After the first 2K-published WWE game , it was clear a serious change was needed. The franchise's previous installments, WWE '13 and WWE '14, were both solid and featured modes built to extract sweet nostalgic enjoyment from wrestling fans.

New reversal system is a smart addition; Showcase mode is a good adventure through Stone Cold's career; Larger; more diverse roster than ever before

MyCareer mode continues to disappoint; Submission system is immensely frustrating; Match pacing continues to be painfully slow

Conrad charges into the ring with a steel chair to confront WWE 2K16, the reigning champion of wrestling titles.

A generous amount of content; Kick out and grapple reversals are easier; A select few wrestlers are well-rendered

Long load times; Buggy; Visuals need an overhaul; Over-complicated menus and controls; Feels sluggish; Sim focus doesn't suit WWE

This ultimately leaves WWE 2K16 with its history; its largest-ever roster, and deep dive into a career that once revitalized a floundering company. Just as we see on TV from time to time, WWE 2K16 leverages history out of what feels like a lack of confidence in what's currently on offer.

This years release is slightly better than last years, but not what you should be getting when you're paying $60. Positives: The best Roster in a long time. Multiple modes of gameplay. Given the option to turn off the god awful soundtrack.

After WWE 2K15 failed to bring the series into the current generation of consoles smoothly, developer Yuke's has attempted a course correction that sets backwards the strides the franchise had made with combat while failing to address the jarring lack of personality in any mode of the game that...

Jim Ross's commentary work reminds us how sorely he is missed; 2K Showcase takes us down a Texas Rattlesnake nostalgia ride; Enormous roster

New counter system makes a bad situation worse; Many wrestlers look like poor versions of themselves; Creation suites have returned but with hugely limited options; Career Mode remains a dry; numbers driven experience

For any WWE fan its a great game. You can play it like a simulator with 'My Career' and 'Universe Mode' or just as a mess about game. I have friends that don't like wrestling but found it so much fun in a 30 man Royal Rumble.

Just a big mess of glitches and bugs that really should have made it past the beta stage.

Slobberknocker.

The most realistic in-ring experience to date; Improved MyCareer mode; Loads of unlockables and challenges

Poorly implemented pinning and submission system; 2K servers still not good enough; Some animations are a little rough

WWE 2K16 is a vast improvement over it's predecessor, but let's not get too excited by that fact. 2K15 was absolutely god awful, and it did everything wrong. All this game does is add SOME of features back in and try out one or two more gameplay quirks.