WWE 2K19 is a little over one week away, and the team at 2K Sports dropped the first of what should be many updates on the general feature set for WWE 2K19. Today’s roundup covers general gameplay tweaks, new match types, as well as improvements to the Steel Cage and Hell in a Cell match types, the latter two I’m sure will please many WWE gamers going into this year’s entry.
In past WWE SmackDown vs Raw and WWE 2K titles, the Hell in a Cell structure “typically scaled larger than it does in real life,” according to the WWE 2K blog post. Going into WWE 2K19, the devs scaled it to give what they call a “heavier emphasis on brawling and using the Cell walls, apron, and steel steps to cause damage.” They wanted to give that “claustrophobic feel” to the cell structure, much like in typical WWE Hell in a Cell matches. In addition, the OMG Moment “Cell Breaker” has been removed, and players can break their opponents through the cell walls if the opponent has taken enough damage.
When outside of the cell, you can now move around all four sides of the structure, as well as climb any side in any direction, giving players more freedom while playing Hell in a Cell matches in the game. Players can now fight on the cell, to recreate moments like we saw with WWE Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins and RAW Tag Team Champion Dolph Ziggler during the WWE Universal Championship match at the Hell in a Cell Pay-Per-View. The top of the cell is now much like its real-life counterpart as well: a uniform grid of panels, making it easier to send your opponent through the cell roof via standard grapples and more.
Steel Cage matches have improved as well, with several added interactions and options. You can attack your opponent while climbing the cage or dive on them mid-ascent. There is also a new minigame for climbing to the top, as well as out of the cage, and striking while sitting on the cage wall has been added too. You can even throw your opponent back into the ring to ensure your victory. Leaving through the cage door triggers a new mini-game and interaction, where instead of having to do a corner superplex to force the door open, you can just call for the ref to open the cage door. Depending on how far into the match you are, the ref can either take his sweet time or quickly open the door, but there is a mini-game you must complete before exiting. If you fail, your opponent brings you back into the ring and the door closes once more.
Money in the Bank can now be managed in Exhibition and Universe Modes, and you can control how it gets cashed in via pre-match options and sliders. You can also customize your own MiTB briefcase for Exhibition and Universe.
The Payback System is brand new and affords many comeback options. Every superstar has a level one and a level two payback ability that unlocks once the superstar gets to a certain amount of health. You can select your abilities pre-match, varying your playstyle in the ring. The list of abilities, courtesy of WWE 2K dev blog, can be found below:
Level 1
- Auto-Reverse: Automatically reverse any minor attack.
- Possum: Playing possum allows an incapacitated Superstar to attack from several positions (leaning against the ropes, supine, or corner) or roll an opponent up in a small package.
- Fists of Fury: Temporarily increases striking speed and power.
- Speed Buff: Temporarily increases movement, stamina, and reversal recovery speeds.
- Reversal: Earn a reversal.
- Instant Recovery: Instantly recover after being knocked down. Includes minor speed buff.
Level 2
- Finisher: Earn a finisher.
- Resiliency: Escape a pin, submission, or elimination minigame with ease.
- Adrenaline Buff: Allows you to lift more weight and increases the amount of Momentum earned for performing lifting grapples.
- Tank Buff: Significantly increase your defensive abilities while reducing overall mobility.
- Low Blow: Perform a low blow from a standing or kneeling position. Risk of disqualification.
- Poison Mist: Spit poison mist in your opponent’s face. Risk of disqualification.
- Power of the Punch: Hit your opponent with brass knuckles. Risk of disqualification.
- Move Thief: Use your opponent’s own move set to finish him or her off.
- Run-In: Summon an ally to ringside to help turn the tide (1 vs. 1 matches only).
- Blackout: The lights go out. When they come back on, you appear behind your opponent. (1 vs. 1 matches only).
General tweaks to gameplay have also been made, including over 250 new attack and reaction animations, a more intuitive AI, improved commentary from Michael Cole, Byron Saxton and Corey Graves, new victory conditions and a more detailed results screen, improved frame rate for six and eight-man matches, faster animations as well as the ability to change controller assignments mid-match. The latter will definitely be one that content creators will take full advantage of for their e-Feds and story-based content platforms.
Last but not least, the match types for five, six and eight-man matches, as well as the introduction of the Women’s Royal Rumble:
5-Man
- Normal
- Extreme Rules
- Ladder
- Table
- TLC
- Hell in a Cell
- Battle Royal
6-Man
- Normal
- Triple Threat Tornado Tag
- Ladder Tag
- Ladder Triple Tag
- Hell in a Cell Tag
- Hell in a Cell Triple Tag
- TLC Tag
- TLC Triple Tag
8-Man
- Normal
- 4-Way Tornado Tag
- Ladder Tag
- Ladder 4-Way Tag
Royal Rumble
- Women’s Royal Rumble
WWE 2K19 releases on October 9 (October 5 for those who pre-ordered) on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC. Pre-order for access to former UFC Women’s Bantamweight and current RAW Women’s Champion ‘Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey and former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio.
