Rating: 
After last year’s revelatory WWE ’12, which essentially sought to redefine the wrestling game experience – and did so rather well – WWE ’13 again seeks to toy with the established formula, bringing about a few welcome changes even if it doesn’t feel like the game-changer that its predecessor was. Inevitably, it feels like a bit of a come-down after the excellence of last year’s entry, but some minor tinkering with that excellent blueprint makes for a hugely satisfying wrestling sim that is more likely to appeal to older fans than those who have only been watching post-Attitude Era.
What’s clear is that THQ aren’t simply content to got the FIFA route despite the annualised title; they want to innovate and keep giving fans plenty of bang for their buck, even with some of its minor technical niggles. What really works this time around is the Attitude Era mode, a six-part trek through what is generally regarded as the best and most important period of the WWE, allowing players to re-create some of the organisation’s most memorable moments, both in the ring and outside it. Combining immaculately-rendered cut-scenes with nostalgic video packages of the time, like no wrestling game prior, this really evokes the time and place of the Era, which will make it hugely rewarding for long-time fans.
What’s great about this mode is how much freedom it provides players; if you want to simply win matches as occurred in real life, then that’s fine, but if you want to recreate specific points of each bout – say, a famous spot – then you’ll be rewarded with a wealth of unlockables. It becomes addictive throughout, and lends the game a fair degree of replay value, certainly more than the previous games in the series. Unquestionably, this is the best addition to the series, and hopefully something THQ find a way to build upon either in the next game, or with DLC – we’re thinking a downloadable chapter, perhaps?
Those wanting more creativity in their game will be pleased by the sheer number of options available to them here; whether you want to create a wrestler, micro-manage the intricacies of the roster, or actually run the show itself in the popular Universe mode, there’s plenty to keep players coming back, and the kicker, of course, is when you take this custom content online to show the world. The appeal for many, as ever, will be taking their impressive created wrestlers online, and this process has been streamlined considerably when compared to previous games. However, the general online interface could do with some general fixing up, as it has a fairly bland look that doesn’t exactly make it the most enticing of options.
It is worth noting, though, that the presentational and technical issues that have plagued the previous games are wholly apparent once again. As has been a regular complaint with the series, the graphics are still sub-par for this generation, rendering decent likenesses of the various wrestlers, but not really dazzling us overall. This is a problem with annual sporting games generally speaking, and WWE ’13 is no exception.
The camera system, which of course attempts to replicate the WWE’s own dynamic camera set-up, is also problematic, quite often fleeting between several shots within a mere second or two. It’s just incredible that this wasn’t more adequately bug-tested, given how apparently bad it is. Also, some buggy commentary proves frustrating; lines of dialogue are often repeated several times throughout a match, and though THQ have strained to authentically re-create famous wrestling moments by pulling commentary from them, it isn’t particularly well-implemented.
Thankfully, these technical foibles do little to derail what is, in terms of gameplay, still a mostly strong effort, even if the decade-long complaints of poor collision detection still persist. What it does best is convey the pacing and storytelling of a wrestling match, the excitement and the intensity, which makes for an addictive player experience, with plenty of tweaks allowing for gamers to proceed in the style that they best prefer. There are a few new issues worth mentioning, however; some animations feel particularly spotty this time around, and sometimes the gimmick matches seem to ask more of the engine than it is capable, as things don’t always “connect” as they should.
Verdict:
It’ll inevitably feel like a bit of a comedown to those who loved the last game and were again hoping for another overhaul, but WWE ’13 is a well-greased tune-up of the fine formula. The sheer wealth of single-player options will satisfy long-time fans of the product especially, milking the nostalgia for the older, better product, while still putting paid to the newer talents. Technical issues unfortunately do continue to persist, but they fail to put a dent in what is for the most part a riotously entertaining wrestling sim.
| WWE '13 XBox 360 Scoring | |
|---|---|
| Gameplay |   |
| Addictive and fiendishly entertaining, if also marred by a few technical glitches here and there. | |
| Graphics | |
| As ever, this is a low-point of the game; its style is fab, but the visuals just aren't at all up to date. | |
| Sound | |
| Glitchy commentary and some questionable crowd noise undermines the cracking theme music and punchy fight sounds. | |
| Replay Value | |
| Attitude Mode is extremely addictive, and the sheer wealth of unlockables will keep you coming back, as will the fun multiplayer suite. | |
| Presentation |  |
| Some of the online menus look a little dull, but overall it manages to capture the look and feel of the WWE with resounding authenticity. | |
| Overall | |
| WWE fans, especially those who have been watching the product for the long haul, will find plenty to keep them busy in this great wrestling sim. | |
WWE ’13 is out November 2nd on Xbox 360 and PS3.
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1 Comments
I grew up watching the Attitude era and remember everything that happened then so I’m not seeing the draw in playing through it, cause it doesn’t seem like you can change things or insert your created superstar into that era. Plus this seems like THQ is doing what Hollywood is currently doing, they can’t seem to come up with a solid original story so they opted to retell us a story we’ve already seen. I’ve been saying for a while now that instead of giving us these lackluster story modes they should do what EA and 2K sports(the better of the two) is doing and give us a story mode that is solely focused our created superstar. Have him or her start out as a rookie on NXT with a lame entrance and generic ring attire and work our way up to main eventing RAW and Smackdown with a better entrance and ring attire, not only gaining title shots along the way but also opportunities: Design your own merchandise, take part in interviews with multiple choices to answer the question, a book or DVD to tell the story of your rise to WWE, and a role in a WWE produced film. All of your choices in these opportunities affect your superstar (heel or face), your popularity with fans and other superstars, and also the direction of your career.