WWE '12

WWE '12 is a wrestling video game that was published by THQ. It is available for the PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 systems. It is the first game in the WWE series and fourteenth in the entire series. It was released on November 22, 2011 in North America, November 25 in the United Kingdom, and January 26, 2012 in Japan.[2]

WWE '12
Developer(s)Yuke's
Publisher(s)THQ
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
Wii
Xbox 360
Release
  • JP January 26, 2012[1]
  • NA November 22, 2011
  • EU November 25, 2011
Genre(s)Professional wrestling
Fighting
Mode(s)Single player
multiplayer

Gameplay

The weak/strong grapple system from the past games has been removed. Characters now perform different moves based on their opponent's current physical state. Players now have a window of opportunity to attack while still in a downed state and can also interrupt moves and Royal Rumble eliminations with attacks. Similarly, the pinning meter from the past games has been reworked to make it more difficult to kick out as a wrestler takes more damage. The game's artificial intelligence has also been adjusted to prevent players from overusing the same move. In addition, the ability to store finishing moves has returned. A new feature called "Dynamic Comebacks" gives players on the verge of losing the opportunity to successfully hit a combination of moves to gain two finishing moves. New "wake up taunts" bring a downed opponent to their feet for a finishing move (such as Randy Orton pounding on the ground before his RKO finishing maneuver).[1] Players also have the ability to target specific limbs during matches and perform submissions through a new "Breaking Point" submission minigame.[3]

Modes

"WWE Universe", the mode in which players participate in matches and storylines that are booked automatically, returned from the previous year with additional cutscenes. The "Road to WrestleMania," the mode in which players participate in a pre-scripted storyline featuring actual WWE superstar voices also returned. Instead of choosing one of a number of different stories lasting three months each, the mode in WWE '12 consists of a single storyline taking place over eighteen months of WWE programming and encompassing two WrestleMania events. The mode is split into three acts, the first of which sees the player assuming the role of the villainous Sheamus. The second act is centered around the heroic Triple H and the final act features the player taking control of a created superstar named Jacob Cass.[4] The game also includes creation modes for superstars, entrances, finishing moves, storylines, highlight reels, and arenas, as well as the ability to share creations online.[5]

Development and release

WWE '12 was first announced on June 1, 2011[6] with the catch phrase, "Bigger, Badder, Better."[7] THQ promoted a new animation system dubbed "Predator Technology."[8] The "Predator Technology" makes the wrestlers in the game look more realistic. In addition to allowing players to interrupt moves, attack animations such as John Cena's Five Knuckle Shuffle and Booker T's scissor kick no longer warp players to the center of the ring.[9] More realistic ring rope physics have also been added, with ropes moving as characters are slammed to the mat. The developers have also made efforts to prevent the collision detection problems that have affected the series in the past.[1] On July 28, 2011, it was announced that those who pre-ordered the game would be able to play as The Rock and also receive alternate attires for The Miz. On August 13, 2011, Jerry Lawler was announced as downloadable content (DLC).[10] Total Nonstop Action Wrestling performer Austin Aries voiced the main character of Jacob Cass in the Road to WrestleMania mode.[11]

On October 26, 2011, THQ revealed that the first DLC pack would consist of Shawn Michaels, Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross, Michael Cole, alternate attires for the Road Warriors, and tag team attires for Christian and Edge.[12] The next day, information regarding the Divas DLC pack was released, announcing new playable characters including Trish Stratus, Kharma, Nikki and Brie Bella, Vickie Guerrero and Alicia Fox.[13] It was also announced that Alicia Fox would be free DLC. The third DLC pack would include Batista,[14] Brodus Clay, Randy Savage[15] and Mick Foley.[16]

Reception

 
Review scores
Publication Score
Computer and Video Games 6.7/10[17]
G4      [18] (Xbox 360)
     [19] (Wii)
     [20] (PS3)
Game Informer 5.5/10[21] (PS3)
5.5/10[22] (Xbox 360)
GamePro 3.5/5
GameSpot 6/10[23]
GamesRadar 9.5/10
GameTrailers 6.3/10[24] (Xbox 360)
IGN 9/10[25] (PS3)
9/10[26] (Xbox 360)
Nintendo Power 6.5/10[27]
Official Nintendo Magazine 80%[28]
Official Xbox Magazine 8.5/10[29]
Official Xbox Magazine (UK) 7/10[30]
Play Magazine 50/100 (PS3)
Aggregate scores
Aggregator Score
Game Rankings 80.00% (1 review)[34] (Wii)
75.44% (34 reviews)[35] (X360)
71.81% (21 reviews)[36] (PS3)
Metacritic 72/100 (50 reviews)[31] (X360)
73/100 (28 reviews)[32] (PS3)
77/100 (6 reviews)[33] (Wii)

