Wrestling has always been a huge source for fond memories in my life. Moments like Jericho’s Debut, Hulk Hogan defeating Yokozuna at Wrestlemania IX, the NWO Take Over on Monday Night Nitro, I could go on and on. But I must confess, over the recent years I have drifted apart from my dear friends; and when I was tasked with reviewing WWE ’12, I was not sure that I was the right guy for the job.
WWE ’12 is the first game in the new WWE series as previous wrestling games fell under the Smackdown Vs. Raw title. This allows for the franchise to make some drastic changes and redirect the game’s concentration; but is this enough to draw new fans to the genre? Do these changes appease the loyal fans that the WWE now garnishes, and is it enough to remind gamers such as myself why we loved wrestling in the first place? We will most certainly find out in our review of what’s HOT and what’s NOT in our review of WWE ’12.
HOT
Creations Mode
Being able to create a superstar is something that has been around for well over a decade, so no one should be surprised by the fact that this option is available as it includes all that you would expect it to include. What is surprising though, is the amount of additional options that are now available. Gamers can not only create a custom Superstar, we can also build custom entrances, move-sets, Finishing/signature moves, Stories, Areana, Logos, and Highlight Reels.
Creating custom entrances allows gamers to create new entrance shows or edit pre-existing entrances and with the advanced creation option, THQ has allowed gamers to choose from dozens of different pyrotechnic effects, camera angles, jumbotron videos (can also create you own videos via the highlight reel option in creations mode), you can even use music you have stored on your console.
Creating has insane depth as gamers can choose four different attack sets per grapple; that’s four different chain grapples with the ability to perform 6 different moves each (total of 24 different standing grapple combinations), four different groggy grapple, four different groggy grapple from behind, for a grand total of 32 individual grapple moves, this doesn’t even consider submissions, corner, rope, running, or special moves.
Custom Story Mode
One of the most intriguing options in Creations Mode is the ability to create a custom Story. This mode allows the creation of your very own custom story-line for any superstar, be them real or custom made. This mode also includes the ability to set different branches for results of matches; for example, if your custom superstar gets disqualified in a match the story can automatically trigger a cut-scene where another wrestler runs in and helps him beat on the other guy. Each story can last up to ten years with each month containing twelve shows (4 showings of Raw, WWE Superstars HD, and Smack Down) and ending in a special Pay-Per-View event. Gamers can create/store up to 14 different stories at a time so look forward to spending weeks on end working on your custom stories.
Road to Wrestlemania
The WWE has always had one main focus: Entertainment. Sure the actual wrestling is important, but no one enjoys watching wrestling, or playing a wrestling video game unless it entertains; The Road to Wrestlemania does just that. The story follows one of three wrestlers, only two of which are actual people (the third is starring a custom superstar). Plot twists and turns, betrayals and emerging contenders, title exchanges, cheap shots, and just a sheer an utter hatred for the United Kingdom (the group not the country) are all included in this treacherous Road to Wrestlemania. And though at times the limited gameplay in this mode does get frustrating (having to take down three opponents while not being able to tag is a bit tough), once you accept that this is needed in order to guide the story down a specific path you’ll find yourself enjoying the ride a whole lot more.
Combat Mechanics
A wrestling game is no fun unless the actual wrestling is good and in WWE ’12 the wrestling is phenomenal. When setting custom moves you can choose what moves will be performed based on which direction on the left analog stick you push in combination with the grapple button and the move varies depending on whether you have your opponent in a front facelock, a side headlock, a wristlock, or a waistlock. This also changes to a secondary set of moves once the opponent gets worn down allowing you to utilize devastating moves that you didn’t have access to earlier in the match. NOTE: The AI abuses cheap reversals throughout the game, AI reversal rates can be adjusted in the game’s option menu by going to Options > Gameplay > Match Options > Balancing > A.I. Reversals.
NOT
Load Frequency
We have already established that there is an overabundance of things to do in this game; the biggest gripe that I have only occurs outside of actual wrestling matches. At no point in time are the load times in this game bad; what is bad though, is the frequency in which this game needs to load. Aside from moving between menu options on the main menu, every time you move to a different option, the game takes a few seconds to load. When creating a custom entrance, it takes about two second to load when previewing a different option for anything, the same goes for looking at choices for songs, animations in story mode, almost every aspect of this game, requires that 1-2 second load time. This isn’t enough to become frustrating but it is frequent enough to be extremely irritating.
Audio
After so many years of experience, I would have thought that THQ would have had this down by now. The commentary is excellent during the Road to Wrestlemania, but outside of that mode it becomes repetitive after only a few hours. Custom Story mode’s options to add audio never fits exactly where you want it, and during matches there are moments of complete silence from the audience that just feels wrong.
VERDICT
WWE ’12 is a must own for any household with a family member who is currently or even once was a fan of wrestling. The Road to Wrestlemania demonstrates just how much drama can occur between men in tights as they betray, belittle, denounce, and destroy one another over giant golden belts. With over 42 wrestlers, over a dozen to unlock, a level of customization never before seen in a wrestling game, future DLC packs, and a new and improved combat system to learn; WWE ’12 will keep gamers entertained for months to come.
[Editor’s Note: WWE ’12 was reviewed on the PlayStation 3 hardware. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]