The first change is that the familiar weak/strong grapple system has been removed in favour of more realism with how characters perform moves as their opponents or their own physical state deteriorates. This does mean that no longer are characters able to continually perform move after move for the full bouts but as a result can lead to some more pedestrian pace as fatigue sets in. This however does mean that you can pre-empt when matches are close to a conclusion particularly as the pinning meter has also been changed to make kicking out of pin attempts more difficult.

 

The in game AI has also had an overhaul which is designed to stop repetitive usage of the same move over and over but to be honest I found this hardly noticeable as I could still kick, punch, and throw my opponent into the ropes at will, particularly against easier opponents.

 

 

The one stand out aspect of gameplay is that the match types really do make a difference as the numerous different rule sets are in effect. These are particularly evident in the more over the top matches such as tables, ladders and chairs. Whilst it is always fun to smash opponents with steel chairs, attack using ladders and tables even these can become a little tedious when played for long periods.

 

Overall despite the gameplay tweaks I feel that the latest WWE game simply does not offer enough in terms of a progression from other games in the series. This being said I am sure that with the WWE having such a massive global fan base plenty of players will enjoy the game but I feel that this latest release is feeling rather tired in how it plays and it is only the vast array of game modes which is the only real incentive to return for any length of time.

 

 

Although so far I have been a little critical on some aspects of the game, (particularly the gameplay) it does have a thriving online community which does make finding matches easy.

 

Once playing a match these can go one of two ways. Firstly they can prove competitive if you encounter an opponent with a similar skill as yourself and when found these can at times be more enjoyable than games against computer controlled players as you no longer have to battle against the new AI system.

 

 

Secondly you are almost inevitably going to encounter WWE die hard fans online and these types of players have pumped hours into the game perfecting every move. When you come across these players be prepared for some very one sided match ups unless you have perfected your skills before taking the challenge online.

 

It is always good to see a well populated online community and WWE 12 has this in abundance which undoubtedly adds more value to the already feature packed package as a whole.

 

 

Although "WWE '12" has had some gameplay tweaks I feel that the style of combat is becoming rather tiresome and it is only the vast array of content within the game and impressive graphical style which stops the game from becoming a title to miss.

 

Having said this I feel that there is not enough evolution in the latest instalment to make the game be considered essential. As a result I would say that this is one game to try before you buy, unless of course you are a massive WWE fan who is desperate to get their hands on the annual fix of WWE on your Xbox 360.

 

 

 

 

+ Nice visual presentation