Ok ok, it’s not actually called 2Wrestle2Jump, but a boy can dream can’t he? Anyway, you might remember earlier this year when Finnish developer Otto Ojala re-released his wacky physics based sensation Soccer Physics (Free) onto the App Store after its removal back in 2017. After releasing numerous cool games over the years Otto became a bit jaded with the mobile gaming scene (haven’t we all?) and so when his developer license expired in 2017 he decided not to renew it and simply removed all of his previously released games to focus on other platforms and projects. After deciding to give it another go Soccer Physics was re-released in March as I just said, but since then he’s also released Otto’s Tennis Game (Free), Time to React! (Free), and Turret vs Turret (Free), all with the same aggressive pricing structure of totally free with no ads or IAP. Just free fun games. Now Otto’s got another new title on the horizon, and it’s another blast from the past, or at least a sequel to one. Check out Wrestle Jump 2.
For those that don’t remember, Wrestle Jump actually predates Soccer Physics as it was released in 2012, and went on to achieve its own level of virality due to its same-device multiplayer and wacky physics shenanigans. Soccer Physics came along a couple year slater and ultimately became even more popular, but the original Wrestle Jump is not far behind it. This sequel keeps the core concept intact as you have two wrestlers who are squaring off and are connected at the arms for some reason. They also each only have one leg. Tapping the screen makes your character thrust his leg and you use that to try and launch yourself into the air, spinning and flipping about, and you score a “pinfall" by causing your opponent to hit their head before you hit yours. This is much harder than it sounds because, as mentioned, you guys are connected at the arms and your opponent is wildly thrusting his leg just as you are, trying to ensure that you’re the one to bash your head on the ground first. Making the whole situation that much sillier is that each level is different with different terrain and hazards to try and negotiate.
Despite seeming like it might be some shallow button-masher, Wrestle Jump was actually quite strategic once you learned how the physics system and your wrestler’s body worked. There was still always an air of unpredictability to the outcomes, but that’s also what made it such a riot to play with a friend, and the single button controls made it easy to play with another human being on the same device. All of this remains true for the sequel but Wrestle Jump 2 looks to bring a few new tricks to the squared circle, like a refined physics engine and slightly altered character models that seem much more… squishy, I guess. There’s also tons of new environmental elements at play, more outrageous names for the “moves" you pull off, voiced commentary, both 1 player and 2 player modes, and a level of polish that really outshines the original in every way, though to be fair the original is over a decade old by now. Overall Wrestle Jump 2 seems like it will be another winner and it’ll be heading our way completely for free next Monday October 16th.
