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  TNA iMPACT
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Also available on:
PS3, PS2, WII SubmissiveThat's not to say that submission moves have been entirely ignored – indeed, Kurt Angle, Sting and Samoa Joe are known for their technical prowess, but the game has been geared to make such moves as AJ's springboard moonsault-reverse DDT easy to perform and thus make every match a thrilling encounter. Speaking of submissions, when applied, a mini game will activate allowing skilful enough players to escape the moves faster than those who aren't as skilled. More match styles than you can poke a fist atAs previously mentioned, TNA Impact features various unique match types (as if the six sided ring wasn't unique enough). Joining the usual suspects of singles, tag team, fatal four way and falls-count-anywhere matches are the Ultimate X, Monster's Ball, Full Metal Mayhem and King of the Mountain. The Full Metal Mayhem match places the wrestlers in a ring where anything metal is legal and the aim is to climb a ladder to claim a prize that's been suspended above the ring. On TV, the matches regularly feature steel chairs, thumb tacks and chains. Whether the tacks and chains will make it into the game is unknown, but either way, it's sure to lead to chaotic matches. Ultimate X is a unique match where a steel X is suspended above the ring by four cables. The wrestlers must climb the top rope, grab the cable and shimmy across in hopes of grabbing the X. This match has been shown by Midway and seems to work rather well. The Monster's Ball is usually contested with more than two wrestlers and is basically a standard hardcore match. The wrestlers are allowed to do whatever it takes to win, anything and everything is legal, leading to the frequent use of weapons and tables. The match ends when a wrestler is pinned or forced to submit. The King of the Mountain is a form of reverse ladder match. There are numerous wrestlers in the ring and all start off ineligible to win. To become legible they must pin one of their opponents. This opponent is forced to enter a penalty box cage for a certain amount of time. In this time frame, the wrestler who pinned him must climb a ladder and hang the world title belt above the ring. Wrestler designingAll of these match types sound quite complex but could, if designed correctly, lead to extremely fun matches. It remains to be seen whether Midway will get it right, but hopes are high that the wrestlers, the passionate gamers that they are, will do everything in their power to create a game that they would love to play and be proud of. Rounding out the features list is a wrestler creation mode that promises to allow players to create lifelike wrestlers with move sets that fit their style. They can then be entered into the career mode and rise up the ranks until they are champion. Both of these modes are yet to be seen in full, but here's hoping they provide plenty of moves and options to keep things fresh. Graphically, the game is stunning. The wrestlers look scarily real and the various arenas look the part. While the game naturally features the Impact!Zone Arena, their home base, so to speak, in Florida, they have also taken the effort to model Liverpool's Olympia will also feature, as will various arenas that evoke a house show/independent feel. It's a nice touch that will give different matches a different feel depending on their importance. Championship contender?As good as the game sounds, there is still a fear that it may not live up to expectations. The current crop of gameplay videos have shown wrestlers performing the same moves over and over, while the Ultimate X video in particular features little more than two wrestlers constantly yanking each other off of the cables. While this could be down to inexperienced journalists trying to get to grips with the game, time will tell if this is a championship contender or a lowly jobber.   |
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| At a glance |
| The stars of TNA Wrestling arrive in video game form hoping to emerge as the wrestling game champion |