It's crazy how 2k hasn't made a great showcase mode since 2k16. I'm hoping if they make Ruthless Aggression mode, they need to get serious with it, because fans are growing nostalgic of that era.
When 2K made 2K14, they went insane with that one. With the Cena one, they could have had so many storylines. Like the nexus one for example or more of prime Cena years in late 2000’s. Yes you pick and choose but still, they deviated from their formula from the first few games and haven’t recovered in terms of gameplay
It would be cool to have all the arenas, but 3/4 of it will be something we’ve played before (in 2k14) Unless they change the matches from each ‘Mania? But they already used the most famous ones. Plus, quite a few of those old matches won’t be able to be used due to people in other companies, same with WrestleMania’s 30-onwards. No Danielson, Orton, Batista match - best you’d get for Mania 30 is Taker v Brock and Cena v Wyatt. ‘Mania 36 would be… interesting, and you can’t use either of the Mania 37 Main Events. It would be a mess, and come off as lazy for retreading old ground.
The worst part of Showcass for me was the AI-dependant objectives. Like having to reverse a grapple combo, having to eat grapples and signatures and finishers waiting for Cena to throw out one stupid grapple combo and praying I reverse it when he does it. I hat when games make objectives that depend on you reacting to RNG.
@@ronaldjohnson5717 literally, it’s like they let 80 year olds test whether or not the game is good to play. Why tf am I doing chores while playing this game? Who said that was fun?
@@blackmambo8702 Nah, 80 year olds lived through the best wrestling games so they would have trashed the game from jump they have a bunch of 16-24 year olds testing.
@@ronaldjohnson5717u have to do certain things to your opponent in order to claim your reward at the end. it’ll be boring if all u had to do was just beat your opponent🤷🏿♂️ makes me focus more on the objective and what needs to be done next instead of a 1-2 minute match i can easily win if i didn’t have objectives
This is such a spot on review. I do feel like Universe mode is very good specifically for content creators. Personally, I like to try to make it an extension of “MyCareer” or MyRise with more control. But the AI will literally have the exact same match card weekly if you don’t change it.
The Lock story in MyRise had me hooked from start to finish especially the ending sequence. That ending had me feeling like I was CM Punk taking over the WWE during the Summer of Punk. Absolute fire. I just started the Legacy story and I’m already hyped to see what happens.
me toooo i loves it it s a storytelling in complete package i whole nrw level it gives me john cena cm punk vibes because my character was fired and was rehired if hr didn't win the title in 56 days he is fired forever and he get his summerslam match against Slade o yeah anf i won a fucking nxt uk title and goes to deffend it outside of wwe that s what wwe had to with punk in 2011
The thing about the Showcase mode for me was I personally felt the rewards from the Showcase were worth it. Kurt Angle, Triple H 0’8, RVD, Brock Lesnar from ‘04 and ‘14, not to mention the arenas and the special bonus matches which I thought were fun. And considering, I felt the Rey Mysterio showcase last year was a little boring and unnecessary, especially since they could’ve done like a Monday Night Wars showcase since it was the anniversy of it, I personally felt it was an improvement and can add more to the showcase mode going forward. And I’m sorry, but Universe mode this year is great. The Superstar mode in the game is amazing, with all the unique cutscenes, forming tag teams, and more. I enjoyed it. I felt the modes this year were good, but will be improved upon.
Completed 75% of showcase mode today and gave a thought why am i doing this, like what ever moves they ask me to do without even knowing the final moments of match .....what you said about showcase mode is sooo dammmm trueeee
The core feature that either makes or breaks a game for me is gameplay, and they've nailed it with this one.I feel it's what 2K19 was for 2K18, not a drastic change from what the previous game did, but refining the play style and adding to it. So far, 3 days in I've stuck to MyRise and Showcase mode so I can unlock the rest of the stuff that didn't unlock with the deluxe edition, but I've been having a blast! Yesterday I spent easily 8 hours total playing, with breaks in-between on my day off. So yeah, it is indeed addictive!
When Pav said during showcase you gotta pause and look at the controls because you don't know how to do a move😂oh man I relate I had to do that multiple times 😂😂
@@TheReddKnight you would. But the CC was acting like he couldn't play the way he wanted to but he could. Just ignore the objectives and beat the CPU any way you want. Then once you get bored, then follow the objectives lol
I couldn’t agree more with your thoughts on showcase mode. I finished it in one sitting, and let me tell you I literally had to take a shower afterwards because of how sweaty I was. Playing this mode was like running a marathon.
Honestly the last two WWE 2Ks have brought me back to being a kid again. As a 24 year old it feels like I'm 11 just grinding out SVR 2011 and it has replay value which is something past 2Ks especially 2K20 didn't have. It's a 7/10
This should be the last year for showcase. It’s bad enough that I had pause after every move just to see what kind slam or suplex they wanted me to do this time… but the fact that it was John Cena’s showcase is what sucks. I had to play Rey’s showcase 3 times because of data corruption and i was fine playing it each time but if I have to play Cena’s again I’m definitely breaking stuff.
Great video man! As always! I’m a healthy eater already and I’ve been wanting to try Magic Spoon so I used your link and ordered 6 boxes. I’ve been playing 2K23 and it feels similar to 2K22. Both are improvements on what came before. But man, nothing will ever compare to Here Comes The Pain!
2K is doing really well, I'm glad they are just building off of 2K22 and they are just gonna keep making it better and better and soon it will be absolute perfection
@@hunte5748 I hope they put Randy on the cover of 24 and they try their best to fix so of the problem these games still have even when Randy hits the RKO it’s like his hands teleport sometimes on his opponents neck 🤦♂️
Pav your reviews are so legit. I felt the exact same way you described in your review after playing 2k22 last year. I was waiting for your review this time so that I can make up my mind to get 2k23. Cheers bro keep doing great work.
