WWE Immortals Review

When it comes to professional wrestling, it feels like the whole, uh, sport is tailor made for gaming. The characters are larger than life, have bulging muscles, and the storylines generally put even the craziest telenovelas to shame. WWE is a household name, and it is the home stable to some of the most recognizable people in show business. As such, WWE Immortals definitely has a lot going for it.

On paper, at least.

The graphics are top-notch, as underscored by the opening sequences - the developer is able to create foreboding environments with dark colors that invade a 3D presentation. The animations are vivid, almost cartoonishly so, but it mostly comes together to create an arcade-like experience.

When it comes to the gameplay, one might be excused for seeing parallels with Injustice: Gods Among Us, the superhero battle adventure. Indeed, both games share the same developer DNA. But putting that aside, WWE Immortals eases players into the fighting. It feels a bit like Mortal Kombat (yep, same folks) with familiar, somewhat supernatural wrestlers fighting without weapons. The initial "fight" is a tutorial of sorts: the player has a three-person team (that can be edited), and each character has special moves, a finishing arsenal, and the like. Attacks are based on taps and gestures, and blocking can be affected as well. "Adrenaline" is the core element, as successful attacks build it and will allow a character to perform life-draining moves.

Basically, it is a war of attrition. Knock out the opposing three players before they do the same. The gameplay is leveled, and winning allows one to accumulate coins and also level-up. The coins can be used later to unlock other characters and/or talent cards. The game also has an online multiplayer option that is cross-platform, which is unlocked at Level 5.

If I had one gripe, it's that I would have liked a few more combination moves right off the bat. Also, try as I might it's tough for me not to feel like it feels oh so much like other WB titles, so monotony might be a concern. Real money expedites stuff (one can fight through with game currency), but it's a slow going.

Still, for fans of wrestling, WWE Immortals is a low risk free-to-play battler that's easy to get into.