This may perhaps be the only analogy to ever so tightly fit a sports entertainment title to a series of soap operas. WWE ’12 takes the drama of interrelation conflicts, deceit and plots to a whole new level. Strangely, this outsider approach towards wrestling is actually one of the reasons that keeps this title from getting pinned by a flurry of small issues that stack up into a sizable combination. It’s a hard-fought match for the gold, but WWE ’12 comes out with a pyrrhic victory in the end.

As mentioned, wrestling here is all about atmosphere and this game gets the excitement going for sure, but not without falling on the mat a few times. The lights, explosion and action get blasted from all sides from the ring. Blurring effects and camera cuts try to keep the fast pace to an all-time high and together with rocking beats and slamming sounding effects; the adrenaline keeps flowing. It’s not all golden though, as camera angles often obscure the view, prompts are more wrongly placed than on point and sound cuts in or out at random points. The accustomed ringside commentary is repetitive, but luckily it is relevant to key points throughout the game’s embellished story mode.

Moreover, WWE ’12 has the strangest blend of great details and shoddy work in character models and animation. Fine work goes right up to the pores and entire sections, like Randy Orton’s tattoos, are meticulously finished. Yet superstars like ‘Big Sexy’ Kevin Nash appear to be made of plastic. Some moves look impressive and make big splashes, but most fall flat due to some stiff controls and animations that are technically insufficient. Fortunately, control schemes find a mix between traditional and more polished schemes, but overall the mechanics will feel dated and that will also reflect in movements. Due to rough animations, the game will also see ensuing flaws such as detection issues, resulting in strange grapples or misses. Referees or players will get stuck, which can lead to big aggravations. The artificial intelligence doesn’t help in that instance, with being all-powerful at one time and dreadfully stupid the next; though that sort of captures the match flow of wrestling.

Overall though, the game progress will be less determined by skill, precision or perhaps even timing. More so, it will be about proficiently jamming a few key buttons, such as the counter button and performing running grapples until a signature move or finisher can be applied. That’s a shame, because when it boils down to it, the gripping atmosphere of WWE can still be entertaining beyond its flaws. It’s still satisfying to take down opponents, win an outmatched battle or simply rack somebody with a chair. And while controls don’t offer any organic new ways of doing so, the simple button combinations are easily learned and swift to input; keeping the pace where it should be.

There will be plenty of action in WWE '12.

The big redeemer in this story is Road To Wrestlemania (RTW). This game mode tells the story of 3 different sides within the WWE universe and it’s a grand tale at that. Plot twists, surprise attacks, backstage brawls; it’s all there. Unfortunately, it has some strange miniature gameplay sections that simply require walking, but that’s a minor discrepancy when compared to the moving storytelling laid before our eyes. Though, RTW is strange in the aspect that the stories are set and only the third is slightly customizable with an own hero that will always be referenced as ‘Jacob Cass’. This lack of choice might make it fall short on replay value, but going through the entire gamma of the plot will take longer than most singleplayer campaigns these days. Universe mode is more of the same glory in a slightly adapted format, which takes players through weekly line-ups and gives them the restricted option of choosing their battle.

The editor in WWE '12 is insanely elaborate. It's like the Sim City of wrestling.

Another huge part of WWE’s current success is its extremely deep editing possibilities outside of its lack of game modes.  The amount of customization on one character alone is tremendous, where not only appearance but also every possible move can be outlined at will. After that, an entrance is also fully up to the player’s discretion, complete with music and video footage from other matches. Beyond that, it’s even possible to create entirely new stories, arenas; the works! The editor is a true fan service, far beyond the unlockables that coerce fans to play in order to finally obtain the athletes they desire (or pay extra for them).

But there is a sizable issue that forces people to have an internet connection in order to get the most out of the game. Not that this is the biggest problem, but THQ wriggles an online pass in to players in any way possible. Sure, it’s possible to create stories and such offline, but the true fun comes from the myriad of downloadable options and those aren’t available in the 7 day free trial. And the online connection isn’t even great on itself either, with huge connectivity options and already a dwindling audience; perhaps related to each other.  The fatigue is further beaten in by the long load times overall. It’s really a hard sell, but THQ really tries cramming it down the consumer gullet. It’s a shame that it requires such effort to get players to enjoy the game, when it could be a lot simpler.

WWE '12 will let you wrestle with hot chicks, all innuendo intended.

In the realm of sports entertainment, WWE ’12 is a strange creature. Derived from the entertainment core, it sidesteps into new ground and holds itself up as an action/adventure. Even if it has a whole array of smaller to bigger grievances, the core aspect of the game is captivating to play and that’s what an entertaining title should do. As a fan, it’s an ultimate tribute that offers a ton; so much so, that it becomes a must-but for wrestling aficionados. Outside of that spectrum though, there are tons of pitfalls players will need to wrestle through if they’re to appreciate it for its worth. If that’s possible, the payoff will be satisfying enough; but that three count will come at a price regardless.

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Daav Valentaten, NoobFeed. (@Daavpuke)