WWE 2K17 Early Reviews: 10 Things We Learned

2K17’s new Promo Engine was marketed as a means of letting wrestlers “express themselves to the WWE Universe and call out or respond to other WWE Superstars” during the game’s development. It sounded like a welcome addition: promos and interviews have been a vitally important aspect of professional wrestling since the sport’s rise to popularity, and they’ve never been accurately recreated in the games.

Unfortunately, 2K17’s Promo Engine fails to deliver on its promise of a more interactive experience. Promos come in six different forms (self promotion, call out, turn face/heel, form/break-up tag team). The player selects one of four dialogue choices, the character delivers a text-based rant, and if it involves a rival, the promo’s subject responds. It sounds straightforward, but it’s mired with problems.

The lack of voicing makes it a flat affair, and the whole experience is marred by some cringe-worthy dialogue. Early reviews mention John Cena cutting AJ Styles to his very core by calling him a “rooster,” and countless occasions of opponents calling the player-controlled character a “malodorous mouthpiece.” All in all, the system is a flop, the dialogue is distractingly awful at times, and there’s much room for improvement.