2K’s WWE franchise returns in its usual bombastic style with WWE 2K25.

But beneath the showmanship of the “sports entertainment” branding, beats the heart of a very real and very polished fighting game.

I am about as far away from the usual demographic that WWE caters for. The set-ups, the cheeky taps the smashed tables and chairs all make my eyes roll back into my head. But WWE was reality TV before there was reality TV, offering fans excitement, drama and massive personalities in its superstar rivalries.

It’s been a couple of years since I last played a WWE 2K game. Even then I noticed the graphic advances being able to better showcase the look and feel of WWE, beyond the TV clips and videos. WWE 2K25 brings the contests to life.

The game has a ridiculous number of modes. Pretty much everything you see in real-world WWE has been shoehorned into the game. Be it Smackdown or Raw, or the up-and-coming superstars of NXT, you’ll find all the competitions in the game.

The game casts aside any notion that the WWE is choreographed theatre. Via a seemingly unending series of events and fight types, players enter the wrestling ring to engage in combat that doesn’t appear to have any rules whatsoever. The third-person bouts seem simplistic at first, but under the hood, WWE 2K25 is a full-on fighting game.

The game is easy to pick up, but surprisingly hard to master. With many of the moves requiring chained combos, there are loads of button combinations to remember. The four main moves are light and heavy attacks, grab and counter. Once an opponent connects, the only way to escape a potential barrage of attacks is to initiate a perfectly timed counter.

Light attacks will stun an opponent, whilst heavy attacks will deal damage. Each attack has four combinations matching the left stick direction, whilst running attacks can be used to clothesline your opponent.  Grabs can be chained for an Irish whip sending opponents into the ropes or start lifts that you can use to throw your opponent to the ground.

There are hundreds of combinations that enable players to duplicate some brutal moves on their opponents. Thankfully there is a tutorial section (the performance centre) that explains how to get the most out of your superstars. Whilst the tutorials are a lot of fun (and enable you to beat the crap out of your opponents) some of the more complex moves are not that well explained.

In playing the fights straight and with ever increasingly realistic graphics, WWE 2K25 is starting to stray into a bit of a grey area. Whereas family-friending WWE shows are as much about storylines, drama and showmanship, the game comes across as pretty bloody brutal at times. Superstars pummel each other without any hint that it is choreographed. It looks real.

This is exacerbated by the inclusion of intergender fights. Whilst female WWE superstars can hold their own against their male counterparts, watching The Rock pound Rhea Ripley’s face with a chair, doesn’t quite sit well with me.

As well as being a bona fide fighting game in its own right, WWE 2K25 is a full WWE show simulator. Players can set up their own shows, with their own fight lineups, rules and venues. The level of customisation is incredible you can make new superstars, and customise their fight attire, entrance attire, their branding, stats, animations and attitude.

The shows themselves, from the lighting, the screens, the arena, the crowd, and even the signs can be fine-tuned. The game comes with a comprehensive toolkit for creators to make a unique experience. And all of this duplicates the polish and glamour of the real live WWE. It really is something special.

The whole presentation is absolutely stunning. The graphics are the best ever in a WWE game, but these are now complemented by such fluid animations that make the game come alive. The action looks like a real WWE fight with moves and combo flowing seamlessly into one another.

Aside from the individual fights, the MyRise story campaign, 2K Showcase: The Bloodline Dynasty, MyGM, the EA ultimate team-styled MyFaction, WWE Universe and The Island all offer different ways to play. And, of course, there are local and online multiplayer modes as well.

If you are into the drama of WWE, MyRise puts players at the heart of the story as you work your way up through the WWE ranks. The Bloodline Dynasty follows the dominance of the extended Anoa’i family through WWE as told by “The Wiseman” Paul Heyman. You can complete challenges that follow the legendary real-life battles featuring the likes of Hulk Hogan and The Rock (as Rocky Maivia) or create your version of events.

MyFaction is the game’s microtransaction pay-to-play mode. It IS fun, but that’s the intent- to get you to buy booster card packs to power up your factions to progress the game. Building your team and playing shows places players right in the drama, in a customisable experience were anything goes (as long as you have the booster cards).

WWE Universe replicates the WWE show experience in the game. Players can play through a whole calendar of shows from Monday night RAW to special weekend tournaments.

