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WWE ’12 Review for Xbox 360

WWE ’12 Review for Xbox 360

New Cover. Same Old game.

The WWE franchise has continuously evolved over the last ten years. What was once just a simplistic formula that involved putting wrestler-shaped avatars in a ring and smashing buttons has evolved into a living, breathing universe filled with complex battle systems, deep creations tools, and a thriving online community. However, the WWE Smackdown vs. Raw series was ready for retirement, and many fans (myself not included) felt the series was losing its identity in the details. In order to reinvigorate the series, the game was rebranded as just WWE ’12, and promised to focus more on what the series was about initially: the fighting. But if you look at the game as a whole, I doubt you would find a whole lot to separate it from the pack of wrestling games that have been released in recent years.

The biggest change for WWE ’12 is the fighting system. Previous games went for hardcore simulation, which was fun to play around with but became a little bit cumbersome as the years wore on. The approach in WWE ’12 is more arcade-friendly and rewards players of all skill levels. It isn’t hard to get your head around, and you’ll only need a few minutes with the tutorial to get the hang of it. Simple grapples, holds, and strikes are easy to perform, and the complex button combinations that you may remember from games past have been completely wiped away.

WWE '12 Screenshot

While this may sound a little monotonous, the good news is that the battle system evolves as you play. As you beat up your opponent, you’ll gain access to more powerful moves, including your wrestler’s finishing move. The game also has a very detailed reversal system that lets those with quick reflexes get out of even the direst of situations. The battle system is a lot more balanced this time around, and doesn’t penalize gamers who are not ready to memorize a book full of controls.

However, the controls are pretty much the only thing that has changed. WWE Universe mode is almost completely unchanged from last year, which is both a good and bad thing. On the one hand, I like that you can customize this mode and make the game your own. On the other, however, I would have liked to see a bit more variety here, since WWE ’12 is supposed to be a complete reinvention of the series rather than just a minor facelift.

WWE '12 Screenshot

The Road to Wrestlemania mode is a bit better this time around, and it isn’t as linear as it has been in years past. Instead, it feels like a more plot-driven Universe mode, which is a good thing. The Road to Wrestlemania also lets you use your own character during its final act, so make sure you put the finishing touches on your custom fighter before getting too deep into this mode.

And speaking of customization, the tools for creation are just as robust here as they’ve always been. Fighters, moves, film reels, and even storylines can all be created and shared online, which is great for longtime followers of the series. Though there are some notable additions to each mode, there’s nothing game-changing here. Not that there really needed to be, of course.

WWE '12 Screenshot

Online modes in WWE ’12 are also pretty standard. There is a huge hub where fans can share their characters, stories, moves, and other user-created content. If you actually want to jump into the ring, you can either pick up a quick one-on-one match or participate in a long arcade-style tournament with multiple players. You can also play in several different types of online matches, customizing your ring, brand, and available roster, which makes the online experience that much more customizable and immersive.

The only real area where I can see this franchise really took a hit was with the visuals. Though the “Predator” technology makes animations look less stiff, many of the cutscenes are poorly done and the out-of-ring animations look blocky and crude. Though you won’t notice these problems when you are playing in the ring, there is enough out-of-ring content to warrant the criticism.

WWE '12 Screenshot

Sound in the game, however, is extremely well done. Many of the actual wrestlers voice their in-game counterparts, and while they aren’t exactly Nolan North, they do the best they can. The announcing is also very high quality, and works extremely well whether you are playing as a stock superstar or a created one. If you do choose the later, there are quite a few options for making the ring announcer as tailor-made for you as possible.

WWE ’12 is a great addition to the current family of wrestling games. However, if you’re expecting a huge departure from the SvR series, you won’t find it here. Though the game takes a new approach to the battle system and makes the Road to Wrestlemania mode feel a bit more like a “real” story mode (rather than an auxiliary single-player mode), it still feels like the series we’ve all grown to know and love. Don’t be nervous about jumping into this new entry because of the new name; this is very much a spiritual successor to last year’s SvR.

At the end of the day, WWE ’12 gives fans exactly what they want: a cohesive and fun wrestling game. There aren’t a whole lot of different ways to do that.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.5 Graphics
In-ring visuals look fine, but other graphics look blocky and lack detail. 4.5 Control
New battle system is easy to learn and is nicely balanced for both pro and casual players. 4.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Voice acting is authentic, and announcing is done extremely well. 4.5 Play Value
With tons of customizable content, a deep Universe mode and an all-new Road to Wrestlemania, you won’t be wrestled away from your console any time soon. 3.9 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • Predator Technology – Engage in the WWE experience like never before through a dynamic gameplay system that looks, feels, and plays better than ever before. The brand new Breaking Point submission system, new Attributes and control layout, as well as major changes to Momentum and Stamina systems make for the best WWE gameplay to date.
  • Dynamic Presentation – Observe impressive visual changes to gameplay presentation, including new animations, camera positions, lighting arrangements, and significantly improved rendering, all delivering an authentic and striking representation of WWE programming.
  • WWE Universe 2.0 – Embrace the virtual WWE experience through new and more impactful elements of unpredictability, as rivalries, alliances, matches, and spontaneous action will dramatically evolve based on individual player decisions.
  • Create and Share – Develop and customize Superstars, entrances, finishing moves, storylines, Highlight Reels, and all-new to-be-announced capabilities in the franchise’s best-in-class creation suite.

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