E3 2011: WWE '12 (XBox 360) Preview
Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 06.10.2011
Hands On: 411mania.com gets a chance to play WWE's next game as the Smackdown vs. RAW series has ended. This is WWE ' 12.
While at E3, I got the chance to play the new WWE game from THQ which is WWE '12. The demo on display didn't have too much available, but players could select between playing as John Cena, The Miz, Alberto del Rio, and Randy Orton. So according to THQ this is a brand new game and they are changing things up from Smackdown vs. RAW 2011. In some ways that definitely appears to be the case and in other ways not.
The graphics and physics engine still look and feel similar to the Smackdown vs. RAW series. The good news is the physics aren't sloppy like some of the older games where it seems all you had to do was move next to the corner or the ropes and suddenly go tumbling out. The controls are different as well as grappling. By pressing the A button on the Xbox controller you initiate a chain wrestling grapple and from there you can press another button to do an Irish whip or use your right analog stick to change up your grapple moves. I found character animations and designs to be very realistic and fluid. Alberto del Rio has his full entrance intact complete with Ricardo Rodriguez and del Rio comes to the entrance stage in his car. Awesome!
The developers also talked about being able to now attack specific body parts in the game with strikes and submissions. So the submission system has been changed up as well. As far as actually playing the game, I didn't have much trouble. The controls were nicely responsive, and reversals and grappling work really well. THQ wouldn't tell us too much about additional features for the game, but they did promise extensive story modes as well as an up to date WWE roster. So I hope that means Daniel Bryan won't get screwed out of a WWE game again. During gameplay when you work up your power gauge enough you can unleash a signature move on your opponent such as Orton's trademark knee drop. You can continue to work offense on your opponent in order to get a finisher prompt so you can do your special move or finisher. Another system THQ has added is the "Comeback" system. There's a point in the fight where you can be prompted to initiate a "Comeback" where you hulk up and unleash some powerful offense. Following the comeback prompt you start attacking your opponent and a mini-game of sorts will start on the screen and you can follow the button prompts to continue your "Comeback" offensive attacks. This is a cool and realistic feature in terms of mimicing the WWE main event wrestling style.
WWE '12 will be due out later this year for PS3, XBox 360, and the Wii.
Still have two questions about this game:
How are the animations? Still clunky or are they fluid?
How is the game's speed? Is it still horrendously slow?
Posted By: Vince Osorio (Registered) on June 10, 2011 at 02:11 PM
"The good news is the physics aren't sloppy like some of the older games where it seems all you had to do was move next to the corner or the ropes and suddenly go tumbling out. "
What game was that? None of the SvR series, and none of the SD series before that
Posted By: Guest#8558 (Guest) on June 10, 2011 at 02:31 PM
Most. In-depth analysis. EVER.
Posted By: Jim Rome (Guest) on June 10, 2011 at 03:37 PM
Miz had me cracking up when they was showing the demo. Randy Orton is the poster boy for this game, but every demo I saw at E3 he was getting his ass handed to him
Posted By: Guest#4919 (Guest) on June 10, 2011 at 06:48 PM
"The good news is the physics aren't sloppy like some of the older games where it seems all you had to do was move next to the corner or the ropes and suddenly go tumbling out. "
What game was that? None of the SvR series, and none of the SD series before that
Posted By: Guest#8558 (Guest) on June 10, 2011 at 02:31 PM
'08 with the milk dud
Posted By: Guest#4156 (Guest) on June 10, 2011 at 08:07 PM
It amazes me that Yukes made wrestling games that rival No Mercy in terms of gameplay with Wrestlemania XIX and Day of Reckoning 2. But these games are forgotten while Smackdowns keep getting plopped out
Posted By: Sigh (Guest) on June 11, 2011 at 04:13 PM
It amazes me that Yukes made wrestling games that rival No Mercy in terms of gameplay with Wrestlemania XIX and Day of Reckoning 2. But these games are forgotten while Smackdowns keep getting plopped out
Posted By: Sigh (Guest) on June 11, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Yukes went on to make the Rumble Roses games, but most US players hated it because it had women instead of men. It's really funny...show a half naked man and US players love it, show a half naked woman and people in the US claim it's "gay" or "pathetic."
Posted By: Guest#0732 (Guest) on June 11, 2011 at 05:24 PM
It amazes me that Yukes made wrestling games that rival No Mercy in terms of gameplay with Wrestlemania XIX and Day of Reckoning 2. But these games are forgotten while Smackdowns keep getting plopped out
Posted By: Sigh (Guest) on June 11, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Yukes went on to make the Rumble Roses games, but most US players hated it because it had women instead of men. It's really funny...show a half naked man and US players love it, show a half naked woman and people in the US claim it's "gay" or "pathetic."
Posted By: Guest#0732 (Guest) on June 11, 2011 at 05:24 PM
At #0732, point taken, but...
Would you play an All female Madden!? Or the WNBA version of 2K basketball!?
Posted By: RawiswaR (Guest) on June 11, 2011 at 07:39 PM
Yukes went on to make the Rumble Roses games, but most US players hated it because it had women instead of men. It's really funny...show a half naked man and US players love it, show a half naked woman and people in the US claim it's "gay" or "pathetic."
Posted By: Guest#0732 (Guest) on June 11, 2011 at 05:24 PM
Are you just assuming the US players hated it because it had all women or was it the game play? I don't have a problem playing as a half naked woman(Bayonetta is still on my list) as long as the gameplay can keep my attention, but there's no in hell I'm going to spend money on a game just because the characters look good in their outfits
Posted By: Guest#6479 (Guest) on June 12, 2011 at 07:53 AM
"
"The good news is the physics aren't sloppy like some of the older games where it seems all you had to do was move next to the corner or the ropes and suddenly go tumbling out. "
What game was that? None of the SvR series, and none of the SD series before that
Posted By: Guest#8558 (Guest) on June 10, 2011 at 02:31 PM
'08 with the milk dud
Posted By: Guest#4156 (Guest) on June 10, 2011 at 08:07 PM"
Well my version must be faulty because my version never did that
Posted By: Guest#7251 (Guest) on June 12, 2011 at 09:34 AM
Good lord the Day of Reckoning games were one dimensional and terrible. Like four front grapple moves and it took half a fucking hour to win tag matches in the career mode because the tag partner would break up every.pinfall.ever. Why is there so much nostalgia for a shitty game?
Posted By: Jared B. (Guest) on August 02, 2011 at 08:33 PM
Copyright (c) 2011 411mania.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
Click here for our privacy policy. Please help us serve you better, fill out our survey.
Use of this site signifies your agreement to our terms of use.