The Island is an online social space where players can meet and fight or matchmake with others. There are opportunities and challenges as well as merch shops to buy accessories for your superstar.

For a franchise that is perhaps aided at a more younger audience than other fighting games (it is an M in Australia, compared to UFC 5’s MA 15+), WWE 2K25, is pushing it a bit. The violence, the microtransactions and the high cost of the top-end versions of the game mean it walks a fine line. On the other hand, it gives the game an appeal that is wider than its main fan base.

Whilst I’ve enjoyed playing WWE games in the past, this is the first one that really hooked me. The realistic animations, the gritty brawling and the outlandish moves absolutely captivated me. The opportunities to customise and make my own superstars only engrossed me more. It was such a hard game to put down.

WWE 2K25 is a breakout entry in the long-running franchise that sees an almost pixel-perfect representation of the sport in a game. Masses of content, a stunning attention to detail that draws on the history and legacy of WWE should appeal to old fans, new fans and anyone who enjoys a great fighting game.

The post WWE 2K25 (PlayStation 5) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

In 1990 Nintendo hosted a massive tournament in the US using short modified versions of Rad Racer, Super Mario Bros and Tetris.

The goal, to get the best score and earn some sweet sweet cash. Well now 34 years later, you can enjoy a sweet version of the speedrunning action, from the comfort of your own home of course.

Jumping into the action, the main single player mode is Speedrun mode.

Here you get presented with each of the 13 games that you can do levels from. Each of them lets you play a level, and getting great scores on them allows you to unlock later levels. Initially it feels far too simple as you have super short levels where, for instance, Mario just needs to run and grab something. The initial The Legend of Zelda one for example literally just has you run up into a cave and grab a sword. Early levels are regularly under 20 seconds, as long as you don’t balls it up of course.

It turns out you should enjoy these early ones, as they get longer and harder fast. For example the Super Mario Bros. levels go from needing to collect some coins in a few seconds, to having to nail a couple of minutes of the level with the jumping fish on the first try. Even scaling the damn stairs at the end of a level can be frustrating if you don’t time your jumps absolutely spot on.

The levels carry on even if you die, it just reverts you back a couple of seconds, but with the timer still going.  I can’t tell you how many times I had to go back and forth as I tried to get past Bowser perfectly to get the damn axe.

The Speedrun mode gives your rankings based on the time you complete the levels. You need to get high enough ranks to earn enough currency to unlock later levels.  This alone was enough for the game to have been a whole heap of fun. The great news is there are even more options for you once you smash this out. There is Survival mode which has you play 3 rounds against ghosts of other players which is awesome. Then there is a local co-op version which has you and up to 8 people competing for times, and then world champs has you do 5 levels and your score goes up on an online leaderboard.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition might not be the next great Nintendo game, but it’s a damn fun side game. It lets you enjoy slices of classic Nintendo goodness that respects these icons in short bite sized and fun ways.

The post Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition (Switch) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

I’ve been a casual fan of wrestling for a long time.

I’ve gone through cycles of watching every week, to watching the odd PPV.

The silliness, the theatrics, and the live action physical stunts always manage to pull me back in. So I was shocked that I had never heard of Beyond the Mat, a 1999 documentary that WWE helped with, but then tried to dissonance itself from.

The reality of wrestling can be as silly and insane as their storylines, and so I was in.

For anyone else who missed this, Beyond the Mat is a documentary by Barry W. Blaustein which follows Jake the Snake, Terry Funk, and Mick Foley. These 3 wrestlers provide really diverse personalities outside the ring. Jake the Snake is having issues with substance abuse, Terry Funk is old as hell and doing the independent circuits just for the love of the sport, and Mick Foley is the most wholesome man I think I have seen.

Seriously,  I knew the guy was known for being nice to other wrestlers but holy crap.  For one of the most crazy characters in wrestling, known for putting his body on the line, he might just be one the most lovely humans on the planet. We slices of him at home with his wife and kids, and he is the best kind of family man.

Throughout the story is a series of other clips and moments like watching a new up and coming wrestler get his chance. The gimmick that gets him signed, he can throw up on queue.  It was the 90s,  let’s keep that in mind.

