There was a time when WWE games were considered console classics, but in recent years the popularity of the games has been waning. This issue came to a head with the release of WWE 2K20, which was critically panned and considered one of the worst games of the year. WWE games desperately need a reinvention, and they can find one simply by looking into their own past.
WWE has released games in the past that are still remembered fondly today, such as Here Comes The Pain and WWF No Mercy. Even though they lack some of the features that the newer games tout, they still possess a lot of value for replaying. WWE could learn a lot from these older games, and how their relatively simple yet fun gameplay manages to hold up over a decade later. Just like The Rock's leap to movie stardom shows his enduring popularity, these old games prove their timelessness. If WWE can recapture this feeling, then its recent downturn in game quality could easily be reversed.
First, one has to realize what made these old WWE games so popular. It is a fast-paced fighting game that takes the elements of a wrestling match and exaggerates them to a degree that is still recognizable but gives players enough leeway to have matches that are over-the-top and ridiculous. For example, in Here Comes The Pain, players can brawl through huge backstage areas and dive out of a helicopter. Likewise, WWF No Mercy allows players to take non-wrestlers such as Jim Ross and turn them into champions. These games have a fun arcade feel that keep them entertaining. The enthusiasm over WWE filing a new trademark for No Mercy shows their enduring popularity.
WWE 2K Games Have Lost The Showmanship That Makes Wrestling Special
Since WWE started collaborating with 2K Games, the titles have taken a significant turn. The games have stripped out most of the arcade-style elements and taken a turn toward sports simulation. In an attempt to make the games more realistic, the gameplay is now slower and many aspects have been toned down. Outrageous elements such as busting through walls and diving from the roof of the arena are no more. In their efforts to treat the game like a serious title, the developers have stripped out much of the spectacle. Even though WWE's kayfabe is definitively dead, the 2K games play everything straight without charm or showmanship. As a result, the games lack replay value.
Pro wrestling is not only about athletics, but there is also an aspect of theatre. The characters and flashy outfits, as well as their elaborate entrances, music, and promos all add to the show in a major way. The older titles in the series embraced that, letting players step into the wild world of wrestling and make it bigger and more ridiculous, in a good way. However, the more recent titles seem to have a disdain for the bombastic nature of wrestling. Johnny Knoxville's announced role in 2022's Royal Rumble shows that wrestling can still be silly and fun, which makes it bizarre that WWE's 2K games seem determined to ignore more entertaining elements.
To return to their former glory, WWE needs to reverse course on the simulation trend 2K has been following and embrace what made older wrestling games fun. They don't have to experiment with UFC-style submission systems or make matches look as realistic as possible. The one lesson that needs to be taken from the old WWE games is that wrestling can be fun, and video games should be too. Hopefully, future WWE games - like the possible No Mercy sequel - will return to this philosophy.