REVIEW OF THE TNA iMPACT VIDEO GAME
- 09/12/2008 (8:14:37 pm)
- Press Release
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I know it's kind of trendy right now to talk about the problems the Impact video game has had in reaching its customers, and I had the same problems. I wanted the game on 9/9, and I had to wait until 9/10, like most of the Gamestop customers who pre-ordered the game. I guess TNA's continually problematic shipping deal is continuing, as I have been bitching about their DVD shipping being poor for months on end.
It appears there may be more to the shipping issues than meets the eye. As much as it angers me that TNA is shorting the fans that they desperately need for the evolution of their product, I'll keep my commentary on the distribution of the game to my blog. For now, I'll just talk meat and potatoes about the game itself, if and when you do pick it up.
Anyway, I have been playing it as much as I have been able to since I got it, I'm 35% in to the story mode, and I have some things I would like to report and review about the game. I know some people have said that the game is awful, and some have not really given it much in the way of a positive review. While I am not going to rave and rant about the game, there are aspects I like, and there are aspects I don't. If you'll permit me, I'll go in to it now.
Initially, I was kind of bummed out because it appeared to not have a lot of available wrestlers from the onset. While good names like Styles, Joe, Sting, Daniels, Storm and others are listed, I didn't notice one half of 3D, (Ray), Abyss, Black Machismo, Roode, and others. Obviously, you have to go through the story mode to unlock them. 35% in to the game, I got Ray, I got Roode, I got Machismo. I don't think I got any more TNA stars, yet, but again, I'm doing this from memory at work, and not with the game in my hand to refer to.
The gameplay is stripped down. The controls are simplified, but a little convoluted to remember. Reversals using the R1 button (on PS2, which is what I have), is difficult for me, because I keep forgetting. I think they could've maneuvered the buttons for controls better. I haven't checked to see if I could move the controls, which I will do tomorrow, and if that happens, I'll be a happy panda. If I can't, I'll deal with it. I gotta admit, I'm so used to Smackdown vs. Raw controls that getting used to this is aggravating, but I'll manage.
I enjoy the six sided ring in a video game environment. It's bigger, it gives more variety, and it's just different.
I was told by a customer in a Gamestop store before the game came out, (He played it at a gaming convention), that the game was "very fast." He's right. The gameplay during singles matches is incredibly faster than any other wrestling game I have seen, including Fire Pro. The drawback here is, tag team matches are drastically slower. I'm involved in the "tag team" portion of the story aloingside Eric Young, and the matches are a labor to endure due to the drastically different pace of the tag matches. I also don't like how they don't have created tag team entrances. I know there's truly only two created teams that I can see that are in the game, those being 3D and LAX. It'd be nice to have combined entrances for them, and maybe even AJ & Tomko, who I'm currently facing.
The entrances are nice, they're shorter, which makes me happier, because it's a quicker way in to the match. The commentary, although you can only handle or stomach so much of Tenay and West, the commentary is drastically more purposeful than the Smackdown vs. Raw games. On the WWE games, they'll talk about one wrestler who's not in the match all together. On the TNA game, they'll specifically talk about the moves, but not name the talents in the ring. It's less personal, but it's more purposeful, and I like it.
The graphics are OK. Are they stellar? No. Are they Fire Pro bad? Not even close. The movement of the wreslters in the game, while it may be fast, is pretty fluid. One thing about the gameplay and graphics, I've already run in to two glitches, one where I was literally stuck in the ropes, and unable to move. (Not pinned to the ropes by having them tied around my arms, but literally, unable to move away from the ropes, no matter what I tried. I also had a setup where I was in the ring and moving fine, but it appeared I was literally walking through the canvas, and my feet were hitting the floor. I was able to get out of that one, but when I was out, it appeared I had rolled out from under the ring, ala Hornswoggle & Brie Bella. (Ooops, WWE reference in a TNA column).
I don't see the King of the Mountain match yet, but I assume it's coming at the story mode, in some respect. So, I won't comment there. I don't see any belts yet, but with only 35% done, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I hope that you're going to be able to defend the belts in exhibition mode, ala the WWE games. It's the main reason why I buy the WWE games, and hold on to them for a long period of time.
"Suicide's" costume rocks. While it's a bummer from what I can tell about not being able to construct your own character customly. However, "Suicide's" costume is really cool, and if they're having one of the talents dress as Suicide and compete on iMPACT, it's going to be good for business, and the game itself.
The storyline plot seems OK, for now. I'm only 35% in, so I can't comment too fully. What I can comment on is this. There's an awful lot of tomato can wanna be wrestlers in this thing that can be used as characters for exhibition matches. Couldn't Midway have spent a little more money to put more TNA talent on this game?
Look, the bottom line here is this. This is not a gem. This is not a failure, either. It's in the middle. I'm trying it out, because I'm very interested and anxious to see what transpires.
Bottom line, it's not a gem, but it's not a total flop. 2 1/2 stars. Right in the middle.
Debate it with me, if you'd like. [email protected].
Thanks for reading.
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