Bigger, Badder, Better?

User Rating: 6.5 | WWE '12 PS3
By bigstevieg85 | Review Date:
"Bigger, Badder, Better." was how THQ promoted WWE'12. Lots of noise was made regarding the new 'Predator' technology that makes the roster more realistic, improving animations, rope physics and general collision detection. Largely this is true, wrestlers no longer warp to the centre of the mat during finishing moves and attacks can be interrupted with noticeable fluidity. However, in a misguided attempt to appeal to a larger audience, gameplay has a distinctly more arcade feel, with layers of gameplay shedded from past iterations. The weak/strong grapple system has been ditched; characters now perform different moves based on their opponent's current physical state. This substantially reduces the move set, and the limb targeting system is a flimsy substitute. Button bashing is a larger element here, such as mashing X when in a groggy state. The block function is also a major irritant; on-screen an R2 prompt will flash, but the window of opportunity makes it almost impossible to connect. It soon becomes a matter of watching animations to determine when to block, rather than relying on the games utterly broken prompt displays. In their haste to add 'Predator Technology' this year, new match types and game modes have been utterly forsaken. Even the training centre has been dropped, which leaves dull and clinical menu screens in its place. WWE Universe mode also suffers from this problem; too many menu screens and not enough direct involvement.

Consequently, the shortcomings of WWE'12 are much more apparent. Road to WrestleMania actually has less paths than Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 (3 instead of 5). This time you are limited to a Hero, Outsider or Villain storyline, with pre-selected wrestlers for each. The ability to complete any path with your favourite wrestler would have made this infinitely more fun. Furthermore, in-game objectives are extremely temperamental, and the whole thing feels out of date. Considering WrestleMania XVIII has been hyped for a solid year, it's baffling that WWE'12 focuses on last year's event instead. However, the roster is extensive, featuring a fine balance between current, classic and rising superstars. While some wrestlers look nothing like their real life counterparts (CM Punk and Zack Ryder in particular), the majority are well captured with accurate move sets. Online play is limited to a handful of options, which include a match, online royal rumble or community creations. Even after the latest patch (1.02), servers are absolutely appalling, often timing out or failing to load completely. Lag ruins the majority of matches, and can even crash the console. This is completely unacceptable, especially now the despised online pass is a further requirement. In addition to this pass, a fan access (or Axxess) pack can be purchased for £7.19, which makes all the premium content free to download. On average, individual content costs 59p, and with only a handful of worthwhile wrestlers (The Legends Pack and Shawn Michaels) it's actually more cost effective to purchase these individually. Sadly there are too many gimmick wrestlers (Michael Cole, JR, Bella twins) that are barely worth the inclusion. Even the free content is woefully off the mark; instead of the 'Resurrected' Kane, we get the 'Attitude Era' Kane, which feels like a hasty addition. There is still no sign of Chris Jericho. And the Brodus Clay character is an absolute joke. When the online community is capable of making a more accurate Funkasaurus, something is very wrong.

The online community is incredibly solid in WWE'12, probably stronger than it deserves to be, with the ability to download and review user created storylines, arenas, wrestlers and more. Some of these have a phenomenal attention to detail (WrestleMania VI's Skydome and WWF Raw is War arenas are my personal highlights). It's also nice to see TNA wrestlers added by the community, with startlingly accurate versions of Bobby Roode, Sting and Jeff Hardy.

The option to create your own house shows and PPV's is fun, yet this is never updated to reflect what is actually happening in the WWE. It would have been brilliant to watch Monday Night Raw, and then be able to download a card including all the featured matches. Admittedly, this can be done yourself if you have the time and patience. Yet it feels like too much hard work, and not enough on the part of the developers. In this respect, THQ needs to take a leaf out of EA's book, and the fantastic ways they support FIFA post release.

Despite the name change, WWE'12 doesn't rewrite the rulebook. Gameplay is more fluid, and it remains a great multiplayer title, but in fundamental areas it's rushed, and has less content than previous years. The 'Predator' engine lays a strong foundation for improvement, but my cynicism can't help but feel WWE'13 will be released with only minimal changes.

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