The stories are really well told to give an interesting slice of what happens behind the scenes.

The hardest part really is Mick Foleys story and watching how his kids handle him getting bloodied up. He seems to be able to tell himself that he tells his kids it’s all pretend and he’s a superhero. Then we get to watch them at a live show. The Rock and Mick Foley have a pretty iconic fight, but as The Rock is taking to his head with a chair we keep cutting back to his wife and kids.

They viscerally react and cry with every hit as the crowd roars.  I can’t lie, it was a really hard watch.

Afterwards they are back stage as he passes his concussion checks, and tells them its just a boo boo. They then walk around with him as he has a post match convo with the Rock and goes home. When you see how much he loves and plays with his kids, then see how epic of a wrestler he is, and then see that battle. I mean, it’s been days since I saw it and it’s still sitting in my mind.

The Bluray also comes with a dinner conversation with Barry W. Blaustein,  Jesse Ventura (who was lightly covered in the doco) and Mick Foley which is a surprisingly great little watch.

Beyond the Mat is a well created documentary.  It’s not a hit piece,  or a fluff piece, but just a bunch of really interesting slices of life of wrestlers at the time that shows the positives and negatives. This is a must add to the shelf for any wrestling fan.

Oh and the controversy with the WWE and the movie. Vince was included in it but came off as a dick.  It’s not hard to make Vince look like a dick though.

The post Beyond the Mat – Special Edition (Bluray) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

2K has just announced WWE 2K24, the newest instalment of the flagship WWE video game franchise developed by Visual Concepts.

As he burns a path through WWE in an effort to claim world championship gold and fulfil his destiny, “The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes will be featured on the Standard Edition cover. Multi-time champions and Women’s Royal Rumble winners Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley share the Deluxe Edition cover, marking the first time in history two women have graced a dedicated WWE 2K cover, while the Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition cover features original artwork celebrating the most iconic Superstars and Legends in WrestleMania history, including The Rock, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and more.

WWE 2K24 features several franchise advancements, including 2K Showcase…of the Immortals celebrating 40 years of WrestleMania, four new match types such as Ambulance and Special Guest Referee, two new MyRISE experiences, and much more. In addition, fans can also look forward to a massive roster of more than 200 WWE Superstars and Legends including Roman Reigns, Andre the Giant, Becky Lynch, Batista, Kurt Angle, Asuka, Bret Hart, Brock Lesnar, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Chyna, and more. Incredibly realistic graphics and improved animations – with over 90% of facial expressions updated – plus improvements to Ramp cameras and Dive cameras, and the ability to move the camera during live gameplay provide the most visually impressive WWE 2K experience to date.

WWE 2K24 Deluxe Edition and Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition are scheduled for worldwide release on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, followed by the Standard Edition and Standard Cross-Gen Digital Edition on Friday, March 8, 2024.

WWE 2K24 will release on PlayStation 5 (PS5), PlayStation 4 (PS4), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.

The post WWE 2K24 Celebrates 40 Years of WrestleMania w. 2K Showcase appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

EA Sports FC 24 may not roll off the tongue as well as FIFA 24, but that’s all you’ve got to worry about with EA’s rebranding of its popular FIFA football game franchise.

Long ago, the diehards would dismiss EA’s FIFA games as commercial sellouts, a rudimentary football arcade game compared to Konami’s superior Pro Evolution Soccer. PES fans, dismissing the familiarity of the licenced clubs in EA’s FIFA franchise would, instead, have to pick the likes of “North London” instead of Arsenal, or “Merseyside Red” instead of Liverpool. Teams made up of phonetically named players similar to the real ones but spelt differently for licencing reasons added to the cringe. The inevitable (unofficial) patch would then be released, post-launch to rename all the teams and players properly. But this was back when the FIFA licence was worth something and Pro Evolution Soccer ruled the roost.

Things change.

EA Sports has long got to grips with its digital rendition of the beautiful game, the annual FIFA games rarely leaving the top ten of the best-seller list. Whilst each iteration was never a revolution, over the years, the developers have transformed the game into a technical marvel, perfectly capturing the essence of what makes football the world’s game.

