Parents' Guide to WWE 2K20

The over-the-top showmanship and suspension of disbelief that comes with every WWE event climbs the top turnbuckle and reaches new heights. In WWE 2K20, the latest entry in the popular sports entertainment franchise, players find themselves in different stories told from the viewpoint and actions of those lived them. In the MyCareer mode, players live their own WWE adventure with all the cheesy drama and plot twists one would expect from the WWE. The real fun, though, comes in certain story beats and in the downloadable "2K Originals" packs (or DLC), which throw reality completely out the window. These feature settings and stories with themes ranging from zombie horror to post-apocalyptic wastelands to neon-infused futuristic sci-fi. While most of these are DLC packs, available for purchase separately or via a season pass, the main game still features some fantasy settings, including a haunted cabin and a lava-filled, demon packed arena in Hell. The absolute absurdity of it is so much fun and leads to some great cinematic action.

Unfortunately, it's the more grounded elements of the game where WWE 2K20 finds itself struggling for the ropes. It's no secret that the game's launch was plagued with various technical bugs, ranging from missing features and problematic graphics to issues with AI behavior and collision detection. Oftentimes, this meant having to restart matches or recreate characters, losing progress along the way. It's not unplayable by any means, and 2K Games has since started rolling out patches addressing most of these issues, significantly improving the experience. Things like streamlined controls makes matches more fluid, and the Assist Mode helps newcomers hold their own while learning moves. Still, much like an injured WWE wrestler, the game still has a ways to go in virtual rehab before it's got a real chance to vie for the WWE championship.