This game has been so much fun. I’ve been having more fun here than 22, cause I actually think the content here is much more better. I mean for god’s sake, we finally got Ruthless Aggression in a WWE game again, and it feels damn good seeing our childhood era represented well. Definitely an unexpected surprise of a game.👍
@@Fallen_angel69 and smoother gameplay. Less bugs. More moves. Better creation. Better universe with better rivalry story lines. Better gameplay in general. And better my rise
I like the new Career Mode format where it is a series of short stories we can choose from instead of one linear story where it can get easy to become disinterested.
I definitely agree with you especially cuz Universe Mode my ish but to know that the Tag Team Entrances can’t be edited properly or isn’t right from the start to begin with pisses me off like that needs to be patched now 😒
@@sakshamsharma3527 world doesn’t revolve around you either bro, we don’t need a 40 years of WrestleMania mode… it would be a chore getting through all the matches like it was in 2K14 and it’s already been done. Most of it is gonna be the same matches 30 years of WrestleMania was.
I've been waiting for this one. Last year, you literally sold me on the game, and I am very grateful for coming back to wrestling games for the first time since SVR 2008. Thank you Pav! This year, I was waiting to hear others thoughts. I've been in since the actual day 1 (not the premium price one), and WOW. You did the lock, I am doing Legacy (I think it's called) MyRise. The amount that the writing feels self-aware had me actually laughing out loud. I won't spoil anything, but you'll know if/when you do the Tag Team storyline early on the kind of real life shots they took, and I was dying while hearing them! The writing is cornball, but it's just so fun for the fans, and it does feel pretty grounded and honestly like solid voice-actors were hired. We looked it up, because she sounded familiar, but your CAW from the female side seems to be VA'd by the same girl that was Byleth in Fire Emblem among many other things. I agree too, it feels more intentional with a direction rather than 2k22's kind of choose your own path, brand, etc. and what I mean by this, is you have your choices, but they do feel grounded in what makes sense... I actually cannot tell if I am a face, a heel, or an anti-hero sometimes, and I mean that in the best possible way. I have yet to do other modes, but I won't touch the card one, I doubt I'll do much with GM, and I will absolutely micromanage the heck out of Universe mode to pick up where I left off in 2K22... I am not at all excusing it's problems, but tracking my own stats has me more aware of stats and standings if that makes sense. Plus I ported my CAW from MyRise last year into Universe (and into 2k23 if I'm honest) manually. Something, that I would love to point out was not transferable between myrise and the main game last year. I had to screen cap attires, movesets and all that jazz to get my CAW into the main game last year since they were locked to MyRise. I am not huge into character creators, but I definitely found myself attached to the character when I spent 8 hours alone in the move-set last year. Cheers buddy, always love the content!
love all the hard work you do my man!! Still remember that fun Fall Guys stream you did during covid, man those were fun times. Hope to meet you one day, we can relate to a lot of our wrestling stories and it be cool to hear some more!! #PAV2K23
Man I’ve always hated that when you win a title for a character the do the same shock face and actions 😂 and when they walk out witht the title it’s around the waist inside of them putting it over should or holding it in there hand (aside from a couple)
I appreciate the full on honest review. It always makes me skeptical when a RUclipsr makes a review just because you never know the motive. But it feels like when you do these you have a no BS filter! #PAV2K23
Great review! I haven't bought it yet as I was waiting until reviewers that I trust(such as you) to drop their verdict. I really want to know if it's a significant improvement over 2k22. Which it just about seems to be. AI, creation suite and gameplay are my thing and since you've recommended it in all areas, I'm going in! Thanks again.
The problems i have are universe mode like the mangers still don’t work also another is you can do the 4 man bloodline entrance out side of universe mode works but it won’t work inside universe mode. My only other problems with 2k23 is the fact if you give Cody Rhodes an alternate attire even if it’s one you made for him his kingdom theme doesn’t work and he just comes out to dead silence and those are the things 2k definitely need to fix.
You know all I need in a wrestling game to have fun is good gameplay and a good creation mode and that's exactly what WWE 2K23 let's me do I kid you not when I first bought the game I spent 5+ hours making my superstar then another 10 doing his moveset and another hour doing his entrance and making my title Just that alone is 17+ hours I hadn't even touched the actual gameplay yet and lemme say it's fantastic also yes I turn off stamina always have in WWE games it just ruins the fun of a match for me personally
Howsit Bro. Damn I've been waiting for your review video since the game came out..Really with u on the showcase mode but was nice to see a much of Ruthless Aggression wrestle..really love what u do..supporting u from South Africa.#Pav2023
This game looks amazing, especially the ruthless aggression arenas and superstars. Even if the showcase mode is a chore, I’d play solely to get all the unlockables. #PAV2K23
Bro The best wrestling content on the whole youtube Doesn't matter if its about the games, the shows, or a particular wrestler Every single fucking video it makes me to watch it and rewatch it after a while Idk what it is, the way u speak, the feeling u give to the audience Idk but its like the gameplay from 2k23, addicting
What I like about the game is that even though I have my complaints, it’s nothing major at all. Only thing I’m not a fan of really is MyGM. They predictably added more title belts and more matches. But the way the game wants you to put together your roster makes sense in theory, but when your putting together your matches I’ll put AJ Styles in a match with Randy Orton, and the game will say the match was mediocre… like WHAT??
