Let’s jump into some match options that are NEW to this year’s release. There isn’t any single player mode that taps that WWE history or passion and that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to WWE 2K18.
Sure we still have Universe mode (which is extremely similar to previous years) and we have a My Career/Road to Glory mode, but neither of these two modes come close to what previous games had within their Showcase mode. Not only isn’t there a Showcase mode but there isn’t any mode that could be considered as a replacement for it. Here we are with the release of WWE 2K18 and yet again no Showcase mode, so it looks like I was a damn fool. So with 2K17, I figured the team maybe didn’t have enough time to put in the effort on a whole Showcase mode, due to release date or maybe getting talent for voice overs, whatever it might be. As a die hard WWE fan, you got to relive classic memories and moments and be a part of them. It featured voice overs, video packages, special commentary, special match objectives and I’m sure I’m forgetting other things. Showcase was a great mode that really displayed the love the development team had for the WWE.
Playing through the career of Steve Austin, Wrestlemania’s history, rivalries, the attitude era and more.
Showcase mode had been a staple for the series in the past four to five years and was one of my favorite modes to jump into each year. For the second year in a row, there isn’t a Showcase mode. Last year with WWE 2K17, I gave 2K a lot of leeway as I expected them to be already hard at work on 2K18 I was wrong to do that. WWE 2K18 broke my jabroni back and it’s time to humble them. This may read like a beat up session and I’m sorry for that, but I love wrestling and year after year I give 2K the benefit of the doubt since they’ve taken over from THQ and I just can’t do it anymore.
I feel it was important to mention my history with the company and wrestling games in general, because I want you to see just how much I wished that this game would be better than it is and how we deserve better. Sadly, all of my love for WWE can’t save how I feel about WWE 2K18. Now here we are with 2K’s annual WWE release, and as I said in my review for last year’s game I expected a lot to come from 2K18 based on 2K17 being very average. All along the way playing every and any wrestling video game that saw the light of day, some were great (WWF No Mercy, WWF War Zone, WCW/NWO Revenge) and some were horrendous (WWE Crush Hour, Simpsons Wrestling, WCW Backstage Assault). When WCW started to rise up (and steal all the WWF/E talent), I stuck with the WWF/E. From that point in 1993, I’ve been a fan of the WWF/E, and a loyal one at that. While I’m sure I watched events and shows prior to that, Wrestlemania 9 is a memory I hold close to me and has become something special. I still remember watching Wrestlemania 9 live on Pay Per View with my dad, nearly 25 years ago, from Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. The World Wrestling Entertainment (Federation) has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, which I’m sure some of you know based on some of my prior reviews and previews.