Download.it search icon
Advertisement

Wrestle your way to the top in this branded game 

Wrestle your way to the top in this branded game 

Vote: (709 votes)

Program license: Paid

Developer: 2K Inc.

Version: 1.1.8117

Works under: Android

Vote:

Program license

(709 votes)

Paid

Developer

Version

2K Inc.

1.1.8117

Works under:

Android

Pros

  • Realistic and well animated WWE legends
  • Career mode with a detailed character creator
  • Surprisingly sophisticated controls

Cons

  • Relatively limited roster of wrestlers
  • Multiplayer connectivity can be inconsistent

WWE 2K is the mobile version of EA's popular pro wrestling game series. It doesn't come with the same breadth of game modes, mechanical complexity, or graphical finesse as its console contemporaries, it does a fantastic job of shrinking the game down for phones while still maintaining the tension and theatricality that the WWE is known for. And while this isn't the first WWE mobile game, it's the first big release that tries to simulate the sport authentically rather than filtering them through the format of a fighting or collectible card game.

What's incredible is how much variety that WWE 2K manages to squeeze from a simple library of taps and slides. This isn't the most realistic simulation, but it succeeds more than you might expect from a mobile game. Simply tapping on an opponent lets you start a flurry of kicks and punches, while a pinch will lead into a grapple, and more complex moves are handled by swipes in a particular cardinal direction. You can also make use of a two-finger swipe to finish off your opponent or perform a special move while in the middle of a match. It's a lot to handle if you're used to more basic mobile games, but it does a decent job of replicating the push-and-pull of a real ring match. But the inherent simplicity means that newer players can make some progress by just bashing the virtual buttons.

Good fundamentals can take a wrestling game a long way, but it wouldn't be a WWE game without the inclusion of the faces fans know and love. And while WWE 2K doesn't manage to pack in every fan favorite, the 18 available characters cover a broad selection of play styles, eras, and personalities. You can pit old school classics like Hulk Hogan and Sting against Attitude era wrestlers like Triple H and Kane or opt for newer names like Roman Reigns and Sheamus. No matter what era you're a fan of, chances are good that you'll find a wrestler that suits your sensibilities here. But if there's one major component missing in the roster, it's the complete absence of any diva characters.

But while the relatively small roster is disappointing, Electronics Arts has done an exceptional job of capturing their unique personalities both in the ring and outside of it. Every character comes with their primary signature moves, and the animation here is top-notch. Entrance sequences look just like they do on the TV, and the characters move and look exactly the way you'd expect them to. Considering this is a game made for mobile devices, that's a serious feat.

A lot of the fun of WWE games in the past comes from the ability to customize your own wrestler and bring them toe-to-toe with legends. Fortunately, that feature has transitioned over to the mobile version of WWE 2K. While the options here aren't quite as varied as what you'd find on consoles, there's still a decent amount of leverage to make an approximation of yourself or a ridiculously themed character. Complementing this is a complete career mode that has you rising the ranks of the WWE and facing down famous names for the rights to a championship belt.

And if you'd like to square off with friends, WWE 2K offers a head-to-head multiplayer mode. While lag can sometimes get in the way of your performance, it's a refreshing change of place from the asynchronous and automated PvP showdowns that are prevalent in so many other mobile games.

There's a decent, if not exceedingly generous, amount of game modes here too. Singles mode gives you a traditional game where two wrestlers go head-to-head and the first one pinned or knocked out loses. DQ mode leans hard into the spectacle of the WWE by eliminating disqualifications entirely and adding low blows and weapons to the mix with no consequences for either fighter. Cage match mode puts you in a cage with multiple opponents. Your goal is to knock out or distract the rest of your opponents long enough to climb out of the cage.

WWE 2K can't match the wealth of content or the degree of technicality in the core franchise, but it's the best thing you'll find on mobile phones. While the limited amount of modes and characters are a bit disappointing, everything glimmers with the swagger and personality of the WWE. And that love is genuine and apparent. No matter how you got into wrestling, there's going to be something here that will make you smile.

Pros

  • Realistic and well animated WWE legends
  • Career mode with a detailed character creator
  • Surprisingly sophisticated controls

Cons

  • Relatively limited roster of wrestlers
  • Multiplayer connectivity can be inconsistent