The game is decent, they didn’t change the gameplay which is good, still has that arcadey type feel mixed with realism in it like 2k22. Although they are still times that it can be abit clunky and out of sync in certain parts like the irish whips (doe its improved abit) or when you attempt to throw someone back in the ring e.g. The AI in Legend difficulty is a lot better aswell. They are lot more smarter and you have a better challenge against them. I lost a good couple games compared to the previous which means is good challenge. Even tho its annoying i like how the AI pins quite frequently to try and catch me out like how a wrestler would be in real match, they do a big move and go for a pin and i like the little development on the timed pin mini game even tho its annoying aswell. The showcase was ok. I would say it was a some what improvement from rey’s one from 2k22 but they are still some things that could have been improved. The selection of matches blows rey’s one out of the water, no question. A lot more significant and relevant losses displayed. The only thing is i would say is that it should have been done in chronological order by year showing cena’s whole development from a rookie to the franchise to the face of the company. I understand what they were trying to do as they are some cases where cena faces a couple opponents more than once e.g lesnar and taker. However it’s quite inconsistent and all over the place. At least w/ rey we got to see his whole evolution from wcw in late 90s to present time in WWE. It would have been really cool to see Cena’s evolution. Even tho his selection of matches are great i feel like he could have added some more like his first title loss with carlito in 04 maybe, his loss against HBK on raw, that should definitely been in there and of course his biggest rival in CM punk but for obvious reasons i understand why he’s not there. Furthermore, tho they are some cool detailed unlockable characters like angle, 09 orton, 06 edge etc, they could have at least tweaked some models like batista and RVD. They pretty much look like their modern versions of themselves and they just slapped on their past attires. I know they had similar hairstyles at the time but they still could have made an effort in making younger versions of themselves in their respective years they fought cena. Finally no commentary which made the showcase quite boring and bland. They could have a least had the current commentators go over the commentary for the matches or if not at least have cena go through what rey did last year and talk through the match and talk about the different spots etc. idk it just made me want to finish the matches of quicker and i’d hate that they would be commentary in the final matches of the showcase after instead. Ain’t played much of the other modes but all in all, its a decent game, i guess its an improvement from 2k22 but still not that undeniable groundbreaking follow-up. I feel like 2K22 is the modern day’s shut your mouth that still waiting on that HCTP game thats is just chef’s kiss. 2k23 is not that, they are gonna have to do something big w/ 2k24. However i probs would hold this game to positive light because the exhibition mode is the one mode i play the most which is very good for any sports game. Most people play online modes and that to try and alleviate the boredom that a sports game may be due to poor gameplay or rubbish/completed offline modes but at least w/ this i’d be ok even if there was no other modes, it’d be boring after couple matches but still because the gameplay is that good i go back to it. Plus i’d hold this game close cuz this is the one game that kinda takes me back to the smackdown! and svr series because of cena’s showcase. Smackdown series in this game contains: The iconic smackdown fist stage 02/03 models of Cena, lesnar, angle, hogan and taker etc SVR series in this includes: Raw 05 arena, 05-10 models of cena, edge, hhh & orton etc. that 09 model of orton has to be the best in this game hands down.
The GM Mode has the potential for the best if it’s played right. On PC, I can remote play, and that would let me play a 4 play GM Mode, and this year we get to reset at the end of seasons and have drafts again. I think Universe and GM Mode should be fused together
The only part of 2k23 that got under my skin was the changes to entrance customization. Like, why can't I choose a regular entrance for when I'm a champion? Oh and I'm glad I'm not the only one questioning Cena vs HHH being in the showcase mode.
Pav, I understand your gripes with showcase as I hate the mode but it's pretty much the same as it always was. I admit a "beat the streak" type mode would be legendary. #PAV2K23
It's good that you took more days to make the review just to give us the exact experience that you felt and positives and negatives of the game , still didn't try the game yet but sure i will have fun when i do #PAV2K23
All WWE 2K video games will never be as good in the same level like Smackdown! Here comes the pain on the PS2 console. Heck, no other wrestling game can beat such a classic!
💯💯 right on the showcase, the idea of the invisible cena was great, but if that was the case we should have gotten 2011 punk blurred out lmao that's one of his biggest matches, the best thing about it was getting 09 orton
I can't express how excited I am to play this game especially showcase mode. It might not be the greatest but the unlockables are so fire and bring me back to times when I genuinely enjoyed the WWE #PAV2K23
In 2k24 I want to see more physics and I want the weapons and props to have more creativity. Instead of one table stack two tables and throw them through it
I actually kinda like the No commentary in show case mode , like old wwe GameCube games with just music playing but they should have let us use John fr
I'm glad you were so straight forward with your criticisms. I love 2k22. it's some of the most fun I've had with a wrestling game in years, but it did feel lacking in a lot of areas. #PAV2k23
Honestly I have high hopes for where this game goes in the future, I feel like as long as they continue to bring in people from the community this game is gonna be near perfect in a bout 2-3 years. #Pav2K23
I'm having so much fun with the game. One thing i noticed, is that matches are longer than in 2K22. I'm just casually having 20+ minutes classics in exibition mode. Last night had a banger 21 minute match between John Cena and Randy Orton. Back and fort action, got hit with one RKO and a Punt Kick and managed to kick out, and won the match after the third attitude adjustment
The showcase mode was such a hassle it makes John cena's road to wrestlemania in svr11 look like a great storyline but nevertheless I'm glad they added war games
As someone who hasn't played a WWE game since 2014, I have to say this looks amazing to me It's a shame they didn't get the John Cena showcase mode right since so much of the marketing was based around it but it looks to me like the rest of the game kinda makes up for it #PAV2K23
i expected a bit more from this game. i think wwe 2k22 got overhyped, just because it followed up the clusterfuck known as wwe2k20. it's good to see that they are improving the game, however these are kinda lackluster improvements, considering they have over a year to improve the game. I wouldn't like to spend close to 80 dollars on it cause imo it's not worth it. (i might buy it later in the year, if there is a sale with a good price) so that's why I'm entering the giveaway #PAVWWE2K23
unpopular opinion: i still like the control scheme in 2k20 way better than this new combo system for striking its still pretty fun but it throws me off a lot i already set up my punches and grabs to link up an look natural an realistic in the old games now i keep doing combo finishers when im trying to irish whip after a punch or 2 feels like the striking is to streamlined or something its a lot harder to make up your own combos now or i just might not be used to the timing yet idk deff love the sway and block features tho
Based off what I've seen the creations are fantastic, but I've always had a gripe with how the developers made the classic versions of certain superstars look, in my opinion they should've just looked at John Cena from SvR or Here Comes the Pain and have him look similar to that instead of just throwing a random throwback jersey on him and calling it '03 Cena #Pav2k23
Use my code WRESTLINGIFS to get $5 off your delicious, high protein Magic Spoon cereal by clicking this link: magicspoon.thld.co/wrestlingifs_0323
Yoo bro I'm a fan love your videos man
Shout out to magicspoon
@@jms0921 same
Haha big shoutout to madam Magic Spoon
I just wonder what next year‘s game is gonna be like we already know AEW is coming out with fight forever #Pav2K23
It's crazy how 2k hasn't made a great showcase mode since 2k16. I'm hoping if they make Ruthless Aggression mode, they need to get serious with it, because fans are growing nostalgic of that era.
