WWE 2K15 is finally available for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, allowing players to dive into the most realistic wrestling game to date. You’ll grapple with a number of superstars in the game, including old-school favorites like Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan, along with up-and-coming sensations like Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns.
We already covered some of the basic techniques in our beginner guide, as well as the best wrestlers. Now we’ll get into the advanced stuff, including how to kick out of a pin and using your surroundings to your advantage with various match types.
How to kick out of a pin
The general way to win a match is by pinfall, where an opponent attempts to pin you for a three count. Depending on how tired you get during a match, there’s a certain chance of getting out of it.
When you’re pinned, there’s a light-up meter that comes into play, requiring you to hold down the A or X button (depending on the platform) to escape. The goal is to land in the red zone of the kick-out meter to successfully complete it – otherwise, you’ll need to try again, and you only have three seconds to do this.
If you’re still fresh in the match or have a sufficient amount of energy indicated on your meter, you’ll notice that your kick-out zone is quite large, letting you easily get out of the pinfall. However, if your wrestler is worn down – or just received a Finisher – the zone will be a lot smaller, making kicking out difficult.
With this, your best overall shot is to avoid being pinned. This can be a problem after you’ve had a power move landed on you, but take the chance to slip away by holding the right analog stick in a certain direction. This allows you to recharge, and better still, rethink your strategy with your opponent.
Otherwise, you’ll take a gamble while being pinned – and it doesn’t always pay off.
Master your environment
Even though certain match types are missing from previous games, WWE 2K15 still has a lot to offer, ranging from a normal match to a triple threat (where you face two opponents at once) to more specialized matches, including Hell In a Cell (where you battle inside a large steel cage) and TLC (where you can use outside weaponry, like ladders and chairs).
For normal matches, weapons are usually a no-no. Picking one up and swinging at your opponent (even if it’s something like the ring steps) will result in a quick disqualification. If you’re wrestling in an Extreme Rules match or TLC, all bets are off, and you can pick up these objects with a simple tap of the left bumper button.
Weapons are a great way to wear out your opponent, provided you can hit them properly. Sometimes they’ll be able to move out of the way, and in some scenarios, they may even have a weapon of their own, which could mean bad news for you. Try to keep tabs on where certain items are, so you can use them without your opponent turning the tables.
Speaking of which, tables are excellent for wearing down your opponent, as you can slam through these items and do a lot of damage. You have to launch into a power move near the table to successfully drive a person into one, but it can pay off in the end, either giving you a win in a table match or providing great damage in other matches that allow it. Keep the tables nearby, but be careful that your opponent isn’t strong enough to put you through one. That can make all the difference between victory and defeat.
Don’t forget there’s nothing illegal about slamming your opponent into an object, even during normal matches. This is a good time to use objects outside the ring to your advantage. Flinging your opponent into an outside barrier, followed by a running kick or grab attack is a terrific move, and adds damage rather quickly. You can also ram their heads into the outside ring post or even the announce table, then fling them back into the ring while they’re dazed to do extra damage.
One note – watch for the count-out. The referee will begin counting to 10 as you beat up your opponent outside of the ring. If you’re still out there by the time he reaches 10, the match will be over. Try to slide back into the ring after you’ve done enough damage to your opponent so you can savor the victory, even if it isn’t as sweet as a pinfall.
Fly off the top at your own risk
Finally, high-flying maneuvers are an excellent way to show off during a match, as you can land anything from Rob Van Dam’s Five-Star Frog Splash to CM Punk’s flying elbow with enough practice. It’s just a matter of getting over to the corner, then holding down the left trigger and moving in the direction of the ringpost.
Keep a few things in mind. First, it can take a little while for you to climb up there, especially if you’re using a larger opponent such as the Big Show. This gives your opponent all the time necessary to get up and counter, such as launching a punch to knock you off, or worse yet, a grab move for a heavily-damaging Superplex.
Second, just because you set yourself up for success doesn’t always mean you’ll succeed. Your opponent can easily roll out of the way at the last second, or put up their knees so you can take damage while you come down. This is especially true for Alberto Del Rio, who’s notorious for that. Make sure your opponent is winded enough that you can land the move, and get ready to fly.
You’re not limited to landing high-flying moves in the ring – you can jump to an opponent outside the ring as well. However, there’s greater risk here, since you’re jumping an even higher distance. The payoff if you can land it is worth the effort. Set up your opponent with enough damage outside the ring, then climb back in and land the move. Better still, if you manage to knock them off the ring apron with a grab move or running attack, they should be dazed long enough for you to mount the ringpost and take flight. Keep an eye on their energy level, though.
With risk comes reward, so don’t be afraid to take a flying leap. Just don’t try this at home.
WWE 2K15 is available now for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, as well as Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
