Nice alternative
The Smackdown vs Raw games have been kinda lacking in many points lately, that's why i decided to give the competition a chance and picked up TNA Impact.
At first the controls seem terrible, you don't really know what you do because it handles different than the Smackdown vs Raw games. After a while tho, you realize it focuses on where you stand and in what direction you push the joystick (towards/away from the opponent) after you figured out the controls you'll see that it plays pretty well. The graphics look much better than SvR, which has been running on the same engine for years. Impact shines with good graphics thanks to the famous Unreal engine. The storymode tries to be a bit different but it's still extremely cheezy. Tho i wouldn't expect anything else from a wrestling games. The roster isn't enormous but big enough if you ask me. All the big names from 2008 are there. The entrances are well done, altho a bit short since they only walk down the ramp and don't enter the ring before a fight.
The main problem of the game is the lack of content. There aren't many matches. Just singles, tag team and Ultimate X, that's it. Ulitmate X matches are a breath of fresh air in the genre altho they're nothing entirely new when in comes to playing it. Just climb up, get to the middle and push the button in the right timing a few times to win. The Create a Wrestler mode is years behind too. Overall,when it comes to content it feels like playing an early N64 wrestlinggame. Those where fun to play but didn't have much variation. TNA Impact is very similar to that, only problem is that, that was then and this is now. It's fair to expect at least cage and ladder matches.
If your a fan of wrestling and a fan of TNA, i say pick it up. Especially at this price, cause it won't get any cheaper. TNA Impact started something and i hope that sequels will follow and improve it. The potential is definetly there.
