[jrider99]

Got in a few matches this morning, including a Royal Rumble and a ladder match. Still haven't touched Universe Mode or the Road to Wrestlemania...

Playing on Normal difficulty, I'm getting good matches that are lasting anywhere from 4-8 minutes. I'm liking the back-and-forth flow of the matches, too. It's a small sample size, but the momentum seems to be very well done. It's easy to get on a roll and pull off several moves in a row, yet one timely counter can stop your momentum cold.

I haven't quite figured out the Comeback Moments. I've executed one successfully, but had 3 or 4 that I couldn't get started. I'm not sure if I have to grapple to begin the moment or strike or what the circumstances may be. I'm thinking of going through the tutorial tonight to get a crash course in all that's new here. On a side note, I have had the AI counter my Comeback Moment attempt.

The new kickout meter definitely takes some getting used to. It's hard enough to stop the sliding bar in the colored area under normal circumstances, but when you hear the ref counting and you know you only have one chance, it really adds to the pressure of the moment.

Also, the same meter is used to get up in a Last Man Standing match. As the Miz, I lost to Alex Riley in a LMS match that ended when A-Ry reversed a clothesline into a back-body drop that sent me through the announce table. Before that, we had traded finishers with both of us getting to our feet at the count of 9.

I think I've said this before, but I'm really impressed with how both moves and mistakes are sold in WWE 12. I missed an elbow drop off the top and it was agonizing waiting to see which competitor would get to their feet first. And the new limb targeting system works really well, too, and the results are tangible.

I have seen a few graphical glitches/clipping. Most of the glitches involved the turnbuckle area, with guys sort of floating in mid-air away from the corner instead of actually being on the top rope. It hasn't happened often, but it definitely sticks with you when you see it.

I'm back at the office now so I don't have the game in front of me, but if anyone has questions I will try to answer what I can.

At this early stage, I have to say I'm impressed with WWE 12. It's a lot of fun, and that's what matters most to me. I'm looking forward to becoming more comfortable with the controls, though, and diving into Universe Mode. I think the gameplay is solid, and if there are no weird issues with Universe Mode this could be a really special game.