WWE 2K19: 5 Entrances that the game must get right

With WWE 2K19's global release now just over six weeks away (9 October), the fans are going crazy for the much-awaited video game.

Currently, 2K has revealed 68 names who will be a part of the game. But the list is far from complete and one could expect a few more stars to show up when they play the game. However, the names don't mean anything if 2K does not nail the digital representation. Last year, the stars looked similar to how they look in real life, but they weren't perfect.

Recreating the live atmosphere of a buzzing wrestling arena is tricky. That is the case that needs to be strong during entrances. Entrances play a great role in making a character and game look great.

With that being said, let us talk about some entrances that ought to be realistic in WWE 2K19.

#5. Seth Rollins

There's nothing particularly flashy or complex about the way Seth Rollins makes his way to the ring. When the music hits, runs through its first few bars, then erupts with "BURN IT DOWN!", which promotes 'The Kingslayer' to stomp out from the back, firing himself and the crowd up on the stage before swaggering down the ramp.

But that's not easy to make an entrance in the game like that. WWE games always fall short of making that type of entrances. Capturing fire, passion, and intensity isn't easy. With the characters moving at least 10% slower than they move in real life, and with such traits defining Rollins' character and entrance, it is essential that it is nailed.

The electric reaction that Rollins gets when he makes his way should not be ignored. It's natural, organic, and explosive - the antithesis of the 2K series as a whole, but if the developers get it wrong, they'll make one of the most entertaining entrances the worst entrance in the game.

#4. Aleister Black

Aleister Black's entrance is one of WWE's most complex entrances and is up there with the likes of The Undertaker when you talk about entrances that sends chills down the spines. That ominous, bent note creates a dark, foreboding atmosphere as the arena fades to black. Then come the drums, rumbling through the building, before a rhythm gradually emerges, and the former NXT Champion rises on the stage like a beast from a coffin.

Finally, there's the slow, deliberate march to the ring, the flip over the top rope, then the cross-legged meditation, all while the crowd bathed in Black's aura. It's a staggering spectacle and one that 2K will do well to accurately recreate.

While it is a bit impossible to create an entrance like that, 2K can manage to create half of the aura that Black's entrance possesses. The crowd reaction can play an important role with the fans singing his theme. If the developers want to make Black feel even halfway as special as he does in real life, this is a problem they must solve.

#3. Shinsuke Nakamura

Heel Nakamura's entrance is more difficult

Shinsuke Nakamura's character has a certain edge and charisma to it that makes it better than his run as a babyface.

Nakamura's entrance is where he reveals his personality the best, running around with gyrations and mannerisms as a bad guy, and the change in entrance music helps too. Going from sweeping, violin-led epic to ghastly Japanese rap-metal hybrid was a masterstroke and crowd singing his old theme song with it makes it one of the best entrances in WWE.

Big entrances will always be an important part of Shinsuke's act. 2K did a great job in his entrance in WWE 2K18. However, it would be difficult to make it this year. 2K needs to nail his altered entrance if they're to capture the true essence of his character. 2K needs to add all the things from his current entrance. The crowd singing his old theme should not be left behind and 'The Artist' must be given an artistic and a beautiful entrance in the game.

#2. The New Day

The clown princes of WWE's tag division know how to make an entrance. Their dancing, clapping, trombone-tooting walk-out is one of their act's defining pieces and they're always refining it. Whether it's switching up their movements or incorporating brand new gimmicks, the popular trio makes the fans get up on their feet and chant 'New Day Rocks'.

While 2K has done a great job in making their entrance in WWE 2K17 and WWE 2K18, there's still something missing.

Incorporating Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods' favourite breakfast food sounds easy, but the 2K series' robotic crowds could make it challenging. The spot where Big E rains the cakes down on the audience members is critical. It is difficult to create them eating them too. The developers can surely program this into the game, though they'll need to do it with a number of different fan character models to avoid repetition.

The fans would love this new entrance in the game and might make it the best entrance 2K has ever created in a WWE game.

#1. 'Demon' Finn Balor

The best ring entrance in modern wrestling made a long overdue comeback at SummerSlam 2018, as Finn Balor resurrected his Demon persona and completely decimated interim Raw General Manager in just a couple of minutes.

The Demon is a surefire crowd-popper that elevates every situation, creating one hell of an atmosphere. The body-paint, the smoke, the red and white lighting, the heart-pounding extending entrance theme and a rolling demon. 2K needs to get it right this year.

2K18's Demon was convincing enough, but we know the developers have a better version. The smoke and lightning effects need work. It would be great to see more versions of the Demon represented as WWE 2K18 consisted of Demon as other characters than Finn Balor's original. The list includes Demon from Takeover: London's Jack the Ripper pastiche to the soulless, monochrome version unleashed at Takeover: The End and all his three parts that took place at SummerSlam. It would be great to see all versions of former Universal Champion's alter ego.

Let us see how 2K does that and give us "The Demon".