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Introduction

The WWE 2K series of wrestling games had a history of underperforming and providing unsatisfactory experiences, but there has been a noticeable improvement since last year’s release. The game underwent significant changes and upgrades, thanks to the Visual Concepts development team who returned to lead the game development alone. With this year’s version, players can expect more features and improvements compared to the previous year. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive review of the latest version, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses.

Quick details:

• Game name: WWE 2K25
• Release date: March 14, 2025
• The developer company: Visual Concepts
• Publisher: 2K Sports
• Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5

Improvements in the WWE 2K series

With the recent announcement of the WWE Wrestling Federation’s sale, it’s clear that significant changes are on the horizon. We’re hopeful that these changes will continue to benefit the WWE 2K series of games, which have gradually improved and become more enjoyable to play. This year’s version builds upon the previous game, introducing new game stages and modes. One such addition is the WarGames mode, featuring multiple arenas that players can battle in, either alone or with others, and requiring players to move from one arena to another.

Game Modes and Gameplay

The previous game’s MyFACTION, MyGM, and Showcase modes make a return and provide a lot of value to players who play solo. MyGM mode, for instance, lets players take on the role of the president of the Raw or SmackDown federation and compete against other bosses to make the best offer. On the other hand, Showcase mode is the story mode of the game where users can play through the narrative of the famous wrestler, John Cena, and his most notable losses in the Union. Additionally, there’s MyRise mode where players can start their journey as a wrestler and climb their way to becoming a world champion.

The way the game is played is quite similar to last year’s version, featuring a blend of action-packed combat with direct hits, as well as a level of skillfulness in executing reversing maneuvers that significantly contribute to securing a win. Familiarizing oneself with this aspect of the game is crucial, as it enables one to have a chance of turning the tables and winning even after receiving a severe beatdown. The game’s biggest strength lies in its highly entertaining gameplay system, which has been improved upon since last year’s release. Players can expect to participate in various exciting matches that reward them for performing a wide range of moves and strikes. In addition, the game offers a fantastic array of modes, including standard matches, cage fights, ladder matches, hell matches, and even fights outside the ring in loading areas, among others. With a multitude of options like these, the game provides unparalleled value, an incredible range of choices, and unquestionable fun.

Issues with Control

The problem with using control in games is that it may not always be effective. There are situations where it can be difficult to direct your opponent, such as pushing them into a corner or getting a weapon. In team play, interference can make it frustrating to fix your opponent, especially in the story mode where winning team fights is necessary. The wrestlers in the game have different designs, with some “current wrestlers” having high-quality designs, while classic wrestlers like Bret Hart may not have as good designs in the game. Additionally, crowded challenges like the Royal Rumble can make it hard to strike a specific wrestler.

Graphics and performance

At a technical level, the game is neither outstanding nor particularly poor. The graphics quality varies depending on the wrestler’s designs, arenas, and crowd, but the addition of repeated announcer phrases adds to the realism. Whether playing alone or with others, WWE 2K25 provides an enjoyable experience, although its yearly release may hinder significant development, especially in terms of graphics. Fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the game exclusively for current-generation home devices, hoping for a technological shift that will match the game’s marked improvements since last year’s version.

Island Mode: An Unexpected Delight

Players can now explore the distinct Island mode through the new edition. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S users gain exclusive access to the completely new WWE 2K25 experience. WWE-themed districts, along with player competition and multiple exciting tasks, can be found in this mode.

Moving through this open world in the third-person view allows you to finish quests and obtain challenges, as well as take part in live events and gain prizes to enhance your Superstar appearance. Players can discover The Island through several chapters, which provide them with unlimited power outside the ring competition. Multiple players can explore WWE Island through one server simultaneously since 50 participants can unite to compete with each other for ultimate dominance.

Island mode offers unique settings and quests, as well as a unique storyline. It’s important to note that this game mode has its storyline, presented by Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns. They will be the ones to introduce you to the main challenges on the Island. We haven’t yet completed the storyline at the time of writing this article, but this is a must-play game mode that completely changes the experience of WWE 2K25, as it’s something never before seen in the wrestling world.

