WWE 2K23 implemented many changes that have improved the series including a new type of Showcase Mode, new match types, and improvements to various systems players use during fights. However, with AEW: Fight Forever set to bring players back to the days of arcade wrestling games, WWE 2K may have some serious competition on its hands. One particular feature coming to AEW: Fight Forever needs to be implemented in future WWE 2K games as it not only represents what people watch in real life but also makes a lot of sense for any wrestling game.
AEW: Fight Forever, developed by the company behind the older WWE titles, Yuke’s, is clearly attempting to capture the joy of playing those older wrestling games. With an easier control layout, more focus on extravagant moves, and simpler systems, the upcoming game could become the perfect introductory game for any wrestling fans. While WWE 2K has stepped away from the classic arcade feel of its past games, it needs to implement AEW: Fight Forever’s Momentum system that accurately represents how wrestling matches are in real life.
AEW: Fight Forever’s Signature and Special State
AEW: Fight Forever has promised various features that will likely persuade many wrestling fans to try out the game. From a deep career mode to an abundance of weapons to use, AEW: Fight Forever seems ready to bring pure nostalgia value to the table to entice fans away from WWE 2K. While many of the systems in place seem to steal from the reality of wrestling shows, the Momentum system, which allows players to perform signature and finisher moves, looks to be deeply rooted in how wrestling matches on TV play out.
AEW: Fight Forever’s Momentum meter will place wrestlers in a Signature and Special State where players will be able to perform various moves. The Signature State can last multiple moves and will allow players to perform various signature moves that not only damage the opponent but also lead up to Special State. In the Special State, which can be activated after taunting while in the Signature State, wrestlers will be able to perform a single Special move to end the match, giving the flow of a fight in AEW: Fight Forever a more realistic feeling.
WWE 2K24 Needs a Better Signature and Finisher System
WWE 2K23 has a very different momentum meter, where players can perform a single Signature move to unlock the ability to perform a Finisher, the wrestler’s strongest move. This means that many superstars like John Cena and Randy Orton are not able to perform the series of signature moves they usually perform in the WWE shows prior to hitting their lethal finishers. Instead, players must refill the momentum meter before they unlock another signature move, which robs WWE 2K of the realism it is trying to achieve.
To fix this issue, WWE 2K24 needs to take a page out of AEW: Fight Forever’s book and include a better momentum where superstars can enter a Signature and Special State. Using this style of momentum meter means that players can act out the chain of signature moves that wrestlers often used to lead up to their main finisher. While the Comeback system does offer this, not every wrestler has this activated. If WWE 2K24 were to implement this Signature and Finisher system, it would not only give the fights a more realistic feel, but it could also help in improving the match rating, something that many fans already have some difficulty with.
WWE 2K24 and AEW: Fight Forever are likely going to be two very different wrestling games, with WWE 2K continuing to focus on more realism, while AEW looks to bring back arcade wrestling. However, each game can still learn a lot from the other. WWE 2K showcases what modern wrestling games offer its players, and AEW hones in on providing a fun, theatrical experience that can only be found in pro wrestling. While AEW: Fight Forever’s Momentum system seems to be the more logical choice, there is also a lot the game can learn from WWE 2K, from its various game modes to the customization options.
WWE 2K24 is currently in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
