Sumotori Dreams Review

Previously a popular PC game, Sumotori Dreams is a pretty quirky title. It's a form of sumo wrestling simulator, but one that's far more focused on humor than realism. While in single player it's a little forgettable, it's a fun experience when participating with friends and certainly like little else out there.

The key to success in Sumotori Dreams is to defeat the opponent. This is done through either pushing them over, forcing them out of the ring, or sometimes simply waiting for them to make a mistake and stumble over. The center of gravity for these characters is a bit wacky, meaning falling over is just as likely as being pushed. This is particularly noticeable when partaking in different arenas that actively encourage such problems, such as one level based on a giant seesaw and another at the top of a flight of stairs.

It's these stumbles that make Sumotori Dreams more enjoyable. Controls are pretty simplistic with options for moving backwards and forwards, as well as for manipulating one's hands, but a lot can be achieved through simply messing around.

Sumotori Dreams looks pretty basic, more reminiscent of an early game engine than the fancier overlay we're used to seeing, but that works in its favor. What doesn't work so well are issues such as how the back button is obscured by the iOS battery and time indicators. Also, while two players can play on one iPhone, it's a bit cluttered and tricky to do so well. Online multiplayer or bluetooth based local multiplayer would have been great here.

Still, as much as Sumotori Dreams is kind of rough, it's also oddly charming. When played with a friend, it's also pretty funny. It's really like nothing else out there and that definitely weighs in its favor.