The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions garnered mixed reviews. IGN gave the game a 9.0 out of 10, stating that the gameplay changes are "breathing new life into its core mechanics." Mike D'Alonzo of G4 called it "the best wrestling game ever made." However, Andy Hartup of Computer and Video Games gave the game a 6.7 out of 10 and wrote that the game, "offers little more than some new gloss painted over an old product." Game Informer's Dan Ryckert echoed the sentiment, stating, "Thanks to a severely downgraded story mode and a lack of substantial improvements, this is the weakest WWE title in years."

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "E3 2011: WWE '12 Release Date and Cover - PlayStation 3 News at IGN". IGN. May 31, 2011. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  2. "PlayStation®3用ゲームソフト WWE'12 日本語版公式サイト". December 31, 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  3. "WWE '12 Dated and Detailed". Eurogamer. May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  4. George, Richard. "WWE '12: A New Road to Wrestlemania". IGN. Archived from the original on December 24, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  5. "THQ's "WWE '12" arrives this fall". WWE. May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  6. "WWE '12 - Announcement Trailer". THQ. June 1, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  7. Mrosko, Geno (November 18, 2011). "WWE '12 video game 'Bigger, Badder, Better' official launch trailer". Cageside Seats. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  8. Godfrey, Jeff. "WWE '12 Developer Blog - Predator Technology". THQ. Archived from the original on December 27, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  9. Miller, Greg. "E3 2011: WWE '12 Rises". IGN. Archived from the original on January 2, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
  10. "WWE '12 Roster". THQ. Archived from the original on September 5, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
  11. George, Richard (October 18, 2011). "WWE '12: A New Road to Wrestlemania". IGN. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
  12. "WWE '12 DLC PACK #1 ROSTER PROFILES REVEALED!". THQ. Archived from the original on December 13, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  13. "WWE '12 DIVAS DLC PACK RELEASED!". THQ. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  14. Williams, Kenny. "Batista Officially Confirmed As WWE '12 DLC". Wrestling News Source. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  15. "WWE '12 GETS THE MADNESS! OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH YEEEEEAAAAAH!". THQ. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  16. "THE HARDCORE LEGEND IS BACK, RIGHT HERE, IN WWE '12!". THQ. Archived from the original on January 6, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  17. "WWE 12 Review". Computer and Video Games. November 23, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  18. D'Alonzo, Mike (November 22, 2011). "WWE 12 Review (Xbox 360)". G4 (TV channel). Archived from the original on March 11, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  19. D'Alonzo, Mike (November 22, 2011). "WWE 12 Review (Wii)". G4 (TV channel). Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  20. D'Alonzo, Mike (November 22, 2011). "WWE 12 Review (PS3)". G4 (TV channel). Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  21. Ryckert, Dan (November 23, 2011). "WWE '12 (PS3)". Game Informer. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  22. Ryckert, Dan (December 23, 2011). "WWE '12 (Xbox 360)". Game Informer. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  23. Meunier, Nathan. "WWE '12 Review". GameSpot. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  24. "WWE '12 Review". GameTrailers. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  25. George, Richard (November 18, 2011). "IGN: WWE '12". IGN. Archived from the original on November 14, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  26. George, Richard (November 18, 2011). "WWE '12 Review". IGN. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  27. Nintendo Power: 81. December 2011. 
  28. Scullion, Chris. "WWE 12 Wii review". Official Nintendo Magazine. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  29. Rudden, Dave. "WWE '12 review". Official Xbox Magazine. http://www.oxmonline.com/wwe-12-review. Retrieved December 23, 2011. 
  30. "WWE 12 Review". Official Xbox Magazine. http://www.oxm.co.uk/36431/reviews/wwe-12-review/. Retrieved December 23, 2011. 
  31. "Metacritic: WWE '12 (X360)". Metacritic. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  32. "Metacritic: WWE '12 (PS3)". Metacritic. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  33. "Metacritic: WWE '12 (Wii)". Metacritic. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  34. "GameRankings: WWE '12 (Wii)". GameRankings. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  35. "GameRankings: WWE '12 (X360)". GameRankings. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  36. "WWE '12 (PS3)". GameRankings. Retrieved November 23, 2011.

Other websites