WWE 2K22

I'll be interested in a WWE game when the amount of Front Grapple moves doesn't dwarf a full move-set of a Fire Pro edit.

For real though - If I wanted to *play* a wrestling game, I'd probably pick it up. I haven't had much desire to play these games in many years. I tried with 2K19, but the itch wasn't scratched, and while 2K22 is a much better game than 2K20 is, that's a very low bar to clear. I might grab it if it's like 20 bucks on sale, like I did with 2K19.

Been pretty wishy-washy with wrestling games as a whole lately.

I'm definitely curious how it plays. I've heard some pretty good things so far.

I wouldn't expect to use edit mode since I know how that goes.  FPW takes long enough for me to create edits so I have no desire to spend hours for a moveset that I wouldn't be able to do logic for...and if I was able to do logic for it, it would take me days!!   (flashbacks of KOC2)

But I think the main drawback is that the WWE roster just kinda doesn't do it for me aside from a few people.  I could see picking the game up for cheap in the future though just to give the engine a try.

I mean, even when I was like 24/7 into Fire Pro, I still enjoyed playing "Smackdown: HCTP" a LOT.  

It's a very fun game. Fun to play and one of the better simmed games from the series in some time (it's not it's hat like Fire Pro so it doesn't compare but for a game that's "supposed" to be played, the sim offering isn't bad is what I'm saying). The new combo system sounded like an awful idea on paper but in execution, it makes complete sense and if you don't want to use it, you can just use the standing grapples which are akin to how the previous games were (albeit, you have to lock up to initiate them here). The biggest stylistic difference is that because of the combo system, the focus is more on striking and building up to grapples, kind of like actual WWE matches. I feel that it's a change that makes sense for recreating the product but it's something that's actually fun to control because each string of strikes can be comboed into a grappling animation OR a bigger strike animation (like an axe kick or a standing lariat). Again, you don't HAVE to play that way but I don't see the point in limiting yourself (there are at least a dozen different grapple moves that can be assigned from the combos, as an example). The extra button for initiating grapples and springboards isn't for everyone but I was pretty used to it by the end of the first day. The only notable casualty that comes to mind is that they removed the position where the opponent's head sticks out beneath the ropes, which is where the Undertaker's guillotine leg drop and Roman Reigns' Drive By kick were performed. It's not a HUGE loss since there weren't that many options anyway but it's still annoying that it was removed. I believe every other move position from 2K20 is in though.

As for CAWS I'm a bit miffed by some of the decisions made for the suite (namely dramatically curtailed body morphing and no advanced entrance creation) but you can still get some amazing, authentic looking CAWs regardless. They really made an effort to clean up the hair for CAWs (and the default roster, for that matter) so long hair actually doesn't look terrible for once. Still a bit "off" but something that they obviously worked on, with mostly positive results. While the default CAW skin texture is still worse than the default roster's, I do like how the bruising on it is pretty much exactly how it is on the default roster's. Get your chest worked over by a Flair? Well, your CAW will have the welts to show it. I think they've tried it before but I don't recall ever noticing at as much as this year. Also, the variable bleeding is a much welcome, overdue inclusion. Still male only but that will never change for WWE licensed games I imagine.

I thought 22 sucked, to play, just endless reversals.

That and online players spamming without end.