Conclusion

The WWE 2K game series has shown significant progress since the previous version. It offers a unique and engaging gameplay system, enriched with an extensive range of content. The game has numerous game modes that add to its value, including an exciting style and plenty of fighting choices. Additionally, with a vast roster of wrestlers, it presents a source of entertainment that is worth experiencing personally or with others.

The game was reviewed using the PlayStation 5 version, which was given to the reviewer by the game publisher prior to its release.

Although it may seem false to some, 2024 was so full of good games that great titles went unnoticed during the awards season and even among gamers. For example, there is the case of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, whose sales were not what Ubisoft expected but which, even so, is one of the best games the developer has ever made. Fortunately, Metroidvania will have a second chance to win over the public, this time on mobile devices.

However, bringing an experience that requires precision and good performance to Android and iOS sounds like a dangerous task, with a high probability of going wrong. Therefore, is asking, “Is Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown worth it on mobile?” valid? We played it for several hours in its new version, and here are our impressions.

You should know that the following text does not contain an opinion of the game per se. We analyzed the console version and explained why it represents an excellent return to the franchise. Here, we will focus on two key aspects: performance and gameplay comfort, both with touch and physical controls.

How is the game performing on mobile phones?

We tested the game on an iPhone 15, with all the advantages and disadvantages that it implies, such as the 60 Hz screen. Still, Ubisoft paid special attention to ensuring that even Apple devices, usually noted for their gaming power-deliver a solid experience. The Lost Crown ran at a stable 60 fps in most of our sessions.

However, we must clarify that the prologue presented constant frame drops, which were annoying. Fortunately, once the first act started, performance stabilized almost entirely, with only occasional jerks during specific animations.

The mobile version is cut down graphically compared to the console versions, but thanks to the game’s art style, this doesn’t affect the experience. Even on consoles like PS5 or Xbox Series, The Lost Crown did not rely on complex visual effects, so adjustments on iOS and Android are not a concern if the goal is to maintain a stable frame rate.

On-screen, the animations, attacks, powers and scenarios look good. It’s a game that seamlessly adapts to the visual standards of mobile gaming. In addition, the text of the dialogues fits perfectly with the screen size, with customization options such as subtitles and background to improve reading.

The biggest sin of the game is in its controls :

This is where we find the most significant weakness: the touch controls. Ubisoft tried to replicate the console experience, but being a Metroidvania, precision in attacks and jumps is essential, and the virtual controls are simply not up to the task. The buttons are awkward, and the joystick doesn’t find an ideal place on the screen.

While you can customize the position of the buttons, the joystick—whether floating or fixed—gets in the way in key sections of the game. It will get in the way of the action or platforming, turning your finger into one more obstacle to overcome. We tried every possible way, and the result was always the same: playing this title with virtual controls is almost impossible.

Even the game is aware of this flaw, so from the first moment you start, it recommends playing with an external controller (and headphones). And yes, we enjoy The Lost Crown when we heed this recommendation. The default button mapping is the same as on consoles, but you can adjust it to your liking.

The game received successful testing using both generic controller and Xbox controller interfaces. Sargon’s agile movements performed without delay during the play session. This experience reveals perfect quality which matches everything console-based gameplay has on offer.

Before we get into the final verdict, players must use physical controllers to play since touch controls are not supported by the game design. The most significant aspect of this mobile version is that Ubisoft included equivalent content from its other platforms in the mobile release. There is no concern about finding a shortened or diluted version of the game because it provides a complete experience that made it one of the best titles of 2024.

Conclusion: A medium-budget game continues to steal the spotlight.

The Lost Crown variant of Prince of Persia provides an exceptional gaming experience through genre integration yet carries some unconventional development flaws and weaknesses.

The game contains several unique design decisions which include localization problems and expanded events for game duration extension. This game holds value to viewers who enjoy platformers or 2D games.