- Is geared towards a quick-paced, high-impact style of play, with less emphasis on submission maneuvers. It supports up to four players at once on a console, with online support—which includes tournaments—currently standing at one-on-one.
- The latest Tweets from IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING). Every Friday at 10pm ET on @PursuitChannel, @Twitch and @fightnet! Nashville, TN.
- Is the exclusive Total Nonstop Action wrestling game based on the top-rated weeklytelevision show, TNA iMPACT! Choose the wrestling style, custom move set and clothing to constructthe ultimate champion.
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| TNA Impact! | |
|---|---|
NTSC Cover art featuring (clockwise from middle) Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Booker T, A.J. Styles, and Sting | |
| Developer(s) | Midway Studios Los Angeles Point of View, Inc.(DS/PSP) |
| Publisher(s) | Midway Games SouthPeak Games(DS/PSP) |
| Director(s) | Sal DiVita |
| Designer(s) | Mark Turmell |
| Programmer(s) | Brock Feldman |
| Artist(s) | Paul Interrante |
| Composer(s) | Dale Oliver |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 3 Havok |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii,[1]Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable |
| Release | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360Wii
|
| Genre(s) | Sports[3] |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
The official website of IMPACT Wrestling! Get the latest IMPACT news, read results, view photos and check out the roster of current and past IMPACT stars and Knockouts.
TNA Impact! (stylized as TNA iMPACT!) is a professional wrestlingvideo game based on the professional wrestlingpromotion, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). The console versions of the game were developed by Midway Studios Los Angeles and published by Midway Games. Although the game sold 1.5 million units,[4] financial issues at Midway Games prevented the planned development and release of a sequel. The game would be re-released for Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable consoles in August 2010 under the title TNA Impact!: Cross the Line. This version of the game was developed by Point of View, Inc. and published by SouthPeak Games, who had acquired the TNA license and assets following the collapse of Midway.
Gameplay[edit]
TNA Impact! is geared towards a quick-paced, high-impact style of play, with less emphasis on submission maneuvers. It supports up to four players at once on a console, with online support—which includes tournaments—currently standing at one-on-one.[5][6][7] Online play is, however, limited to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions.[8] Scans of the actual wrestlers were used for the game in place of hand-painted textures to include small details, such as skin texture and specific scars.[9]Finishers are accessed by building up the 'Impact! meter' displayed on the screen. In the same area a color-coded damage indicator shows the condition of characters. The game also features mini-games for escaping pin attempts and submission holds.[8]
TNA's signature match, Ultimate X, is a playable match type, alongside the more standard Singles, Tag team and Fatal Four Way matches.[5][7][10][11]Submission and Falls Count Anywhere matches are also included.[11] Eight different venues—including TNA's main home; Florida's Impact! Zone, and arenas set in Japan, Mexico, England, Las Vegas, and locations designed to evoke the independent circuit feel—are available to house matches, with the Impact! Zone having an increased ringside area for play and hot spots for player interaction.[7][8][9]Liverpool Olympia is also a playable arena in the game.[12]
Midway has now introduced downloadable content which enables players to expand the game, making TNA Impact! the first professional wrestling video game in history to offer this service. The first downloadable content is in the form of new wrestlers players can add to the game, these being Curry Man and Petey Williams. These can be bought for 100 Microsoft points from the Xbox Live Marketplace and as an extra gift the player can download Mike Tenay free of charge.[13] This feature is only available for Xbox 360 and started on November 6, 2008, however, the content was initially glitched and made Curry Man come out as Christopher Daniels in his entrance and Petey Williams comes out as A.J. Styles and have the model of Senshi in the ring. These glitches were later fixed.
The story mode's main character is a wrestler named Suicide. During every iMPACT! episode after the August 14, 2008 version of iMPACT!, the words 'whoissuicide.com' flashed on the screen for less than a second. On the website, it shows that Suicide is being taken from the game to real life television.[14] At the Final Resolution pay-per-view in December 2008, Suicide first appeared on TNA programming.[15]At Destination X 2009, Suicide competed in his debut match in TNA, which was an Ultimate X match, and became the new X Division Champion.
