Gamers in the UK may not be familiar with the WWE’s newest competitor, but they should probably read up if that’s the case. TNA is Total Nonstop Action wrestling, and the promotion has not only nabbed some of Vince McMahon’s biggest stars (Kurt Angle, Christian), but has also revolutionised the sports entertainment business with a new hexagonally shaped wrestling ring.
Midway’s TNA IMPACT! Engine is pretty impressive. Moves can be linked together with relative ease, and there aren’t really any major complaints to be had with the way you character moves and the level of command that you have over him. That isn’t to say that they aren’t deep enough to warrant continued investigation though, as you’ll find that the more you play, the smoother the combinations of moves you’ll be able to pull off. And the reversal system works very well too.
On top of this, the graphical performance that TNA IMPACT! puts in is very good indeed. The character models are all well done, and the camerawork has also been tested to the max to ensure the optimum viewing angle. Add this to the standard match types and the “Ultimate X” event – which is essentially the same as a the WWE’s Money In The Bank or Ladder match types, with a new structure surrounding the ring to climb along to reach your goal – you have a relatively solid package, on paper.
But there are problems, with the main one being that the game lacks any real longevity. Each match may as well be the same as the last, and this isn’t really boosted by the career mode – which sees you take over as a character named Suicide, who’s been beaten beyond recognition – hello, create-a-player menus. In this mode, you fight scenario after scenario until you become the champion of the universe. That’s it. No branching storylines. No choices to be made. Just a straight set up of match after match that leaves you wishing you were watching Smackdown! Vs. Raw’s appalling loading times, as at least they generally led to something interesting happening on screen in the end. The varying locations of the match events in the story mode are a nice touch though, it has to be said, especially when you start out Nacho Libre style, fighting in a ring located in a run-down Mexican village.
But Midway’s title has one fatal flaw that pretty much seals the win for THQ’s juggernaut opposition, and that is that even if you master the control system and are absolutely in love with the presentation and game modes, there aren’t anything like enough moves available to you for you to be able to mix it up. Double team moves are missing, so matches with multiple players per side become nothing more than mini-singles bouts, and the lack of any weaponry (other than an unimpressive “steel” chair) make the much-vaunted “No Disqualification” matches utterly pointless.
It will be interesting to see what the next year brings, as Midway are blatantly working on a sequel. If they take note of the feedback, then the base that they’ve built here could well be more than enough to take on the big kid and win. As it stands though, TNA IMPACT! puts in a relatively impressive performance for a newcomer, as I’ve mentioned, but it just runs out of steam and those whoops and hollers of joy as you hit your first big move fade into silence and general groans of boredom far too quickly. Oh look, another suplex.