We need a revamp of 40 of wrestlmania next year
When 2K made 2K14, they went insane with that one. With the Cena one, they could have had so many storylines. Like the nexus one for example or more of prime Cena years in late 2000’s. Yes you pick and choose but still, they deviated from their formula from the first few games and haven’t recovered in terms of gameplay
@@leroymlambo 2k14 was made by thq
@@scodoo4719 Yeah, 2K just picked an almost complete game due to TQH closing
WWE 2K16 is the most underrated WWE game of all time.
Cena showcase mode wasn't bad, they just didn't do what they did with Rey with the commentary.
Did they have the actual commentary instead?
@@Savage_7_99 for Rey's showcase,he did the commentary. This year they didn't. It's just music and match audio
Yep. Because 2K Lazy and make this year Showcase lifeless and boring .Showcase Cena should talk or commentary in his match like Rey Showcase last year
That kinda makes it bad dude.
The Cena showcase was terrible
I hope 2k24 will have a 40-Year WM Mode. I want more than 50 Matches to highlight all the amazing years. Unlikely sure, but impossible it is not.
or summerslam mode
Or undertaker showcase
if they do it be only for current gen and not old gen, because i really feel like they're holding back since ppl are still on old gen
30 years of wm I thought was great
It would be cool to have all the arenas, but 3/4 of it will be something we’ve played before (in 2k14) Unless they change the matches from each ‘Mania? But they already used the most famous ones. Plus, quite a few of those old matches won’t be able to be used due to people in other companies, same with WrestleMania’s 30-onwards. No Danielson, Orton, Batista match - best you’d get for Mania 30 is Taker v Brock and Cena v Wyatt. ‘Mania 36 would be… interesting, and you can’t use either of the Mania 37 Main Events. It would be a mess, and come off as lazy for retreading old ground.
The worst part of Showcass for me was the AI-dependant objectives. Like having to reverse a grapple combo, having to eat grapples and signatures and finishers waiting for Cena to throw out one stupid grapple combo and praying I reverse it when he does it. I hat when games make objectives that depend on you reacting to RNG.
I still can’t get over Thuganomics Cena’s long ass jersey, it looks funny as hell 😂.
I had to change that shit real fast
Yea it doesn't look right, like they tried to replicate 2000s baggy but failed
First time I played as him I turned to my girl and was like what is my man wearing 😂😂😂
@@Fantastical996LMMFAO 😂🤣
Good one, bro. I did the same....
Dude the community creations from 2k22 looked a lot better than that
They made Myrise so much better this year. Both stories are good but the legacy is fantastic
woww really is liv a certain part of the legacy my rise?
i'm really enjoying the lock so that makes me even more excited to play the legacy 😍
What's the difference between those modes?
Agreed
@@rowdyjohnnada952 one is female story and the lock is the male part
Everything you said about the cena showcase mode is exactly how I felt about last years showcase for mysterio. It’s such a chore to play through
Fr bro, "attack you're opponent leg until it's critical" like bro come on let me play the game 😭
@@ronaldjohnson5717 literally, it’s like they let 80 year olds test whether or not the game is good to play. Why tf am I doing chores while playing this game? Who said that was fun?
@@blackmambo8702 Nah, 80 year olds lived through the best wrestling games so they would have trashed the game from jump they have a bunch of 16-24 year olds testing.
@@ronaldjohnson5717u have to do certain things to your opponent in order to claim your reward at the end. it’ll be boring if all u had to do was just beat your opponent🤷🏿♂️ makes me focus more on the objective and what needs to be done next instead of a 1-2 minute match i can easily win if i didn’t have objectives
So what exactly do you want?
This is such a spot on review. I do feel like Universe mode is very good specifically for content creators. Personally, I like to try to make it an extension of “MyCareer” or MyRise with more control. But the AI will literally have the exact same match card weekly if you don’t change it.
The Lock story in MyRise had me hooked from start to finish especially the ending sequence. That ending had me feeling like I was CM Punk taking over the WWE during the Summer of Punk. Absolute fire. I just started the Legacy story and I’m already hyped to see what happens.
It was awesome when you took the NXT UK championship and just... ran away with it.
me toooo i loves it it s a storytelling in complete package i whole nrw level it gives me john cena cm punk vibes because my character was fired and was rehired if hr didn't win the title in 56 days he is fired forever and he get his summerslam match against Slade o yeah anf i won a fucking nxt uk title and goes to deffend it outside of wwe that s what wwe had to with punk in 2011
@@lollipoprei830 yepppp i loved itt
Legacy story is kinda bland, feels like 2k22 but only for female caw.
