Thursday 13 Nov 2008

I know the question on your lips: Is TNA Impact any better than any of the annually released Smackdowns and the short answer is “no.” That does not mean that this game is no good.

Using the N64’s classic WWF No Mercy as a starting block and then taking influences from popular Japanese wrestling games, locking wrestlers into the six-sided ring and its surrounding arena, this brawler is speedier than other wrestling games and even pops in some mini games. Break out a submission move and the two players must battle with Quick Time Events (think Smackdown meets Shenmue). Other than that it is the straight forward scenario of punch, kick and grapple your way to victory, with the odd table and chair being smacked over an opponents head. Nothing new really.

Campaign mode sees you start off in New Mexico hoping to win the match and be seen by the right people to take your career further. Well, that’s a bit of a lie. Your character actually used to be a TNA Impact champion and got thrown out on the road, literally, by those that opposed you. You then disguise yourself and vow that you will make a return to the sport, which is why you start over in New Mexico, with it being up to your trusty old thumbs to get you on your pedestal of TNA championship.

The other mode involves you gunning for the Ultimate X. Basically you have an “X” symbol attached to the roof of the ring, the “roof” being ropes that cross each other and are connected to the ring via poles. You then climb up the pole vertically and then, by hanging from the ropes, make your way across to the “X” symbol in the middle. At the same time your competitors are trying to achieve the same outcome and that makes things a little more complicated as you are hanging in mid air wrestling each other off with mini games. Once you have focused on unlocking the “X,” the title is yours.

There is a 25 strong roster (including Kurt Angle, Christian Cage and Booker T) to keep you coming back for more. What was probably the sharpest move from Midway was to include a “Create-A-Wrestler” option as you now have the chance of creating all the Smackdown stars you might be missing here as the options are quite varied in this department. You will unlock more accessories as you play through campaign mode. Some of you might also find it quite interesting that all the TNA wrestlers provided themselves to help with motion capture throughout the development of the game as they are apparently gaming nuts, which should be a good thing right? Wrong.

Graphically this game does not look all that hot (from what we have come to expect) and furthermore, there is barely any collision detection. Yes, their faces are quite spot on, but other than that it looks like the same models with a new skin on each fighter. Another pain is that these wrestlers still handle like Robocop minus his gun. I wish they would make things more fluid, like that of wrestlers in other Japanese fighting games that actually react like human beings as these robot-like characters really affect the gameplay. I might as well buy a glitchy Mech game.

Thankfully there is an online mode just to spice things up a bit if by chance you find that your friends would rather like to play more familiar wrestling games. As always, no matter how bad some games might be, anything which represents multiplayer always provides endless fun and feeling the full impact of wacking a chair into your friends head is always fun.

This was Midway’s first attempt in this genre of beat ‘em ups and it is a solid attempt and pushing some life in a dull sport that needs some competition. It might have some very irritating bugs and glitches but the heart is in the right place. I bet the next installment (which looks imminent) will be something to write home about.

Pros: Ultimate X Event is fresh; 4 players simultaneous.

Cons: Wrestlers are still robots; graphics look outdated.

Rating:
Contributor:	Dawid

Purchase: