2. 2K-Led Games Lack The Confidence Of Yukes THQ Run
There was a point back around when Yukes were showing off third PS2 instalment Here Comes the Pain, where they absolutely nailed everything they'd been attempting so far. Character animation had a fidelity to it that never came across before, the roster itself was balanced and varied, story modes were involving and engaging - and the control scheme was the final time buttons ruled all, before those damn analogue sticks came in. As mentioned earlier, the appeal to the Attitude crowd already feels like a last minute kick-out attempt before the series has a truly terrible instalment, and that's before you remember all the little flourishes that used to be layered on top of a perfected game engine. Pausing finishers to pull off slow-motion 360-spins always looked incredible, as did the option to do an instant-replay of any move in a three-shot combo. Physics for the tables both announcers and standard were always improving, as were things like animations involving chairs or ladders - all round it just exuded a sense of confidence that came from a developer going "We know what we've got here, so here's some extras". Now it feels like they're floundering, being rushed to put out a product for a publisher than demands deadlines be met - and although that might eventually lead to a truly great wrestling game once again, 2K16's misguided PR spin doesn't look to be it.