WWE 2K14 Strategic Preview

A few days ago, we posted a first look at 2K Sports’ WWE 2K14, the company’s premiere entry in the long-running wrestling franchise. We talked about some of the general features in the game, as well as modes.

Today, we go more in-depth with the gameplay, with some advice that will get you closer to the WWE championship – you know, if Triple H allows it.

The Bigger They are…

In WWE 2K14, wrestlers come in all shapes and sizes. You have your big guys, including legends like Andre the Giant and Big John Studd, as well as retro and current versions of the Big Show. There are also smaller wrestlers with more dynamic style, including Daniel Bryan (“YES!”) and Rey Mysterio. Finally, you have middle-of-the-road guys with a decent mixture of muscle and speed, including John Cena, Dolph Ziggler and Randy Orton.

That doesn’t mean you need to stick to your weight class. In fact, outside of WWE Divas – who are forced to compete with other Divas in their division and cannot battle male wrestlers, unlike previous entries in the series – you have no limitations of who you can match up against.

When you first get started, you’ll want to stick with wrestlers in or close to your wrestler’s class. Can Daniel Bryan hold his own against Andre the Giant? Find out, by all means, but you may be asking for trouble.

That’s because stamina-based wrestlers usually match up well with similar characters, instead of big bulky wrestlers who rely more on brute strength. That’s not to say you can’t topple Andre – we’ve seen our share of matches where a David overcame Goliath – but it’s best to start with something basic.

If you take on the big guys, you have plenty of strength to choose from. Someone like Triple H or The Ultimate Warrior hold their own, and don’t forget Hulk Hogan, who power slammed Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania III. If you prefer, you can also pick a big guy like Big Show or Mark Henry, to literally go pound-for-pound.

Mix up your wrestling styles and stick with your main class at first. Then, when you’re ready, move to the next level for a monstrous challenge.

Reversals are Your Greatest Asset or Worst Nightmare

The reversal system from WWE 13 returns in WWE 2K14, and it’s more or less the same, requiring split-second timing to counter incoming hits or moves.

Here’s how it works. When your opponent is ready to strike or perform a special move, he or she will have a button prompt briefly appear before they pull off the move. It’s your job to hit the button at just the right time. If you do so correctly, the reversal will take place, and the tide will turn in your favor. 

If you don’t, though, that just means you need to work on timing a little more. You’ll see an indicator letting you know if the button was hit too early or too late, and you can keep it in mind for next time. There are plenty of chances for reversals, but you need to make the most of your opportunities, or else you’ll run out of energy.

Kicking Out

In prior WWE games, kicking out was as simple as tapping a button to get out from underneath an opponent, or something else along those lines. For WWE 2K14, there’s a new technique to master, with a power meter involved. The stronger you are, the better chance you’ll have of kicking out of a pin. The weaker you get over the course of a match, the more depleted this meter becomes, increasing the likelihood of your opponent winning the match.

It’s important to let go of the button at the right time after you hold it down to initiate the kick-out. Doing so will give you a second chance to recover and get back into the match. Like the reversal, though, it’s all about timing. Work on it, even if it costs you a couple matches.

Improved Momentum

Finally, 2K Sports and the developers at Yukes improved the character models, so wrestlers don’t seem robotic when it comes to turning around and facing opponents, or building momentum heading into the ropes. You now have a start-up animation, where wrestlers begin their attacks, going into the ropes or charging at their opponent in the corner. It’s important to get the timing down so you can strike someone when they get back into the ring, or set yourself up for a diving attack, like the Ultimate Warrior’s shoulder block. 

We’ll cover more gameplay tactics, such as tips with particular matches and modes, in the weeks ahead, leading up to the game’s release. We’ll also have some wrestler picks, in case you don’t feel like playing as John Cena.

WWE 2K14 releases October 29th for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.