WWE 2K Battlegroundsis shaping to be a highly anticipated game by wrestling fans and fighting gamers alike. 2Ktook an entirely different approach from their annual wrestling simulators and gave players something totally fresh. In getting the same game every year,Battlegroundsis no doubt the breath of fresh air from the annualWWE 2Kreleases.
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It is anentirely different gamewith completely different fighting mechanics, direction, motif, and art style. WithBattlegroundscoming out just around the corner, some pre-release of footage could be found all over YouTube. With that being said, here are the things we already know aboutWWE 2K Battlegrounds.
12Over-The-Top Action
WWE 2K Battlegroundswill be the first game in theWWE 2Kfranchise that focuses onarcade wrestlingand over-the-top moments. Like 2011’sWWE All Stars, Battlegroundsis centered more on fun and action-packed mayhem than simulation and realism. Kicks and punches will send opponents flying, slam moves can bounce opponents off the ground, toss moves will throw the opponent up a hundred feet into the air, and environmental attacks involve getting smashed by a car, mauled alive by an alligator, or blown to pieces by explosive red barrels. Despite the similarities, this game will have significant differences fromAll Starsapart from the arcade fighting mechanics.
11Allows Crossplay
Battlegroundswill be available for play on the PC, the PS4, the Xbox One, Google Stadia, and the Switch. Players will be able to have matches against those on different platforms. PC competitors aren’t locked to queue against fellow PC users. A single match can have competitors from different platforms, making the most out ofWWE 2K’splayer base. This option can be ticked off in the settings as well should the player wish to only face against challengers on the same platform as he is. However, it is still unclear if the game will be out for next-gen consoles.
10Match Types
Matches inBattlegroundshave to be fitting for the high-octane action of the game. Up to four players can take part in the chaotic carnageBattlegroundsoffers. Apart from traditional match formats, there is an option for a steel cage match wherein the cage would occasionally be administered 1.21 Gigawatts of electricity, a gauntlet match, and even a royal rumble match. It would be a surprise to see how a royal rumble will be pulled off given that only four wrestlers can be in the arena at any given time.
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There will also be high-impact tag-team action in the game’s 2v2 tag, and tornado tag matches. GivenBattlegrounds’fun-oriented gameplay devoid of any realism whatsoever, more wacky match types could be expected in the future.
9Easy To Get Used To
Like a lot offighting games, players can enjoy playingBattlegroundsthe moment they pick up the controller. Controls are intuitive and the combat system has significantly less complexity than 2K’s wrestling simulator games. Most gamers will also find the fast-paced action ofBattlegroundsmore engaging and exhilarating than the wrestling simulators. Though it’s hard to get a friend new to the franchise interested in the likes ofWWE 2K20,it will be fairly easy to involve them in a2K Battlegroundsmatch.
8Huge Roster
Battlegroundswill feature over a hundred playablesuperstars. That’s significantly more thanAll Stars'43-superstar roster. IGNexclusively reportedon the massive rosterBattlegroundsboasted, revealing that 70 superstars from AJ Styles, John Cena, Undertaker, The Rock, etc. will be available on launch. 63 more superstars will be available post-launch, totaling 133 superstars to be included inWWE 2K Battlegrounds.However,Battlegrounds’Executive Producer Sean O’Conner said in an interview with IGN that more superstars will be revealed soon. That’s a lot of unique moves, animations, and attributes to create for an arcade wrestling game.
7Pinfall & Submission Victory
Arcade fighting games only ever had one objective: deplete your opponent’s health to zero. That was the case forAll Starswherein the only way to win was via knockout. However,O’Conner mentioned thatBattlegroundshas implemented victory via pinfall or submission.
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This means that there are more than a couple of ways to win matches apart from getting the opponent’s health to zero; allowing for more complexity in the game. O’Conner concluded saying that he “wouldn’t want to spoil” the different variations on how matches could end.
6Combo Attack System
InAll Stars,players can juggle their opponent with a series of strikes. They can also do mid-air grapples on their opponent for that glorious combo finish. The same mechanic will work inBattlegrounds.In theWWE 2Kwrestling sims, the only combo players are given is the very basic four-strike combo, with some seasoned players being able to deliver a flurry of attacks. As forBattlegrounds, since the game is easy to get the hang of, newer players can perform amazing combos just by button mashing. O’Conner said that anyone can accidentally pull offcool movesinBattlegrounds.
5Features Power-Ups
Flaming punches, ring-breaking smashes, freezing opponents likeSub-Zero,Battlegroundsgoes all-out with the insane factor, giving superstars superhuman abilities. These features turn the tides of the match and amplify the abilities of a typical sports wrestler, turning a contest between two combatants into a battle among majestic beasts. Undertaker can call on the forces of the underworld, Stone Cold can freeze his opponents in ice, and the Big Show can destroy the ring with an epic hulk smash. The added supernatural abilities define the game’s direction and make it clear thatBattlegroundsindeed is not meant to be a wrestling simulator. The power-ups also vary across different wrestler archetypes and classes.
4Features Different Classes
So far, the five distinct classes in the game are high-flyers, fast and agile superstars that leap into the air (i.e. Rey Mysterio, Jeff hardy); technicians, opportunistic masters of the holds (i.e. Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles); brawlers, the pure andbrutal strikers(i.e. Bray Wyatt, Stone Cold); powerhouses, the immovable combines (i.e. Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns) and all-rounders, the flexible and versatile picks (i.e. John Cena, Edge).
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Each of these classes has distinct abilities and power-ups, and each of them performs very differently from the others. With their own strengths and weaknesses, the class system allows players to approach every match differently for each wrestler they pick to play as.
3Environmental Hazards & Attacks
Adding to the over-the-top action ofBattlegrounds,there are various environmental items in certainarenassuch as wrestler-eating crocodiles, larger-than-life cars suspended above a jack, exploding barrels that can destroy the ring, and even an electric cage that shocks superstars attempting to scale it.
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The arena is not just a place for a brawl. The arena is a living breathing participant in the match that can spice up the arcade wrestling experience.
