Hogan's Mobile Gaming History: A Review

• Hulk Hogan, a wrestling icon for nearly four decades, recently passed away
• The legendary superstar also appeared in numerous mobile games throughout his career
• Despite being a controversial personality, his prominence is undeniable - let's explore his digital legacy

The wrestling world and beyond has been discussing the legacy of Terry Bolea, known globally as Hulk Hogan, since his passing. Was he a flawed individual but exceptional wrestler? Or has his complex legacy been exaggerated? Regardless of your perspective, Hogan permanently transformed professional wrestling.

Indeed, the Hulkster remained ubiquitous in wrestling for almost forty years. His presence in mobile gaming mirrored this consistency. Always seeking new promotional opportunities, Bolea appeared in multiple mobile releases over the years.

In our own tribute to the Hulkster's memory, we're looking back at the numerous times he appeared on wrestling fans' mobile devices!

Hulkamania Wrestling

During the late 2000s, Hogan found himself at an unusual career juncture. After reaching his peak popularity in the 90s with WCW's NWO faction - a move that revived his declining career - he had shifted focus toward reality television rather than wrestling.

This made his partnership with Gameloft for Hulkamania Wrestling somewhat unexpected. This isometric beat-em-up featured Hogan battling various opponents modeled after wrestlers like Rey Mysterio and The Undertaker.

While the concept of Hogan defeating rising stars suited his character, Gameloft delivered a surprisingly compelling wrestling experience. Considering the technical limitations of Java mobile platforms, Hulkamania Wrestling possessed genuine charm.

TNA Wrestling iMPACT!

Following WCW's dissolution in 2001, no credible mainstream alternative emerged to challenge WWE (then WWF). Numerous organizations attempted to compete with Vince McMahon's powerful combination of star appeal and production quality, with TNA making particularly determined efforts.

By 2011, Hogan was two years into his TNA contract. Despite backstage power struggles, he remained arguably the company's biggest star. His featuring in TNA's mobile gaming initiative was therefore predictable.

A slightly less detailed version of the console TNA Impact game, iMPACT still featured top talent like Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy. Regarding Hogan's reception? Given his backstage maneuvering and increasingly improbable victories over younger competitors, his unpopularity comes as no surprise:

"-this isn't The Hulkster in his '80s WWE prime: this is a bald man with terrible facial hair."

As one writer bluntly stated at the time - and frankly, ouch. Nevertheless, TNA Wrestling iMPACT! proved surprisingly enjoyable. Another success for Hogan, albeit partially due to TNA's underappreciated roster supporting the fading legend.

Crazy Taxi: City Rush

By 2014, Hogan had somewhat mellowed. Having embraced his role as wrestling's elder statesman, expanding his presence beyond cameo appearances became timely. Thus, Hogan's iconic red-and-yellow attire appeared in Crazy Taxi: City Rush.

Hogan appeared as a playable character, navigating traffic in his customized vehicle. The crossover promotion included a Hulkamania-themed event with real-world competitions for autographed merchandise!

WWE Immortals

Wrestlers are often described as modern gladiators. What better way to enhance their presentation than transforming them into literal demigods? WWE Immortals provided mythical makeovers for popular superstars.

In our assessment, WWE Immortals represented an underappreciated gem. Being developed by NetherRealm Studios, creators of Mortal Kombat, certainly helped. Unfortunately, limited distribution and outdated graphics prevented the pseudo-superhero concept from reaching its full potential.

Evidence suggests Hogan was scheduled to join Macho Man as a playable character. However, as most know, the following year brought controversy that exiled Hogan for several years. Yet like Teflon, nothing adheres to the Hulkster permanently...

WWE Champions & WWE Mayhem

By 2018, Hogan had regained WWE's favor after making some amends for his previous controversies. While no longer headlining events, he frequently appeared as commentator, presenter, and promoter.

With Hogan's reputation sufficiently restored, the superstar returned to prominence. Since then, he has remained featured in major mobile releases like WWE Champions and WWE Mayhem (even appearing in trailers), alternating between his classic red-and-yellow "babyface" attire and his edgier black-and-white NWO outfit.

Whatever opinions people hold about Terry Bolea, his cultivation of a personal brand and success outside wrestling (with varying outcomes) essentially established the blueprint for modern superstars. While Ric Flair might have been more technically skilled, Stone Cold potentially more popular, and John Cena more inspirational to children, Hogan left an indelible - both positive and negative - mark as a pivotal wrestling history figure.