![]() ![]() As a modern sports game – one that’s made by 2K no less – microtransactions aren’t particularly shocking, but it’s still bad news for players because of the “pay-to-win” implications. Perhaps the most disappointing thing about the game is the inclusion of microtransactions. Characters have very limited differences in their actual fighting style too. More disappointing is the lack of party game features or online variety, which slightly undercut the arcade aesthetic the game is going for. 2K wrings everything out of this game that it can, but you can see the cut corners here and there. It’s obviously a symptom of the game’s reduced budget – you have to give 2K credit for offering so much when it has so few ingredients to work with – but if this is to be the direction the series is heading in, we need stuff like Hell In A Cell, TLC and Casket Matches to further lean into the zaniness the game brings. That sounds like some decent variety, but Cage Match aside, they just feature basic wrestling gameplay with different rules on the amount of players and whether elimination is by ring-out or pin. The story mode takes you through the basic match formats: 1v1, Tag Team, Tornado Tag Team, Gauntlet, Cage Match, Triple Threat and Royal Rumble. I personally enjoyed flinging opponents into the waiting jaws of a gator in the Florida arena. The biggest win, however, is the arena arena design, which features plenty of environmental attacks, akin to the Mortal Kombat series. ![]() The actual gameplay, though, is enjoyable if basic, and the story switches characters just before their fighting style gets repetitive. ![]() Stone Cold aside, none of the characters have much personality nor development, and even after completing all of the challenges, you never really get to know them. The story mode is presented in a comic book format and features some great moments – like Brock Lesnar disappearing back into the swamp once he’s been defeated – but can feel a little lifeless. There are over a hundred unique events, so it’s more than enough to keep you busy, although only around half of them actually need to be completed to reach the ending. You play as a variety of newcomers across the different playstyles, and can either power through the main story or explore each character a little more through side matches. While other 2K wrestling games have tried to depict modern-day wrestling as a sporting event, Battlegrounds goes back to basics and depicts it as a spectacle. The power-ups, signature moves and unique arena abilities all look great too, and perfectly capture the essence of what the game is trying to do. Most characters are instantly recognisable in the bobblehead design – although there’s less likeness in the ladies compared to the gents. There are a couple of consistent glitches, mainly around throw reversals, but nothing game-breaking or even that off-putting. Plus, the switch in genre is a risk that has paid off. Low bar, sure, but this has been made on a more limited budget. Starting off with the positives, Battlegrounds looks better than 2K20. It’s smaller, cheaper and more fun, but it also feel like 2K isn’t certain if this is going to be a one-off or a recurring spin-off akin to FIFA Street. After the glitchy disaster that was WWE 2K20, 2K Games has regrouped this year by giving a pass on a full-scale mainline entry in favour of this arcade-y replacement. If you ever played with those plastic wrestler action figures as a kid, you’ll probably enjoy WWE 2K Battlegrounds. ![]()
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