donchipotle

Never use the button mash submission style, the analog is way better and actually lets you escape when critical while the button mash is wonky with that. But yeah, the best strategy in these games is to bait out A.I. reversals with strikes and such then unload. The A.I. is better about not just spamming reversal on stomps which is good.

As someone who has played these games yearly on release, this is the first once since about WWE 12 where I'm actually having fun with the in ring gameplay instead of finding my fun through simming Universe and acting like a story teller/booker. What 2K19 does well are the little things that seem incremental but actually make the core gameplay fun (assuming you're into this style of wrestling game). The Payback mechanic is a good way to, well, turn the tides in a major way, the A.I. is smarter about pins, the reversals often feel contextual, cage matches are a lot of fun, Universe mode makes a lot of smart changes regarding managers and show booking and titles (you can have a show be six tag titles if you want, or you can have one show just have all ladder or table matches or whatever), the game plays smooth even with 8 man matches, the framerate is stable even on older machines and the load times (which were a goddamn CHORE last year) are good and swift.

It's not all pretty. MyCareer, while goofy and fun, still suffers from dumping you on the main roster FAR before you're ready and there are loot packs that you can't buy with real money but it makes it so if you want to unlock attire, moves, taunts, entrance animations/music, or boosts for the online then you have to use your fake currency which is doled out like a drip across all modes. 2K Towers is fun if you like that sort of thing but unless they constantly add more then it' basically a fun distraction that, with any hope, will resemble something like a Mortal Kombat tower in 2K20. The commentary is better, especially during entrances, but it's still not great. Big Head Mode is dumb but fun for a match or two, and the Wyatt Compound is a fucking disaster that has no point.

WWE 2K19 wont convince someone who is staunchly against the series, but it is a good WWE 2K game. Take that as you will. It feels like a good mix between sim and arcade while leaning more in the sim direction still.

It's harmless and fine.

I like these games. This one seems like it is making real good steps forward. I pre-ordered it 35 minutes ago.

On the whole the game likely won't sell anyone who is already firmly in camp "Sim wrestling games are bad" but the improvements to things like audio and presentation (seriously, the ring sounds real good) as well as some quality of life changes makes this seem like a pretty damn good step forward for fans of the games. Career mode does look like a fun time but it also still has the 2K18 problem of locking moves and attire options behind loot packs. It doesn't look like there's a way to buy in game currency with real money but it's still kind of a bummer that not only do you have to use in game currency (which you grind for slowly) to unlock characters and belts and arenas and such (unless you buy the Accelerator) but the acquisition is a slog and there are two types of loot box tiers.

But I mean....it has Big Head mode and that's a fun goof.

It does not. It has too many samey issues that keep it from being great.

If Sylvando doesn't get at least an honorable mention for Best New Character then the system is rigged and we must take to the streets in anger.

Whatever I think it looks dope I get to fly around like Iron Man and don't have to worry about BioWare's lame writing getting in the way.

Yes. Absolutely. It's not like Final Fantasy where every game is its own thing. It's a series. And it would be like showing up to, say, Avengers: Infinity War having only seen Avengers 1 and 2. And considering the HD versions are more in line with more modern stylings I dont even think it's that much of a barrier to entry. The games still play well.

Literally all the games leading up to KH3 are available on one console now with enhancements and alterations to make them more familiar and in line with the Final Mix version of KH1 and 2. Granted the change in ability and systems present in Birth by Sleep and Dream Drop Distance are still there but the games play similarly enough, Chain of Memories the exception, that the only difference is in the way abilities are learned and doled out in the ports of the handheld games. And the KH3 prologue game is like a blending of the Birth By Sleep style with mainline KH games.