Having a name such as “Total Nonstop Action” for a wrestling corporation, one would assume the matches to be full of mayhem and havoc. This assumption is true as the shows that Jeff Jarrett and the rest of the competitors put on are highly entertaining. But the same can’t be said for TNA’s first video game, TNA iMPACT!, as it fails to capture the excitement and thrills of the real-life matches.
One problem with TNA iMPACT is the lack of game modes and options provided. You can expect the usual affair of game modes such as: 1 vs. 1, Tag Team, Handicap, Submission, Falls Count Anywheres and Free for All matches. But the heart and soul of TNA is found within its X Division, a division that focuses on high-flying and risk taking competitors putting it their body on the line for infamy. Fans of this division will be happy to hear that there are Ultimate X matches to participate in where players will scale metal structures to shimmy along cables to grab the X found dangling in the middle of the ring.
For the story mode found in TNA iMPACT – you know, the generic campaign to become champion – has players taking the role of a character named Suicide as he’s about to fight for the World Championship. Before his title bout, Suicide is attacked and isn’t able to go on with the title match – thus, players are then asked to give Suicide a new face after his beat down. After a little tinkering, players then will take control of Suicide to climb up the virtual ladder to become champion.
Many fan favorites are included for the fighter roster such as: Jeff Jarrett, Christian Cage, Christopher Daniels, Booker T, Kurt Angle, Abyss, Kevin Nash, Samoa Joe, Shark Boy, A.J. Styles, Sting, Scott Steiner, Chris Sabin and many more. Exclusive to the 360 version is Mike Tenay, a commentator for the TNA program, who is unlocked by a pre-order code. Outside of that, Midway’s famous Afro Thunder (Ready 2 Rumble Boxing) makes a special appearance as a selectable fighter.
In comparison to the Smackdown vs. Raw series, TNA iMPACT is slightly faster and more about the speed. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the speed is leagues above THQ’s own wrestling game, but Midway has, to some extent, captured the essence of TNA matches. It could’ve been a little faster and the results could’ve been nearly the same, but hey, oh well.
The downside of TNA iMPACT’s gameplay is that each wrestler tends to seem identical to the last with control and movement. Sure, each fighter has his own finisher to assert on his opponent, but many players will have a hard time seeing any authenticity behind each fighter they control. The finishing maneuver is accomplished on an opponent after the wrestler has the appropriate amount of his iMPACT! meter full after successfully landing attacks.
One of the fighting mechanics that didn’t work out nearly as it could’ve been was the reversal system. Reversals are broken down into a mini-game of sorts where you have to tap the correct sequence of buttons that appear on screens. If you are triumphant with hitting the buttons, you’ll break free of the hold. On the other side of the spectrum, the player afflicting the damage with the hold is also able to input a certain button combination to punish your fighter even more. While the idea is good in theory, it needs to be improved upon in future iterations for it to be taken seriously.
Lastly, the graphics are pretty upon first sight, but it’s clear that Midway needs to work on the animations; especially the facial animations. Mid-match, you’ll notice how painfully ugly their faces are and how they don’t represent their real-life counterpart correctly. Midway should also invest time into delivering a better audience for our precious fighters to fight in front of.
TNA iMPACT is a decent wrestling game that needs to improve in some areas to be taken seriously in the video game market. It made some strides, but it’s ultimately a shallow game. Next time, Midway needs to add in women fighters, include better play-by-play commentary, and put in a plethora of game modes and options to keep their fans interested past the one week mark. For now, I’d advise renting unless you are a huge TNA fan and want to play with your favorite fighters.