Development[edit]
After periods of negotiation with Electronic Arts[16] and Rockstar Games,[17] TNA signed a multi-year agreement with Midway Games on November 7, 2005.[18] Midway announced their intentions to release Impact!, the first game in TNA's history, for each of the seventh generation consoles on March 2, 2006.
Several TNA wrestlers were involved in the game's production. The self described 'hardcore gamers' Samoa Joe and A.J. Styles both took part in meetings with Midway staff to brainstorm gameplay ideas, and Joe, Styles, Christopher Daniels, Senshi, Sonjay Dutt, and Jeff Jarrett were all a part of the motion capture sessions.[5][19] During the October 23, 2006 tapings of the weekly TNA Impact! program, members of the TNA roster were 'scanned' for the game and audio samples of the Impact! Zone crowd were recorded.[20] The Liverpool Olympia in Liverpool, England was used for reference photos, used to inspire the unlockable 'London' venue in the game.[21]
Reception[edit]
| System | Metacritic | GameRankings |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 2 | 58 (4 reviews)[22] | 63.17% (6 reviews)[23] |
| PlayStation 3 | 64 (27 reviews)[24] | 63.33% (24 reviews)[25] |
| Wii | 43 (5 reviews)[26] | 44.43% (7 reviews)[27] |
| Xbox 360 | 62 (44 reviews)[28] | 64.73% (44 reviews)[29] |
TNA Impact! received 'mixed to average' reviews by critics, except for the Wii version, which received unfavorable reviews.[24][28][27] The game was praised for its realistic graphics and simple control scheme but criticized for its limited and repetitive movesets, poor entrances, lack of championship belts, and inconsistent AI.[30][31]
IGN gave various reviews for all platforms, with a 6.4 for the PS3 version, 6.7 for the Xbox 360 version, 5.3 for the PS2 version and a 4.5 for the Wii version.[32][33][34]
GameSpot gave the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions a 7 out of 10, stating 'It's no heavyweight champion, but this brawler still packs a satisfying punch.',[35][36] while the PlayStation 2 version was given a 6 out of 10, stating 'High-impact action and lively animation save this brawler from mediocrity.'[37]
On February 12, 2009, Midway Games announced TNA iMPACT! had shipped approximately 1.5 million units.
Mobile tie-in[edit]
In 2008, Longtail Studios created the game TNA Wrestling for Verizon Wireless mobile devices to coincide with this release. The game would be re-released in 2009 for iOS.
In 2011, Namco Networks released TNA Wrestling Impact! for mobile devices.
Sequel[edit]
Midway Games originally announced a sequel to the game.[38] In July 2009, Time Warner (through its subsidiaryWarner Bros. Interactive Entertainment) purchased the majority of Midway. The TNA license was not included with the purchase.[39] In a September 2009 interview, TNA president Dixie Carter announced that TNA was looking for a new video game partner.[40] On November 11, 2009, SouthPeak Games confirmed that it acquired Midway Games' TNA video game license in its quarterly report.[41] The company would publish TNA Impact!: Cross the Line for Nintendo DS and PSP, with it releasing on June 25, 2010.[42] The game was essentially the same as the 2008 release, with the addition of several new characters and the removal of older ones, such as Christian Cage who departed TNA in 2008.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'Midway Announces Diverse And High-Powered Lineup For 2007 E3 Business & Media Summit' (Press release). Midway Games. 2007-07-09. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
- ^'TNA iMPACT!'. IGN. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- ^'TNA Impact!'. GamePro. Archived from the original on 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- ^''Our top three international markets are the UK, Australia and India' : Dixie Carter - TNA Entertainment president'. 15 September 2009.
- ^ abcBanks, Bill (2007-10-12). 'New Footage Of The TNA Video Game'. TNA Wrestling. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
- ^Lane, Scot (2008-04-18). 'TNA iMPACT! Midway Gamers' Day 2008 Interview'(Video). GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2008-04-19.
- ^ abc'TNA: iMPACT! - Exclusive Features Trailer'. GameTrailers. 2008-04-12. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ abcEkberg, Brian (2007-10-14). 'TNA iMPACT! Hands-On'. GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ abLane, Scot (2008-04-18). 'TNA iMPACT! Interview 2'(Video). GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
- ^Regan, Mike (2008-03-30). 'TNA Impact Detailed Hands On Impressions'. GamingRing.com. Archived from the original on 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
- ^ abRegan, Mike (2008-04-01). 'New TNA Impact Information'. GamingRing.com. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^'Interview Recap — Traci Brooks'. In Your Head Online. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^WrestlingNewsWorld.com. 'Midway To Release Curry Man & Petey Williams As Downloadable Characters For TNA Impact Next Week'.