Apparently The Legacy has been praised for being better then The Lock storyline
The thing about the Showcase mode for me was I personally felt the rewards from the Showcase were worth it. Kurt Angle, Triple H 0’8, RVD, Brock Lesnar from ‘04 and ‘14, not to mention the arenas and the special bonus matches which I thought were fun. And considering, I felt the Rey Mysterio showcase last year was a little boring and unnecessary, especially since they could’ve done like a Monday Night Wars showcase since it was the anniversy of it, I personally felt it was an improvement and can add more to the showcase mode going forward. And I’m sorry, but Universe mode this year is great. The Superstar mode in the game is amazing, with all the unique cutscenes, forming tag teams, and more. I enjoyed it. I felt the modes this year were good, but will be improved upon.
The most fun I’ve had playing a wwe game in a long time my last game was 22 before that 19
09 orton sold me my favorite guy's best year imo
The Monday Night Wars would’ve definitely made since especially when the Digital Deluxe Edition was NWO.
Completed 75% of showcase mode today and gave a thought why am i doing this, like what ever moves they ask me to do without even knowing the final moments of match .....what you said about showcase mode is sooo dammmm trueeee
The core feature that either makes or breaks a game for me is gameplay, and they've nailed it with this one.I feel it's what 2K19 was for 2K18, not a drastic change from what the previous game did, but refining the play style and adding to it.
So far, 3 days in I've stuck to MyRise and Showcase mode so I can unlock the rest of the stuff that didn't unlock with the deluxe edition, but I've been having a blast! Yesterday I spent easily 8 hours total playing, with breaks in-between on my day off. So yeah, it is indeed addictive!
I want custom music
When Pav said during showcase you gotta pause and look at the controls because you don't know how to do a move😂oh man I relate I had to do that multiple times 😂😂
I’m Sayin Foe 😭
Technically you don't HAVE to do the objectives. You can win however you wish. The objectives are for unlockables and the secret "bosses"
@@Antronix3 and why wouldn't we want the unlockebles
@@TheReddKnight you would. But the CC was acting like he couldn't play the way he wanted to but he could. Just ignore the objectives and beat the CPU any way you want. Then once you get bored, then follow the objectives lol
I couldn’t agree more with your thoughts on showcase mode. I finished it in one sitting, and let me tell you I literally had to take a shower afterwards because of how sweaty I was. Playing this mode was like running a marathon.
i deffenetly agree
Idk why people think this year's showcase is hard
I have only unlocked arenas bro I'm so bad it's too hard
@@IShatterDreamsGaming it isn't hard for me, but definitely felt like a chore
@@aryasatyanzk it's chore but definitely not hard I put that stuff on easy get what I need out of it and move on to universe mode
Honestly the last two WWE 2Ks have brought me back to being a kid again. As a 24 year old it feels like I'm 11 just grinding out SVR 2011 and it has replay value which is something past 2Ks especially 2K20 didn't have. It's a 7/10
Bro same I’m 24 been playing since svr 08 when I was 8
@@obasiswiftyo frrr, i catch myself playing nonstop when i get home from work, i feel like a kid again
They need a Career mode like here comes the pain. Its really that simple.
This should be the last year for showcase. It’s bad enough that I had pause after every move just to see what kind slam or suplex they wanted me to do this time… but the fact that it was John Cena’s showcase is what sucks. I had to play Rey’s showcase 3 times because of data corruption and i was fine playing it each time but if I have to play Cena’s again I’m definitely breaking stuff.
I just rushed through what should have been the greatest showcase ever, and it makes me sick.
Great video man! As always! I’m a healthy eater already and I’ve been wanting to try Magic Spoon so I used your link and ordered 6 boxes.
I’ve been playing 2K23 and it feels similar to 2K22. Both are improvements on what came before. But man, nothing will ever compare to Here Comes The Pain!
This game is actually enjoyable one of my favs since 19
Facts
You know the day is gonna be great when pav uploads
11pm
As someone watching from PST, my day sucked so far
I know right
@@arrogen2831 hope ur night is better
@@WrestlinGifs Thanks man
2K is doing really well, I'm glad they are just building off of 2K22 and they are just gonna keep making it better and better and soon it will be absolute perfection
Most likely it won’t.
@@LorenzoC2314 Hater, generic blind 2K hater I don't give a frick what you say
It’s not possible for any game to be a perfection
@@Clipperbossman Your right, it will be really amazing then lol
@@hunte5748 I hope they put Randy on the cover of 24 and they try their best to fix so of the problem these games still have even when Randy hits the RKO it’s like his hands teleport sometimes on his opponents neck 🤦♂️
Pav your reviews are so legit. I felt the exact same way you described in your review after playing 2k22 last year. I was waiting for your review this time so that I can make up my mind to get 2k23. Cheers bro keep doing great work.
This game has been so much fun. I’ve been having more fun here than 22, cause I actually think the content here is much more better. I mean for god’s sake, we finally got Ruthless Aggression in a WWE game again, and it feels damn good seeing our childhood era represented well. Definitely an unexpected surprise of a game.👍
Ehhh, i mean if the game modes are mid, then what is the point?
same, im just glad the roster isnt as outdated as last years.
You can keep blowing the game, 2k and wwe aren't gonna hire you.
@@daymonharris8696 lol exactly
@@facesofevildead Can't he have his own opinion? I'm also really enjoying the game, there's nothing to do with sucking of 2K
2K23 is definitely a fun time, such an upgrade from 2K22.
Yeah, I think 23 improved all the modes.