So, when EA’s FIFA licence wasn’t renewed, it wasn’t the big deal that the global football governing body thought it would be. Unlike Konami back in the day, EA Sports secured all the teams, players, tournaments and cup licences to continue their franchise without the blessing of FIFA. All that’s missing is the FIFA World Cup, which is no loss, to be honest.

What we have with EA Sports FC 24 is, effectively, everything that a FIFA 24 game would have been, with just a different name.

EA has taken this opportunity to spruce up the menus a bit, but they are still as unintuitive as most EA Sports titles. So, if you are familiar with the usual EA Sports arse-backwards menu systems you’ll still feel right at home.

As well as the rebranding, the game has all the usual visual tweaks and stat updates that are the bread and butter of annual sports games. The game uses a new version of the Frostbite Engine and something called “Play Styles” that better interprets players’ real-world abilities into the game.

FC 24 does look good and the player animations are incredibly realistic. This is likely down to the big improvement this year- the implementation of Hypermotion V Technology. I don’t want to sound like I’ve been drinking from the EA fountain, but the game really does have a next-level vibe to it. Whereas recent FIFA games have used data captured from real players, Hypermotion V Technology uses the captured volumetric data of entire 11-person teams from over 180 elite-level matches.

All the game modes that you’d expect are included. You can jump straight into a quick friendly against a computer control opponent or friends, locally. There’s the player career mode, allowing for a more personal journey through FC 24, or you can get involved in the details of running a club with the manager career mode. There are all the competitive online modes and, of course, the collectable card game/fantasy football mashup, Ultimate Team.

For the first time, EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Team brings male and female players together in the same team. Despite the new franchise name, I was pleased to be able to bring my currency across from FIFA 23 and start fleshing out my own Ultimate Team with new card packs. Still massively deep, it’s easy to sink lots of time (and cash) into building up your perfect squad.

For those that like their football short and sweet Volta Football offers players quick Futsal-type matches on open and fences courts. Volta now offers online cross-play, the same as other online modes, with players using the same generation of hardware (i.e. PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC) all being able to play together.

All the above is for nought if the players are not responsive on the pitch, which they very much are. As with its FIFA predecessors, FC 24 perfectly captures the nail-biting excitement of football. Missed goals and fouling opponents will have you shouting at the TV, with perfectly-timed offensive attacks rewarding you with exhilaration. FC 24 is a beautiful game, both visually and in its gameplay.

EA Sports FC 24 is the complete package continuing the legacy of EA’s FIFA franchise. The amazing gameplay, and incredible on-pitch visuals, all wrapped up in the signature EA TV broadcast-style presentation make this a must-buy for FIFA fans.

The post EA Sports FC 24 (Xbox Series X|S) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

WWE in partnership with the Western Australian Government through Tourism Western Australia, today announced its return to Australia for a globally televised Premium Live Event (PLE).

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth will take place at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, on Saturday, February 24, 2024. This will mark WWE’s first event in Australia since 2018 and the only PLE in the Asia-Pacific region in 2024.

Located in the heart of Perth, the capital of Western Australia – a famed travel destination with a globally renowned record in hosting cultural and sporting events – the multi-purpose world-class Optus Stadium opened in 2018 and has hosted a multitude of sports and entertainment events including the Australian Football League Grand Final, State of Origin, Ed Sheeran’s ‘÷’ tour, Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’ tour, Eminem’s ‘Rapture’ tour, U2’s ‘Joshua Tree’ tour, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the upcoming Australian-exclusive Coldplay ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour.

“Perth is the perfect location for a major WWE Premium Live Event in Australia, following a series of record-breaking WWE events in iconic international destinations,” said WWE Senior Vice President Chris Legentil. “With a week full of WWE events and experiences, we hope to leave a lasting memory for Western Australia and the entire WWE Universe.”

“Hosting WWE in Perth is a real coup for our state as it will shine a global spotlight on Western Australia to billions of viewers worldwide, attract thousands of out-of-state visitors to WA and create an incredible atmosphere in the city for the local community and visitors alike,” said the Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA, Western Australia’s Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism. “The WA Government, through Tourism WA, is proud to support this exclusive event that will generate millions of dollars for the local economy and highlight WA as a world-class events destination. I encourage everyone to Western Australia for WWE to extend their trip to explore more of our wondrous state as part of this once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Commenting on the historic announcement, WWE Women’s World Champion and Australian native Rhea Ripley said: “I’m beyond proud to represent Australia every single time I step inside a WWE ring and to bring a Premium Live Event to Perth is a dream come true. Get ready Australia, because Mami is coming home.”

