocking, though, is the return of a WWE video game that is actually good. To keep up with latest review protocol, I'm going to break it down.
Gameplay
The gameplay really remains very similar to the last few WWE games, considering there's not much that's really changeable when it comes to this type of game. The controls have been slightly tweaked, but not overhauled. One minor gripe that I found myself facing repeatedly was the counter system. The RT button (or R2) is used to counter both grapples and strikes, but it seemed to be hit and miss (pun intended). Often, I was 100% certain I'd hit it at the right time, only for my wrestler to not perform the counter, and likewise, there were times when I felt I'd been way off the mark but still countered successfully.
Graphically the game is mostly unchanged and the physics also feel very slick like the last game. As for commentary, it's as bad and repetitive as ever.
The mid-match cinematic cuts annoyingly return, too, but fortunately they can be turned off. I'd recommend this if you don't want to see four or five instant replays of every signature or finishing move that you pull off. All the usual match types have made their return, too, as expected.
Perhaps one of the best things about WWE '13 is its emphasis on creation. While WWE games have always had excellent create modes, '13 adds create-an-arena mode, meaning you can now create your own entire show or PPV, using your own created logos and arenas, and slot them into your own created stories or into WWE Universe mode. It's not for the casual player, but the hardcore fans are sure to get stuck in.
Attitude Era Mode
Strictly speaking, WWE '13 games never have fantastic stories. The last few have been re-hashes of the god-awful Road to WrestleMania mode, where approximately six different short stories are available that allow you to follow a particular wrestler's journey from the Royal Rumble to WrestleMania.
You can now breathe a sigh of relief as I tell you that Road to WrestleMania is no more! Hoo-ray! That brings us on to the best thing about WWE '13, and arguably the aspect that will be the main cause of purchase for most. Attitude Era mode. Rather than being forced to play through six agonisingly boring and cringe-worthy storylines with equally dull and skippable cutscenes, you're now given the opportunity to relive six of the greatest storylines and moments throughout WWE's most popular period. Beginning from 1997, you will play through and witness the rise of WWE Raw and the fall of WCW Nitro. Coupled with actual video footage to push the story along, you'll play as legends like Mankind/Cactus Jack, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels and a very young The Rock. Even the CG cutscenes feature real commentary and voiceover from the actual TV event, giving it that extra authenticity and freeing us of those unexciting dialogue sequences in previous games that made the wrestler's sound like they were telling a bedtime story to a baby.
You'll play through six scenarios that take you from the beginning of the Attitude Era right up to WCW's demise, and recreate incredible matches like The Rock and Mankind's legendary I Quit match at Royal Rumble 1999, and moments like Undertaker throwing Mankind off the top of a Hell in the Cell. It's a genius move by THQ to play on everybody's nostalgia rather than create six more bland, pointless stories, and this alone is sure to bring back some old WWE fans to the series. Depending on difficulty settings, completing Attitude Era should take around 10 hours or so. The only real negative here is that some Attitude Era legends aren't included - no Hardys or Dudleys, no Rob Van Dam or Kurt Angle. Though this couldn't be helped, given that they now work for a rival company.
WWE Universe Mode
Universe Mode makes its return as expected and has received some tune-ups. By-and-large though, it remains the same. Universe mode is excellent for when you've finished Attitude Era and want to keep playing some semblance of a story. While it doesn't have anywhere near the same depth, it can be best be explained as a 'live' exhibition mode. You choose a match to play from a pre-arranged card (or all of them, if you like), and play through an entire calendar year of WWE programming. Rivalries and teams form on their own, titles are won and lost, and both Money in the Bank and Royal Rumble winners will cash in as they please. You can take a more creative role if you wish, adding your own shows and creating your own matches, or just sit back and play as the computer does all the arranging for you.
Unfortunately, it's not quite perfect. After adding my created superstar to a roster, I soon won the WWE Championship, only to find myself regularly being put into matches with the likes of Primo and Brodus Clay. It's also common to find top stars like The Rock and HHH in RAW main events with Zack Ryder or Jack Swagger for four weeks, but then put their belts on the line against Undertaker or CM Punk out-of-the-blue. The alternative is to simply change the participants yourself, but that feels a little like cheating. There's a wealth of achievements/trophies to be earned in Universe Mode though, so if anything, it's worth playing just for that.
Replay Value and Online Mode
As with all games in this genre, the replay value is entirely up to you. If you're someone who can easily do the same thing over and over again and still get enjoyment from it, then the replay value here is endless. However, if you're one of those who feels like they've finished a game once the main story is over, then this is one you'll want to trade in after Attitude Era. The online mode is still here and has a ranking system, so you could try your luck at getting to the top rank, but that's really more trouble than it's worth for just a couple of small achievements/trophies. The create modes could also potentially grip you for quite some time, but again, it's only likely to be the hardcore WWE fans who take advantage.
Should You Buy It?
If you've never been a WWE fan, no. There's very little here for you. If you're currently a WWE fan, chances are you've had this on your list since WWE '12 anyway. The only person who may need this question answered is the casual/older WWE fan, and if that's you then yes, definitely buy it. There's plenty of fun to be had in the different modes, and Attitude Era mode will send you into nostalgia-induced excitement.
This is without a doubt the best WWE game since the 'Smackdown vs RAW' series was dropped. And that's the bottom line, 'cause Rob said so.
IF YA SMEEELLL... ahem.
FINALLY... Attitude HAS COME BACK, to a WWE game!
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii
Developer: Yukes
Players: 1-4 offline, 2-6 online
Genre: Professional Wrestling, Fighting
Buy if you liked: Previous WWE games, MMA
Things have been pretty crazy in the 'WWE Universe' in the past year or so.
