Wrestling is apparently a very complicated sport. I thought it was just sweaty men in pants gyrating against one another, but it turns out it's much more complex than that.
At least this mobile version is. The tutorial walks you through all the things you can do, and then you get a bit confused and can't remember them all and have to go through the tutorial again.
But once things settle into place in your brain what you're left with is a reasonably pleasing, slightly clunky brawler that should scratch whatever mobile grappling itch you might be suffering from.
Top ropeThere are a number of modes to choose from, but the meat of the game lies in the single player career mode. It lets you create your own freakishly muscular abomination of a human being. Mine's called Butty Poopnugs because I'm a grown up.
Once you've got a wrestler, you set out on making him the best wrestler in the world. You do this by hitting lots and lots of other men. And picking them up, throwing them around, then falling on top of them.
You're tapping to punch, pinching to grapple, swiping to throw, climb, run, and following on-screen instructions when you've got a chance to pin or climb the turnbuckles.
When you get into the flow of the complex control scheme, things start to click. The violence is sluggish, and the game isn't exactly super polished when the pugilism kicks off, but there's still something brutishly silly about it.
Matches often become battles of attrition, with punches flying and throws being tossed left right and centre. Sometimes you get bats and chairs to whomp your foe with, other times you need to knock them out and climb out of a cage.
On the canvasWWE 2K is a pretty solid experience, and it flourishes the deeper you get into it. There's online multiplayer, but it's pretty flaky, and I've yet to be able to complete a game. Or even really start one.
There's a good, chunky single player game here, but at the price that it's being offered for, you'd expect everything to work a little bit better. Now if you'll excuse me, Butty Poopnugs is challenging for a belt.