22 and 23 are no different bruh it’s better graphics and more characters 💀
@@Fallen_angel69 and smoother gameplay. Less bugs. More moves. Better creation. Better universe with better rivalry story lines. Better gameplay in general. And better my rise
@@Youregonnaburn all the same
@@Fallen_angel69sounds like someone doesn't have 2k23 and is stuck on 2k22
I kinda like getting call “lock” towards the end 😂😂😂
I like the new Career Mode format where it is a series of short stories we can choose from instead of one linear story where it can get easy to become disinterested.
True that only good career mode stories were from nxt and smack down brands from WWE 2k22
Glad he’s back in the mode ready for all new videos feels like it’s been forever
I remember watching the launch stream and seeing Pav straight rage quit after it kicked everyone out of the elimination chamber
Universe mode as Goldberg. Game keeps putting you in tag matches vs Usos giving you a random partner after each ppv
you’re so right about legend mode i hated letting the opponent do stuff cuz i didn’t wanna win too easy
I think in the WarGames match they should make the wrestlers come from their side of the ring instead of both teams coming from the left side
Tbf tho Irl war games they both enter the same way
2k18 and 19 was the last 2 wwe games that the AI’s knew how to kick out of finishers after 2 or 3 time maybe the 4th time if u was certain wrestlers
You're right. Pausing the game to do the right move was a chore, so I stopped playing
I definitely agree with you especially cuz Universe Mode my ish but to know that the Tag Team Entrances can’t be edited properly or isn’t right from the start to begin with pisses me off like that needs to be patched now 😒
Hoping next year we get the 40 years of wrestlemania mode
That would be a banger!
I dont want or need this, I could not sit through 39+ matches of pause simulator
@@Fran77 world doesn't revolve around you, pal
2k too lazy to give us at least 20 matches in showcase mode let alone 40.
@@sakshamsharma3527 world doesn’t revolve around you either bro, we don’t need a 40 years of WrestleMania mode… it would be a chore getting through all the matches like it was in 2K14 and it’s already been done. Most of it is gonna be the same matches 30 years of WrestleMania was.
I love 2K23. Another banger entry. Only issue I really have is with the custom arena turnbuckle images and some images in general not showing up
03 Cena out here looking like he escaped from the hospital and went straight to the ring, anyways great video Pav #PAV2K23
It's my birthday today and I loved the vid, hopefully I can get the 2k23 game. Thx for the great content pav
I've been waiting for this one. Last year, you literally sold me on the game, and I am very grateful for coming back to wrestling games for the first time since SVR 2008. Thank you Pav!
This year, I was waiting to hear others thoughts. I've been in since the actual day 1 (not the premium price one), and WOW. You did the lock, I am doing Legacy (I think it's called) MyRise. The amount that the writing feels self-aware had me actually laughing out loud. I won't spoil anything, but you'll know if/when you do the Tag Team storyline early on the kind of real life shots they took, and I was dying while hearing them! The writing is cornball, but it's just so fun for the fans, and it does feel pretty grounded and honestly like solid voice-actors were hired. We looked it up, because she sounded familiar, but your CAW from the female side seems to be VA'd by the same girl that was Byleth in Fire Emblem among many other things. I agree too, it feels more intentional with a direction rather than 2k22's kind of choose your own path, brand, etc. and what I mean by this, is you have your choices, but they do feel grounded in what makes sense... I actually cannot tell if I am a face, a heel, or an anti-hero sometimes, and I mean that in the best possible way.
I have yet to do other modes, but I won't touch the card one, I doubt I'll do much with GM, and I will absolutely micromanage the heck out of Universe mode to pick up where I left off in 2K22... I am not at all excusing it's problems, but tracking my own stats has me more aware of stats and standings if that makes sense. Plus I ported my CAW from MyRise last year into Universe (and into 2k23 if I'm honest) manually. Something, that I would love to point out was not transferable between myrise and the main game last year. I had to screen cap attires, movesets and all that jazz to get my CAW into the main game last year since they were locked to MyRise. I am not huge into character creators, but I definitely found myself attached to the character when I spent 8 hours alone in the move-set last year.
Cheers buddy, always love the content!
We got to talk about the Super Cena/Invisible Cena. It is still hilarious that they actually added that 😂
"It was March 8th, 2022 and I remember it like it was just last year" 😭😭
I love WWE 2K23. I'm a lifelong WWF/E gamer from WrestleMania (NES) to WWE 2K23 (XBOX Series X). I'm going to be 38 in 2 months.
This is by far the most complete WWE 2K game, and also the best one. If they keep this up, 2K24 should be even better.
Complete?
2k14 is better g
Your first 2k game?
@@daymonharris8696 😆👍
I think the GM mode is pretty good this year #PAV2K23
3:13 "They promised my dad would comeback" 😂😂
love all the hard work you do my man!! Still remember that fun Fall Guys stream you did during covid, man those were fun times. Hope to meet you one day, we can relate to a lot of our wrestling stories and it be cool to hear some more!! #PAV2K23
A WWE Showcase without the commentary team feels like a crime
Man I’ve always hated that when you win a title for a character the do the same shock face and actions 😂 and when they walk out witht the title it’s around the waist inside of them putting it over should or holding it in there hand (aside from a couple)
I appreciate the full on honest review. It always makes me skeptical when a RUclipsr makes a review just because you never know the motive. But it feels like when you do these you have a no BS filter! #PAV2K23
I think they are going in the right direction just a few polish into the showcase and its gonna be greater
Great review!
I haven't bought it yet as I was waiting until reviewers that I trust(such as you) to drop their verdict.
I really want to know if it's a significant improvement over 2k22. Which it just about seems to be. AI, creation suite and gameplay are my thing and since you've recommended it in all areas, I'm going in!
Thanks again.
