Overall, WWE 2K15 is not an all-out terrible game. There are some very good things about the next-gen versions of the game. However, the game is lacking in quite a few areas. The critics have spoken, and the overall reactions appear to be mixed or overwhelming disappointment. Based on my experience playing the demo at GameStop Expo 2014, I believe the game needed more time than a November 2014 release date (October for last-gen versions). The results appear to be less than stellar. Even with a three-week delay for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions, it is clear that 2K Games needed more time to release a better game.
Case in point: the numerous omissions that were prevalent for previous WWE video game releases. Create-an-Arena is gone from the game. Create-a-Championship is gone. Players are unable to create custom Divas for the game. So, players can create custom Superstars but not the Divas. 2K Games claims these features were eliminated to deliver a more focused and polished game. However, does the game really pull that off? WWE2K15 only has 25 Create-a-Wrestler edit slots. Although the game does have an edit feature for Current roster Superstars, those edits take up a CAW slot. WWE 2K15 really needs way more CAW edit slots. 25 is a minuscule amount.
Tons of match types are missing. A user on NeoGAF compiled a comprehensive list of all the omitted match types for the game. Some of the eliminated match types are not a big deal. I could care less about the omission of Inferno matches, since that was a goofy match type anyway. There is really no other feasible explanation for the omission of numerous match types and stipulations, other than that 2K Sports was rushing to make the release date.
When a game is rushed, corners are cut. Basic features are missing or left out. The result? An under-cooked game such as the final WWE 2K15. Not to mention, everything was extremely last minute for the game. Footage came out for the game very slowly. The first trailers did not really come out until right before the release date. The wrestling and revamped grappling in the game are some of its stronger features. There are basic building blocks in the game that show signs of something greater. However, it seems like 2K Games was not able to fully fine tune the game ahead of its release. Unfortunately, it would not surprise me if WWE was unwilling to allow a delay. This is one of the pitfalls of an annual video game franchise. WWE 2K15 currently suffers from the brunt of that particular pitfall.
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