The 2023 WWE Elimination Chamber from the Bell Centre in Montreal broke multiple company records. Viewership of the event saw a 54 percent increase versus the prior record set in 2022. It also marked new high points for gate, merchandise and sponsorship.

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth will be broadcast live in approximately 165 countries in 25 languages and seen in more than 1 billion homes. Information regarding general ticket onsale and further event updates will be available in the coming weeks.

Additionally, Priority Pass ticket packages will soon be available from On Location, offering fans the chance to be ringside for every exhilarating moment including premium seating, pre-show hospitality with WWE Superstar appearances, ringside photo opportunities, exclusive merchandise and more.

The post WWE RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA W. ELIMINATION CHAMBER: PERTH appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

2K’s latest instalment of the long-running wrestling franchise, WWE 2K23, promises more over-the-top action inside (and outside) the ring.

I can’t say that I’m much of a fan of WWE. But it is a credit to the developers at 2K that they can make a game that is entertaining and engaging to both fans and non-fans, alike.

It’s an open secret that WWE isn’t quite as it seems. That’s not to say that it isn’t performed by incredibly skilled athletes, but it is more like a cross between an outlandish reality TV show and a stunt show than a real contact sport. Regardless, WWE is still very entertaining and lacking the blood and gore of its more savage contemporaries.

WWE 2K23 gives us an interesting what-if. What if these herculean feats by skilled performers were actual contests instead of carefully choreographed theatre?

The game plays WWE straight, the only way it can, really. It has all the pomp and ceremony of a real wrestling bout.

The whole presentation is polished to a tee accurately mimicking the showmanship of the WWE from the extravagant entry sequences to the wrestlers’ characterisations and signature style. Even as a non-fan, the game sucked me into the world of WWE.

For this outing, 2K has hit its stride with the visuals. The animations are pretty much faultless. It’s only the slightly dead eyes of hyper-famous wrestling stars that are a creepy signpost to the uncanny valley.

The wrestlers move smoothly, overcoming an issue I had with the previous iterations of the franchise. Much of the player’s success is in turning around the advantage of the other wrestler. Better animations allow players to carefully time the essential press of the Xbox’s Y button, instigating a turnaround. This stops the player’s wrestler from getting a continuous pounding from their opponent.

Mimicking the action of a real WWE bout, the game is all about the seamless flow of dramatic set pieces. Capturing the real-life excitement, wrestlers can inexplicably switch the proceedings in their favour, even if moments ago they were literally on the ropes.

It’s a game that is easy to get into, but with plenty of depth with combos and signature moves requiring careful timing and muscle memory to execute. The game gives players plenty of visual rewards for outmanoeuvring their opponent in a way that is quite unlike any other fighting game. A detailed tutorial system (which I revisited many times whilst playing) does a great job of explaining the game’s combos and advanced moves.

The game doesn’t accommodate button-mashing, which is good. The downside is that sometimes onslaughts can seem relentless, like the game is creating manufacturing drama by making countering overly difficult.

Some of the moves are brutal with wrestlers seemingly pounding their opponents to a pulp. Whilst the real WWE is a campy and somewhat overacted tongue-in-cheek performance, the game, being more grounded, does come across as a bit more vicious. Just as in real WWE, though, the wrestlers shrug off the horrendous-looking assaults and come back for more without a bruise or drop of blood in sight.

As usual, as well as straight tournaments, choosing from a massive list of fight types, there’s the behind-the-scene management of MyGM, the customisable card-based MyFaction, the MyRise campaign, and the rival-based Universe mode.

WWE superstar-cum-moviestar, John Cena, headlines this iteration of the franchise with the Showcase mode. Fans are treated by filmed sequences of Cena looking back on his career, from his humble beginnings, warts and all. Players can then relieve the highs and the lows of the celebrity’s WWE history.

With WWE 2K23, the visuals finally match the game’s aspirations, giving players lifelike animations to better control the action in the ring. The entertaining over-the-top action of WWE is perfectly captured in the game as a bona fide and sophisticated fighting game in its own right.