I was going to stick with 22 but trust me it’s a major upgrade
That honestly did so well with 22 and 23 there should be a year off for that little more improvement then just being a yearly release
Agreed basically wouldn't a dlc for wwe 2k22 for gm mode most of stuff in this yr game couldve been dlc
This review actually made me happy that fight forever focused on the gameplay and a few matches but they will make those fun as hell.
You dropping this during WrestleMania week is legendary
The problems i have are universe mode like the mangers still don’t work also another is you can do the 4 man bloodline entrance out side of universe mode works but it won’t work inside universe mode. My only other problems with 2k23 is the fact if you give Cody Rhodes an alternate attire even if it’s one you made for him his kingdom theme doesn’t work and he just comes out to dead silence and those are the things 2k definitely need to fix.
MyRise mode is so much fun, Gameplay is similar but with some features, It makes it better. Showcase mode is great. And overall it's solid.
2009 Randy Orton looks like he’s going to jump out of the tv and RKO me and give me a punt kick
22:14 That 03 Cena caught me off guard 😂😂💀💀
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate this game, but nothing will ever beat 2K14 in my eyes.
Idem
Nah 15 for me
You know all I need in a wrestling game to have fun is good gameplay and a good creation mode and that's exactly what WWE 2K23 let's me do
I kid you not when I first bought the game I spent 5+ hours making my superstar then another 10 doing his moveset and another hour doing his entrance and making my title
Just that alone is 17+ hours I hadn't even touched the actual gameplay yet and lemme say it's fantastic also yes I turn off stamina always have in WWE games it just ruins the fun of a match for me personally
First WWE game I preordered since 2k20 and was very happy and impressed with the way it turned out
Howsit Bro.
Damn I've been waiting for your review video since the game came out..Really with u on the showcase mode but was nice to see a much of Ruthless Aggression wrestle..really love what u do..supporting u from South Africa.#Pav2023
This game looks amazing, especially the ruthless aggression arenas and superstars. Even if the showcase mode is a chore, I’d play solely to get all the unlockables. #PAV2K23
Every match I play in this game on legend difficulty is a banger I love it feels real and the commentary when you kick out of a finisher 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Bro
The best wrestling content on the whole youtube
Doesn't matter if its about the games, the shows, or a particular wrestler
Every single fucking video it makes me to watch it and rewatch it after a while
Idk what it is, the way u speak, the feeling u give to the audience
Idk but its like the gameplay from 2k23, addicting
By wasn't I notified about this I've been waiting for this, Let's go Pav
What I like about the game is that even though I have my complaints, it’s nothing major at all. Only thing I’m not a fan of really is MyGM. They predictably added more title belts and more matches. But the way the game wants you to put together your roster makes sense in theory, but when your putting together your matches I’ll put AJ Styles in a match with Randy Orton, and the game will say the match was mediocre… like WHAT??
That mode is stupid
Can't even have a triple threat or fatal 4 way title match
And why is WM Backlash before WrestleMania
The game is decent, they didn’t change the gameplay which is good, still has that arcadey type feel mixed with realism in it like 2k22. Although they are still times that it can be abit clunky and out of sync in certain parts like the irish whips (doe its improved abit) or when you attempt to throw someone back in the ring e.g.
The AI in Legend difficulty is a lot better aswell. They are lot more smarter and you have a better challenge against them. I lost a good couple games compared to the previous which means is good challenge. Even tho its annoying i like how the AI pins quite frequently to try and catch me out like how a wrestler would be in real match, they do a big move and go for a pin and i like the little development on the timed pin mini game even tho its annoying aswell.
The showcase was ok. I would say it was a some what improvement from rey’s one from 2k22 but they are still some things that could have been improved. The selection of matches blows rey’s one out of the water, no question. A lot more significant and relevant losses displayed. The only thing is i would say is that it should have been done in chronological order by year showing cena’s whole development from a rookie to the franchise to the face of the company. I understand what they were trying to do as they are some cases where cena faces a couple opponents more than once e.g lesnar and taker. However it’s quite inconsistent and all over the place. At least w/ rey we got to see his whole evolution from wcw in late 90s to present time in WWE. It would have been really cool to see Cena’s evolution. Even tho his selection of matches are great i feel like he could have added some more like his first title loss with carlito in 04 maybe, his loss against HBK on raw, that should definitely been in there and of course his biggest rival in CM punk but for obvious reasons i understand why he’s not there.
Furthermore, tho they are some cool detailed unlockable characters like angle, 09 orton, 06 edge etc, they could have at least tweaked some models like batista and RVD. They pretty much look like their modern versions of themselves and they just slapped on their past attires. I know they had similar hairstyles at the time but they still could have made an effort in making younger versions of themselves in their respective years they fought cena. Finally no commentary which made the showcase quite boring and bland. They could have a least had the current commentators go over the commentary for the matches or if not at least have cena go through what rey did last year and talk through the match and talk about the different spots etc. idk it just made me want to finish the matches of quicker and i’d hate that they would be commentary in the final matches of the showcase after instead.
Ain’t played much of the other modes but all in all, its a decent game, i guess its an improvement from 2k22 but still not that undeniable groundbreaking follow-up. I feel like 2K22 is the modern day’s shut your mouth that still waiting on that HCTP game thats is just chef’s kiss. 2k23 is not that, they are gonna have to do something big w/ 2k24. However i probs would hold this game to positive light because the exhibition mode is the one mode i play the most which is very good for any sports game. Most people play online modes and that to try and alleviate the boredom that a sports game may be due to poor gameplay or rubbish/completed offline modes but at least w/ this i’d be ok even if there was no other modes, it’d be boring after couple matches but still because the gameplay is that good i go back to it.
