WWE 2K17 doesn’t make any big, drastic changes, but its smart gameplay tweaks have revitalized match types I’d ignored the past few years. I really miss 2K Showcase, and 2K17 is still weak in areas that I feel should have been shored up by now, but its excellent combat, and generous amounts of customization help it retain its title.

You will get out of WWE 2K17 exactly what you put into it - be it a quick go for exciting ring action or an in-depth wrestling simulator which you can sink many hours into.

A good step forward for 2K's series, with solid gameplay improvements and very good commentating. We were underwhelmed by the Career mode and the lack of a Showcase mode.

WWE 2K17 doesn't seem like the newest game release in the franchise. No Showcase Mode in this edition without new gimmicks to justify the absence. No brand split, Universal Championship and the other new titles in this new era of WWE, but there’s a lot of content and fighters with which play dozens of hours.

The WWE 2K series needs a comprehensive tutorial more than anything. Hopefully that's on the agenda for next year's game. WWE 2K17 has all the authenticity a wrestling fan could want – I just wish it would ease new players into the gameplay better.

WWE 2K17 is a marginally better game than 2K16, as the core mechanics feel like they've been refined a bit, but with the fantastic 2K Showcase consigned to the bin and no new modes to replace it, this is a package that's now sorely lacking. You might as well play last year's game, unless you're a massive fan that has to have the most up to date roster possible. Otherwise, WWE 2K17 is an enjoyable wrestling game that could still do with a bit of a kick up the backside for next year's instalment.

Like Roman Reigns, it looks the part, but the wrestling is rubbish. Scrap this and start again, 2K. [Christmas 2016, p.86]