With an incredible layer of polish and high production values, the game should appeal to WWE fans and non-fans alike.

The post WWE 2K23 (Xbox Series X|S) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

WWE just announced that The O2 in London will host Money In The Bank on Saturday, July 1st, 2023.

Money In The Bank marks the first WWE Premium Live Event to be held in London in over two decades.

Money In The Bank will feature WWE’s biggest Superstars and will also bring the Money In The Bank ladder matches to the UK for the first time in history, with each winner receiving a briefcase containing a contract for a championship match at a time and place of their choosing anytime within the next year.

“The O2 is one of the world’s premier venues and the perfect home for Money In The Bank. We are excited to bring one of our ‘Big 5’ events to the UK and look forward to welcoming the WWE Universe to London on July 1,” said Dan Ventrelle, EVP, Talent at WWE.

“We are honoured to be hosting the first ever Money In The Bank event taking place in the UK here at The O2,” said Christian D’Acuña, Senior Programming Director at The O2. “We’re looking forward to welcoming back WWE fans to The O2 this summer for an unforgettable night with some of WWE’s biggest Superstars.”

The announcement follows the huge success of Cardiff’s Clash At The Castle in September 2022, the first major WWE stadium show to be held in the UK since 1992.

Clash At The Castle broke numerous records at the time including becoming the most-watched international premium live event in WWE history, with the largest European gate ever and the best-selling merchandise for a non-WrestleMania event.

The post MONEY IN THE BANK HEADED TO THE O2 IN LONDON appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

FIFA 23 marks the final game to be released by the partnership between EA Sports and FIFA. EA Sports will be back, next year, rebranding their football games as EA Sports FC, with all the same leagues, teams and players, just not with any mention of FIFA.

No matter what the title, it’s EA’s investment in their football franchise that is likely why FIFA 23 remains such a strong game. EA have no intention to let the fans down or produce anything other than a top-class football game. Whilst I’m a little concerned at what they will do next year, without having to get FIFA’s sign-off, this year’s FIFA is the game we know and love, but just that little bit better.

Iterative sports titles can be a bit of a nightmare to review. A revised player line-up and a bit of polish are usually all we get. The release of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S has given the developers a bit more power to play with, making my job a bit easier of late. FIFA 23 boasts Hypermotion 2.0, an AI technology that supposedly increases the realism of the players on the pitch. Marketing jargon, aside, the players are incredibly well-animated, moving realistically both with the ball and defensively. This is especially apparent during the broadcast-style replays.

Something has also been done to the way the players perform on the field. Against an evenly-matched opponent, the on-pitch battle seems a lot more volatile this year. The cheesy moves I’ve been using to get myself out of strife since FIFA 98 were simply not enough. The game made me work to clear defenders and punished me for the slightest fumble. Losing possession went from an inconvenience to a game-changer in moments. Having Liverpool give my Arsenal squad a run for their money is one thing, but just scraping a 1-0 victory against Brighton was humbling.

As you’d expect, FIFA 23 is packaged with an overwhelming amount of game modes, tournaments and leagues. It’s a game that caters for all fans of the beautiful game, from casual couch play to online tournaments.

The Volta Football mode introduced a few years back is still included in the game, offering a quick game of five-a-side etc. with minimal rules and big scoring potential. It’s OK for a distraction, but EA has made it into a big part of the game- a lot bigger than I feel it deserves to be. It stops short of giving us a single-player Volta league option, that would be nice. The Volta tournament mode remains a bizarre campaign/RPG mix that may appeal to some but doesn’t to me.

It’s with real football that the meat of FIFA 23 lies.

The game features all the world’s leagues that matter, including the Australia A-League. Pitting Sydney against the likes of Arsenal is always good for a laugh/challenge. Rolling over from last year’s inclusion, Ryan Reynold’s AFC Wrexham, who you can follow in the Disney + documentary, “Welcome to Wrexham”, is also included in the “Rest of World” geographic location. Even the Welsh underdogs can give Sydney FC a good hiding.

