For this 2019 iteration, Visual Concepts and Yuke's studios have decided to extend the authentic experience that had already made WWE 2K18's reputation: further expand the cast, bring back the famous Showcase, add a brand new mode and thicken the Career, who was effective but decidedly fragile in his writing. The new credo of 2K Sports is also quite clear: "to renew itself around fun and storytelling" while offering more responsive, more dynamic gameplay. A very laudable intention that we have, let's face it, much hoped for in the final game. After years of a certain stammering, it would finally be time for this WWE 2K19 to triumph and win the long-awaited title…
NEVER WITHOUT MY BRIEFS
Let it be said right away: WWE 2K19 is a safe bet for all wrestling enthusiasts. For fans of sports games, and even just video games, the story is quite different. Before tackling the annoying points, it is appropriate to congratulate the developers for all the content, absolutely gargantuan, that they have been able to offer in a single game. The title is by far the most complete experience in the matter: first of all, it signs the return of the Showcase mode after two years of absence. A section regretted by the players since it allows you to explore the career of a determined wrestler by reliving his key matches in a timeline punctuated by his testimony face-camera, archive footage in support. Here, it is Daniel Bryan who is the lucky one: a choice that was wisely decided since the superstar is just returning to the ring after two years of absence, an injury having forced him to retreat into management, always under the famous three-letter license.
It is therefore through eleven decisive matches that we will be able to embody the famous wrestler, in which we will have to reproduce certain historical actions in order to stick more or less to reality. Rather likeable and clearly filled with fan-service. 
The Showcase also comes with the new 2K TOWERS mode, where each "Tower" corresponds to predefined matches that will have to be chained: these are several fights in a row - with automatically established victory conditions - in which must emerge victorious. A clearly advanced difficulty which is therefore aimed at more seasoned amateurs and, without the concept breaking a duck's three legs, has enough to greatly extend the gaming experience with twenty different Towers with unique atmospheres.
PULL ON THE ROPE
For its part, the MONPLAYER mode not only once again allows you to create your own wrestler via a fairly classic character editor, but also and above all to make him evolve through MACARRIERE, an entirely scripted adventure. The story will not surprise anyone: it is about embodying an individual full of ambition who, with his coach, will try to pass all the stages to land and break into WWE. This time around, the developers fixed one of WWE 2K18's biggest mistakes by adding real voice acting, much of it from the superstars themselves. On the other hand, it is difficult to applaud anything: not only is it in truth the least of things to have audible dialogues in 2019, but the ultra-flat staging and the low intensity of the scenario do not allow to really benefit. However, certain ambitions are detected: choices of dialogue (unfortunately useless as possible) and some humorous notes of writings testify to a certain will. But the whole does not look quite well put together and its requested ten hours turns out to be very long…
However, the evolution tree, frankly complete despite a somewhat messy structure and a fluidity of action when picking up (you have to wait several moments when you unlock a skill point, quite simply boring when you have many accumulated), is there to give ever more longevity to MACARRIERE. In itself, the set is not to be thrown away and gives a certain credibility to the game, even more so compared to the 2018 edition: the fans will certainly be delighted to rub shoulders with their various idols and to realize the true fantasy of succeeding. in WWE. Moreover, WWE 2K19 is also relevant in its other functions: it offers more than fifty match types, from configurable team fights to the cage via Iron Man; its Road To Glory allows you to try online gaming and the Universe mode is further developed. The latter gives you the opportunity to try your hand at license management by planning the various events of an organization: matches, broadcasts, set-ups, all the key elements of this theatrical sport come back to you in an ultra-detailed management mode. which quickly makes you dizzy. If WWE 2K19 wins a belt, it's clearly that of the largest video game wrestling database...
AND THIS IS THE SPRAIN
By understanding the content of the season pass, WWE 2K19 has an absolutely daunting cast with more than 200 wrestlers from different licenses such as NXT, Raw, 205 Live or of course WWE. To unlock them all, however, it will sometimes be necessary to go through the payment box: this is where the virtual currency VC comes in, earned after each fight, and which will make it possible to expand the roster. Characters can also receive small boosts by equipping them with ephemeral items, to be purchased in packs of different values which act as loot boxes. Rest assured, real money is not requested in this specific case. A resolutely complete part of the game, especially since it is also possible to give up your VC to acquire a whole bunch of customization items.
No, where the shoe pinches really is in its heart of the game, starting with a complete gameplay but decidedly too little affordable. The key combinations refract quite quickly and, above all, the overall gameplay is still hurt by the same annoying, incomprehensible and penalizing game design choices. The ultra-imprecisely timed counter-attacks are the first frankly stormy thorn, forcing the player to anticipate, almost at random, the opponents' surprising moves and animations. A real plague that it would be time to change urgently for the next episode and it is the same for the other QTEs! In general, the action of WWE 2K19 is slow, jerky, often unfair in its mechanics and attributes to the game all the fun on which it is supposed to focus. 
A shame that makes the clashes long and boring for the most part... However, Yuke's took time to add countless new animations and to refine the textures a little: without being ugly, the software still lags behind graphics in its engine where the collisions do not convince and, for example, the crowd borders on real ridiculousness. It's going to take a real effort to make WWE fun to play and fun to watch: loving wrestling won't always be enough.