Brock Lesnar returned suddenly, but then seemed to disappear just as quickly. The Rock returned, won a match and then disappeared, only to return later and make claim to the WWE Championship. Paul Heyman returned and started to manage an increasingly pipe-bombing CM Punk.
Perhaps the most shocking, though, is the return of a WWE video game that is actually good. To keep up with latest review protocol, I'm going to break it down.
GameplayThe gameplay really remains very similar to the last few WWE games, considering there's not much that's really changeable when it comes to this type of game. The controls have been slightly tweaked, but not overhauled. One minor gripe that I found myself facing repeatedly was the counter system. The RT button (or R2) is used to counter both grapples and strikes, but it seemed to be hit and miss (pun intended). Often, I was 100% certain I'd hit it at the right time, only for my wrestler to not perform the counter, and likewise, there were times when I felt I'd been way off the mark but still countered successfully.
Graphically the game is mostly unchanged and the physics also feel very slick like the last game. As for commentary, it's as bad and repetitive as ever.
The mid-match cinematic cuts annoyingly return, too, but fortunately they can be turned off. I'd recommend this if you don't want to see four or five instant replays of every signature or finishing move that you pull off. All the usual match types have made their return, too, as expected.
Perhaps one of the best things about WWE '13 is its emphasis on creation. While WWE games have always had excellent create modes, '13 adds create-an-arena mode, meaning you can now create your own entire show or PPV, using your own created logos and arenas, and slot them into your own created stories or into WWE Universe mode. It's not for the casual player, but the hardcore fans are sure to get stuck in.
Attitude Era Mode
Strictly speaking, WWE '13 games never have fantastic stories. The last few have been re-hashes of the god-awful Road to WrestleMania mode, where approximately six different short stories are available that allow you to follow a particular wrestler's journey from the Royal Rumble to WrestleMania.
You can now breathe a sigh of relief as I tell you that Road to WrestleMania is no more! Hoo-ray! That brings us on to the best thing about WWE '13, and arguably the aspect that will be the main cause of purchase for most. Attitude Era mode. Rather than being forced to play through six agonisingly boring and cringe-worthy storylines with equally dull and skippable cutscenes, you're now given the opportunity to relive six of the greatest storylines and moments throughout WWE's most popular period. Beginning from 1997, you will play through and witness the rise of WWE Raw and the fall of WCW Nitro. Coupled with actual video footage to push the story along, you'll play as legends like Mankind/Cactus Jack, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels and a very young The Rock. Even the CG cutscenes feature real commentary and voiceover from the actual TV event, giving it that extra authenticity and freeing us of those unexciting dialogue sequences in previous games that made the wrestler's sound like they were telling a bedtime story to a baby.You'll play through six scenarios that take you from the beginning of the Attitude Era right up to WCW's demise, and recreate incredible matches like The Rock and Mankind's legendary I Quit match at Royal Rumble 1999, and moments like Undertaker throwing Mankind off the top of a Hell in the Cell. It's a genius move by THQ to play on everybody's nostalgia rather than create six more bland, pointless stories, and this alone is sure to bring back some old WWE fans to the series. Depending on difficulty settings, completing Attitude Era should take around 10 hours or so. The only real negative here is that some Attitude Era legends aren't included - no Hardys or Dudleys, no Rob Van Dam or Kurt Angle. Though this couldn't be helped, given that they now work for a rival company.
WWE Universe ModeUniverse Mode makes its return as expected and has received some tune-ups. By-and-large though, it remains the same. Universe mode is excellent for when you've finished Attitude Era and want to keep playing some semblance of a story. While it doesn't have anywhere near the same depth, it can be best be explained as a 'live' exhibition mode. You choose a match to play from a pre-arranged card (or all of them, if you like), and play through an entire calendar year of WWE programming. Rivalries and teams form on their own, titles are won and lost, and both Money in the Bank and Royal Rumble winners will cash in as they please. You can take a more creative role if you wish, adding your own shows and creating your own matches, or just sit back and play as the computer does all the arranging for you.
Unfortunately, it's not quite perfect. After adding my created superstar to a roster, I soon won the WWE Championship, only to find myself regularly being put into matches with the likes of Primo and Brodus Clay. It's also common to find top stars like The Rock and HHH in RAW main events with Zack Ryder or Jack Swagger for four weeks, but then put their belts on the line against Undertaker or CM Punk out-of-the-blue. The alternative is to simply change the participants yourself, but that feels a little like cheating. There's a wealth of achievements/trophies to be earned in Universe Mode though, so if anything, it's worth playing just for that.
Replay Value and Online ModeAs with all games in this genre, the replay value is entirely up to you. If you're someone who can easily do the same thing over and over again and still get enjoyment from it, then the replay value here is endless. However, if you're one of those who feels like they've finished a game once the main story is over, then this is one you'll want to trade in after Attitude Era. The online mode is still here and has a ranking system, so you could try your luck at getting to the top rank, but that's really more trouble than it's worth for just a couple of small achievements/trophies. The create modes could also potentially grip you for quite some time, but again, it's only likely to be the hardcore WWE fans who take advantage.
Should You Buy It?
If you've never been a WWE fan, no. There's very little here for you. If you're currently a WWE fan, chances are you've had this on your list since WWE '12 anyway. The only person who may need this question answered is the casual/older WWE fan, and if that's you then yes, definitely buy it. There's plenty of fun to be had in the different modes, and Attitude Era mode will send you into nostalgia-induced excitement.
This is without a doubt the best WWE game since the 'Smackdown vs RAW' series was dropped. And that's the bottom line, 'cause Rob said so.
IF YA SMEEELLL... ahem.
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