TNA Wrestling iMPACT is a wrestling-themed action game where players choose from a variety of unique characters and compete against players worldwide. Skillfully tap different buttons to unleash amazing maneuvers and combos to defeat your opponents and earn rewards. The game features multiple game modes, including tournaments, each with different gameplay for players to explore. What are you waiting for? Become a world-class wrestler in the game!
Useful Tips of TNA Wrestling iMPACT:
First thing's first. If you want to make things a little bit easier for yourself against the computer, you can change the difficulty in the 'Options' menu. Just change the difficulty to 'Backyard' and you're ready to go. Also, if you don't know how to play this game, or if you just want a refresher on what the controls are, the game does have a few tutorial videos in the Options menu. Under 'Training', these videos range from your basic controls to how to pull off submissions, as well as show specific controls for the 'Ultimate X' match type. They aren't vital for this walk through, as I will highlight the controls for a moves set that will be apt to see you through the game.
Another thing you will want to familiarize yourself with is the HUD in game. The impact meter I found wasn't really needed except for one achievement. As you score style points, it will build until it's all lit up, marked by a short riff. This means you can use your wrestlers finisher. If left default it is useless unless the damage done to the opponent has 3 or 4 parts in the red as they will effortlessly kick out. That level of damage will take a considerably longer time than using the submission method I will outline below. Keep an eye on your opponents Impact though, their finishers will be punishing. Once practiced in my technique, then the AI won't land a lot of moves on you, but if the AI manages to use a finisher on you, then it's difficult to escape. The game wants you to wiggle the left stick left/right to fill the struggle gauge, but it feels very unresponsive, so best avoided.
Below the Impact bar though is the characters name, and behind that, a red gauge. This is your best friend, it will fill up as you get damaged, and likewise, your opponents will fill as your do damage to them. Once it's full, it will impose a stun effect, leaving the victim entirely defenceless until it's cleared. This again wants the wiggle of the left stick and feels no responsive, but while the AI is suffering a stun, you can land a hit on the target area without fear of a reversal.
You can reverse attacks yourself. This works by a simple press of the cn_RB at a specific time during an attack. For light attacks, including kicks and punches, it's just before they land. For more complex moves such as suplexes and Irish Whips, it's just when the build up reaches it's apex. The HUD will show the cn_RB button promt at the time it can be used, but often it doesn't work. Sometimes spamming the button will reverse, other times it won't. I couldn't find exactly how to get this to work, it does feel like a slightly broken mechanic in the game. Fortunately, it's not vital, and once going, you won't really need it.
Player Comments of TNA Wrestling iMPACT:
'TNA IMPACT!' is going straight for the jugular when it comes to facing the competition. There is an inherent focus on a visual flair to give players the feel of a complete wrestling experience. The character models, animations, environments, and colors present fantastically, adopting all the hallmarks of watching TNA events on your television.The entries from the 25 available wrestlers are fun, and the in-ring action is high-octane with all the traditional and unique wrestling moves you'd expect. Controls generally feel pretty good as you move around the ring discovering new methods to flatten your opponents. But while you start to hone in on your elite wrestling experience, some of the more noticeable flaws come into fruition.It's not long before you expend your catalog of available wrestling moves, and gameplay begins to become repetitive. If you are playing against the A.I., you'll also notice that it's not particularly engaging in any capacity - making the game fairly unchallenging. Any sort of gameplay diversity seems to come to a roadblock pretty quickly.The story mode is a nice touch where you can create your own wrestler. However, the customization options are limited. And you aren't able to transfer your wrestler into a quickplay ring. It's a fair few things that stick out in what otherwise could have been quite the wrestling game. Still, 'TNA IMPACT!' does have its moments of fun - especially in a party setting.
It's respectable to 'TNA IMPACT!' that there was a noble ambition to make this an excellent wrestling game. Not just another piece to the franchise like the endless number of WWE Smackdown vs. RAW games. Unfortunately, it seems like the time constraints and financial issues got the best of the game. The ambitions fell short of the complete wrestling experience.
Regardless, there is enough entertainment in 'TNA IMPACT!' to give it a few hours of your time. Wrestling fans will especially love the delivery of the visuals and the overall tomfoolery of the personalities. It's not a broken or poor effort by any means, just one that feels like it fell short of the target.
Final Verdict:
You will meet with a legendary wrestler in the world! Choose a character and participate in tournaments until complete victory. In your Arsenal of mind-blowing beats and tricks which will easily make exultant audience and subjected to a shock of your opponents. The game has 6 game modes, so you can easily find something that will be of your liking.