- ^'Who Is Suicide?'. Who is suicide.com. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
- ^'TNA UPDATES ON AL SNOW, SUICIDE, SPIN CYCLE AND MORE - PWInsider.com'.
- ^Waldman, Jon (2003-10-13). 'No TNA-EA Sports game deal, yet'. Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2007-07-29.
- ^Robinson, Jon (2005-10-25). 'Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood - TNA Wrestling finally gets a videogame deal'. IGN.com. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
- ^Martin, Adam (2005-11-07). 'Midway Games issues press release on TNA video game, Rhino, D'Amore'. WrestleView.com. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^Sinclair, Brendan (2006-06-07). 'TNA Wrestling updates game debut'. GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
- ^Flannagan, Jay (2006-10-25). 'A Busy Day At The Impact! Tapings, Midway Games At the Tapings, More'. WrestleView.com. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^'Essential Liverpool'. Essential Liverpool. Archived from the original on 2019-07-02.
- ^https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/tna-impact!
- ^'TNA iMPACT! - PS2'. GameRankings. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
- ^ ab'TNA iMPACT! (PS3)'. Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
- ^'TNA iMPACT! - PS3'. GameRankings. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
- ^https://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/tna-impact!
- ^ ab'TNA iMPACT! - WII'. GameRankings. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
- ^ ab'TNA iMPACT! (Xbox 360)'. Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
- ^'TNA iMPACT! - X360'. GameRankings. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
- ^Miller, Greg (2008-09-08). 'TNA Impact! Review'. IGN. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
- ^DesertEagle (2008-09-11). 'An Upset by the Upstart: TNA Impact! Reviewed'. Tech-Gaming. Archived from the original on 2008-09-14. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
- ^'TNA Impact! Review - IGN' – via www.ign.com.
- ^'TNA Impact! Review - IGN' – via www.ign.com.
- ^'TNA Impact! Review - IGN' – via www.ign.com.
- ^'TNA iMPACT! Review'.
- ^'TNA iMPACT! Review'.
- ^'TNA iMPACT! Review'.
- ^'TNA iMPACT! 2 (Game)'. Giant Bomb.
- ^'Court OKs Midway Games $33M asset sale to Warner Bros'. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2009-07-02. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
- ^'TNA News: TNA expected to announce new video game partner soon'. 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
- ^'Southpeak Grabs TNA From Midway's Bankruptcy Sale'. kotaku.com.
- ^'SouthPeak publishing TNA Impact! on handhelds 'later this Winter''. Engadget.
In Story mode, you play as Suicide, a successful wrestler who fights his way up the wrestling circuit ranks for a chance at the TNA title in a major televised match. After being approached by rival wrestlers who threaten him to throw the match, he decides to curb-stomp his opponents anyway. Ticked off by the victory, Suicide's rivals brutally attack him after the match, beating him within an inch of death and leaving him bleeding in a Tijuana alley.
The story itself is pretty straightforward wrestling drama fare that plays out through a mix of static sequences and nicely animated cutscenes. Not everyone will enjoy being railroaded into playing a canned story as a single preset character rather than starting a custom wrestler from scratch--a fairly standard option that's noticeably absent here. However, the visuals both in and out of the ring are crisp, and the hard rock soundtrack does a good job of keeping the adrenaline flowing.
When plowing through the main Story mode, you'll bludgeon through match after match using the same core movesets against a rotating medley of opponents in different arenas. Cutscenes break up the pacing a bit, but there's otherwise very little to be concerned with beyond pummeling your next batch of opponents into submission and moving on. Match types do change up every so often, offering a good mix of one-on-one, tag team, and free-for-all encounters, among other configurations.
When things heat up during a match, it's not always easy to quickly recall which combination is necessary to execute a specific move. Moves you're attempting to pull off also change depending on whether you're near the edge of the ring, on the ground, or walking or running. The most egregious example of the game's contextual move issues arises when you're using the circle button.