Joining AFC Wrexham in the “Rest of World” geographic location is another novelty team that probably doesn’t belong in the game, Richmond AFC. This fictional English Premier League team is from the Apple TV show Ted Lasso. In the show, the titular US America Football coach takes on the management of a UK football team. The FIFA squad includes scanned faces of the characters from the show, allowing fans to field the likes of Roy Kent, Jamie Tartt and Dani Rojas, with Ted Lasso, himself, standing on the sidelines. Unlike Wrexham, this fictional team is actually quite formidable on the pitch.

The European Champions League licence is put to good. Fans have the opportunity to partake in this opulent contest of champions that pits the best against the best. There are no second-rate teams here, with every match rather a joyful challenge.

The Champions League is joined by the CONMEBOL Libertadores South American club tournament. Massively popular in Latin America, it’s a tournament that’s often overlooked in favour of European-focused football.

The Women’s International Cup seems doesn’t build on what’s gone before. I’m sure a lot more could be done to increase the profile of women’s football in the game. The women’s teams offer up fast and nimble on-pitch action and are definitely worth a look. Unfortunately, this year there are no New Zealand Football Ferns or Australian Matildas. It’s still a good tournament but I feel under-utilised by the game overall.

EA’s FIFA Ultimate Team continues to be engrossing and, for many, the lifeblood of the game. The pay-to-win aspect of FUT still doesn’t sit well with me, but I can understand the appeal. Opening packs, selling players and buying your favourites to build your ultimate team is very moreish. It’s easy to spend hours bidding and building your squad without actually playing a match.

With a massive number of modes and gameplay options, the menus can be less than intuitive and a bit overwhelming. They follow a similar menu style used across all of EA’s sports titles, which are all probably in need of an overhaul.

All of the above is tied up in an unrivalled slickly presented package with a cracking soundtrack. The visuals both on and off the pitch are astounding. As the graphical prowess of the consoles increase, some of the close-ups of players’ faces are entering the uncanny valley, in that they sometimes look a bit off. But, from a distance, the gameplay looks like a TV broadcast.

FIFA 23 is a worthy conclusion to the series that pulls no punches. EA has crafted a game that is still the ultimate football game. Be it solo, online or on the couch with mates, FIFA 23 brings all the excitement of the world’s game to your home.

The post FIFA 23 (Xbox Series X|S) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

He was floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee, but despite some iconic lines and knowing he was a legend of the sport, I knew shockingly little about the legend.

So given the opportunity to check out a documentary I was in.

Muhammad Ali as a documentary is most easily summarized by my wife at the end of the first Bluray. When I asked her what she thought so far she replied with one word. Thorough. This is an incredibly fair assessment, and exactly what I was feeling. Over 4 Bluray discs there is about 8 hours of documentary here so you will see a lot of his life.

Now length isn’t always a good thing, so that number on its own could be a good thing or a bad thing. The good news is the vast majority of it is well earned and worth it’s time. The documentary starts with his early life and how it led into boxing, before displaying the massive and chaotic life that is Muhammad Ali’s career.

One thing I never appreciated was just how much of a smack talker he was. In many ways he reminds me of Colin McGregor today, except much more likable.

He would say cocky things, and tell everyone how amazing he was, but he was also fighting the obvious racism of his day. The process of converting to a Muslim obviously didn’t help things. I mean look at how black people or Muslims are treated today, well it was the bloody 60’s. Unsurprisingly he was up against it all.

One thing I never really appreciated was his conviction to his beliefs. He was a draft dodger for religious reasons, and he was so close to going to prison for so long. I would have buckled long before he did, and up until he almost got sent there he was steadfast in his convictions. It is so easy to see sports as their own bubble alongside world events, but that was not the case for our dear Muhammad.

The documentary, while thorough, is never lacking in interest. We get his family talking, Don King talking, \ journalists, etc. It is a thorough covering of the major events of his life from the people most qualified to tell the story. Sometimes it is glamorous, sometimes it isn’t. But these nuances are what makes a 4 disc marathon worth watching. By not pulling punches at times, it really gives authenticity to the story, and as such you feel like you are really getting a slice of this man’s life.

Muhammad Alli is an incredible documentary about an incredible man who overcame some massive challenges to become one of the greatest athletes of all time. He might not always be the hero, but he is always fascinating, and has a story worth experiencing. All 8ish hours of it.

The post Muhammad Ali (Documentary – 2022) Bluray review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.