Plus i’d hold this game close cuz this is the one game that kinda takes me back to the smackdown! and svr series because of cena’s showcase. Smackdown series in this game contains:
The iconic smackdown fist stage 02/03 models of Cena, lesnar, angle, hogan and taker etc
SVR series in this includes:
Raw 05 arena, 05-10 models of cena, edge, hhh & orton etc. that 09 model of orton has to be the best in this game hands down.
Great fvcking review man! Especially about the A.i difficulty because I’ve been wondering about that
The GM Mode has the potential for the best if it’s played right. On PC, I can remote play, and that would let me play a 4 play GM Mode, and this year we get to reset at the end of seasons and have drafts again.
I think Universe and GM Mode should be fused together
The only part of 2k23 that got under my skin was the changes to entrance customization. Like, why can't I choose a regular entrance for when I'm a champion?
Oh and I'm glad I'm not the only one questioning Cena vs HHH being in the showcase mode.
Lets go!!!! The goat returns! Loved all the 2k streams🔥
Good to see the 🐐 back at it like a crack addict
“They promised my dad would come back” that literally hurt my sides 😂😂
“they promised my dad back” lmao same bro 🤦♂️🤣
Pav, I understand your gripes with showcase as I hate the mode but it's pretty much the same as it always was. I admit a "beat the streak" type mode would be legendary. #PAV2K23
It's good that you took more days to make the review just to give us the exact experience that you felt and positives and negatives of the game , still didn't try the game yet but sure i will have fun when i do
#PAV2K23
All WWE 2K video games will never be as good in the same level like Smackdown! Here comes the pain on the PS2 console. Heck, no other wrestling game can beat such a classic!
💯💯 right on the showcase, the idea of the invisible cena was great, but if that was the case we should have gotten 2011 punk blurred out lmao that's one of his biggest matches, the best thing about it was getting 09 orton
WWE 2K23 has it's flaws for sure definitely but damn it's fun as fuck to play
If I was gonna give it a score I'd say it's a 8 or an 8.5
I can't express how excited I am to play this game especially showcase mode. It might not be the greatest but the unlockables are so fire and bring me back to times when I genuinely enjoyed the WWE #PAV2K23
In 2k24 I want to see more physics and I want the weapons and props to have more creativity. Instead of one table stack two tables and throw them through it
I actually kinda like the No commentary in show case mode , like old wwe GameCube games with just music playing but they should have let us use John fr
All I need from 2K is to put in the newer arenas for Wrestlemania as an update after WrestleMania
I'm glad you were so straight forward with your criticisms. I love 2k22. it's some of the most fun I've had with a wrestling game in years, but it did feel lacking in a lot of areas. #PAV2k23
If they’d just give us custom themes back, it’d bump it up to a 10/10 for me
On the next 2k 2023 i hope that we can play different era's like ruthless aggressive, attitude golden hulk Hogan era
Honestly I have high hopes for where this game goes in the future, I feel like as long as they continue to bring in people from the community this game is gonna be near perfect in a bout 2-3 years. #Pav2K23
Copy n paste again with added dlc. I may pass and get fire pro wrestling world
Right, I think they do be copy and pasting, It be looking like the same game, Same for NBA 2k, Madden too
I'm having so much fun with the game. One thing i noticed, is that matches are longer than in 2K22. I'm just casually having 20+ minutes classics in exibition mode. Last night had a banger 21 minute match between John Cena and Randy Orton. Back and fort action, got hit with one RKO and a Punt Kick and managed to kick out, and won the match after the third attitude adjustment
What difficulty do you use?
Was i the only one who started sing save your tear when pat put the instrumental on?
The showcase mode was such a hassle it makes John cena's road to wrestlemania in svr11 look like a great storyline but nevertheless I'm glad they added war games
Well, John Cena's Storyline in SvR 2011 actually WAS good. Lol
@@zacktyler2810 In comparison to Rey's, Christian's, vs Takers, and Y2j; Cenq looks rather average
@@israelsingleton4667 I remember it being quite good, then again, i a big John Cena fan
@@israelsingleton4667 IKR
As someone who hasn't played a WWE game since 2014, I have to say this looks amazing to me
It's a shame they didn't get the John Cena showcase mode right since so much of the marketing was based around it but it looks to me like the rest of the game kinda makes up for it #PAV2K23
dats crazy cause wwe2k14 was the last wwe game i played until 2k22😂😂 sad but true bro
I played until 2K16😆
Same with all three 😂
LOL I haven’t played a new wrestling game since SmackDown vs. Raw 2011, you can imagine how impressed I was.
You're the only person I don't skip sponsors for, GOAT
Hey, the gameplay and creation suite look fantastic; and those are the most important aspects to me. So it's good to know my money hadn't been wasted.
i expected a bit more from this game.
i think wwe 2k22 got overhyped, just because it followed up the clusterfuck known as wwe2k20.
it's good to see that they are improving the game, however these are kinda lackluster improvements, considering they have over a year to improve the game.
I wouldn't like to spend close to 80 dollars on it cause imo it's not worth it. (i might buy it later in the year, if there is a sale with a good price) so that's why I'm entering the giveaway
#PAVWWE2K23
unpopular opinion:
i still like the control scheme in 2k20 way better than this new combo system for striking
its still pretty fun but it throws me off a lot
i already set up my punches and grabs to link up an look natural an realistic in the old games
now i keep doing combo finishers when im trying to irish whip after a punch or 2
feels like the striking is to streamlined or something
its a lot harder to make up your own combos now or i just might not be used to the timing yet idk
deff love the sway and block features tho
“They promised to make my dad come back” bro had me dying😂😂
My boy got a beard now. I see you
Based off what I've seen the creations are fantastic, but I've always had a gripe with how the developers made the classic versions of certain superstars look, in my opinion they should've just looked at John Cena from SvR or Here Comes the Pain and have him look similar to that instead of just throwing a random throwback jersey on him and calling it '03 Cena #Pav2k23