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WWE 2K18 tips to help you dominate the ring
Crush your opponent with these top tips from Visual Concepts.
WWE 2K18 tasks you to ‘Be Like No One’, though it does then offer you the chance to play as one of many superstars in the largest roster to date in a WWE game. So yeah. Anyway, this year’s effort from Yuke’s and Visual Concepts brings a new graphical engine and creation suite and a improved MyPlayer mode that – along with the also-new Road to Glory mode – allows created grapplers to earn their way onto pay-per view events. Also, in a first for the 2K series, it's coming to a Nintendo device with WWE 2K18 hitting the Switch.
The team behind the game are aiming to make this another title that’s easy to pick up and play, but one that offers depth all the same. It’s a cliché, but it’s a good cliché to aim for. Whether new or old to the series, though, there’s always room to improve – so we asked Mark Little, executive producer at Visual Concepts for some top tips.
What are the the best ways to learn the game?
There are a few different approaches for learning the game. First off, MyCAREER puts you through some basic tutorials as you get started on your MyPLAYER’s career experience. Those tutorials give you the basics for some of the core mechanics of the game and introduce you to our new Carry system.
Another good approach is to play one-on-one matches against the AI and pick a top-rated WWE Superstar, like our cover Superstar, Seth Rollins, and put him against a lower-rated WWE Superstar. This gives you the upper hand while you get familiar with the controls.
If you want to practise just one type of move or scenario, another option is to have both WWE Superstars in your one-on-one match assigned to controllers but only have one person play. This allows you a free practice for your moves and controls without having to worry about your opponent’s attacks. This also enables you to position your opponent in the ring or out of the ring for the situation you want to practise.
Of course, in the end, you need to practise against AI or other users to ensure you get your reversal timing down. Reversals are a very important skill to learn.
WWE 2K18 boasts the biggest roster in the series
© 2K / Visual Concepts
How do you master reversals?
Reversals are an important skill to master in WWE 2K. Go into a one-on-one match against the same opponent and keep playing matches. By practising the same match, you will learn your opponent’s moves and that will help you become more confident in your reversal timing. For some players, they pick up the reversal timing in only a few matches, but for others, it takes a while.
Sometimes it is best to wait for your opponent to perform a grapple, which has a larger window of time to reverse
Remember it isn’t important to reverse every punch, stomp, kick or Irish whip, as most of those moves do very little damage. Sometimes it is best to wait for your opponent to perform a grapple, which has a larger window of time to reverse, and will give you more of an advantage after the reversal takes place. Matches are best when there is back and forth, and both sides have time to get their offence out on their opponent.
Remember to use taunts
© 2K / Visual Concepts
What are the best ways to win matches?
I’m going to give you some general things to keep in mind while you are in matches.
First off, it is good to have a strategy for how you plan to use your signature and finishers. Are you going to save them up for the very end of the match or are you going to use them early to get the upper hand, even if it means your opponent may kick out of a pin?
Second, keep an eye on your stamina and reversals stock. Sometimes it is ok to take a little more damage if it means you can earn another reversal stock, and sometimes it is ok to back off on the offence and give yourself a chance to recover. You don’t need to go full bore all the time to be successful.
Don’t forget to use taunts and your Superstar’s special abilities to your advantage.
Finally, don’t forget to use taunts and your Superstar’s special abilities to your advantage. Taunts can help you earn you signatures and finishers faster or give your attack a little extra bite. Your abilities are part of what make your Superstar unique, so it is good to know how to utilise them to your advantage.
Focus on your strengths in the ring
© 2K / Visual Concepts
How do you deal with different styles of opponent?
How you strategise against your opponent also has a lot to do with your own Superstar’s strengths and weaknesses. It is usually best to focus on your capabilities and create a strategy for your opponent that allows you the opportunity to use your best skills.
If you are a high flyer, for example, then quite often finding ways to ground your opponent is the key to providing you with your chance to take to the air. If you are a submission specialist, then you probably should focus on weakening an opponent’s body part that is the target of your submission.
Our new Carry system in WWE 2K18 can also be very helpful because it allows you to position and manipulate your opponent into spots and situations that are beneficial for your offence.
You can escape the ring in an emergency
© 2K / Visual Concepts
How do you get back into a match when you're up against it?
Just like in WWE, you don’t always need to be on offence to end up putting on a good match and having your hand raised in the end. If you do find yourself on the receiving end of the offence, your first option to turn the tides is executing a reverse.
Your Superstar may have the ring escape ability, which provides the option for you to roll out of the ring when you find yourself on the mat near the ropes. Ring escapes do consume a good amount of your stamina, though, so you need to consider that trade off.
If you find yourself behind, you might also consider using taunts to either increase the damage you are dealing to your opponent or increase the rate at which you gain momentum, which will earn your signature and finisher moves quicker.
Can you cheat in WWE 2K18?
We don’t have cheating in WWE 2K18, but if you are in a no disqualification match, just remember that you can always find weapons under the ring to help you get your point across. You can also use our new Carry system to ram your opponent into the ring post or drop him or her on the steel steps. There are lots of creative ways to deal out punishment outside of your typical in-ring moves.
WWE 2K18 is out now on PS4, Xbox One and PC. The Nintendo Switch version will follow later in the year.
