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TNA IMPACT! THE VIDEO GAME

please tell me you can turn off the commentary. I can't stand the "real" announcers and these virtual announcers will be worse x10.
 
The Bookerman said:
Smackdown vs Raw doesn't feel like an actual wrestling game. it feels much more like a brawler with wrestling moves included in the game. Their moveset is really limited. The animations suck. Sure they add nice novelties like GM mode and story modes. But they don't change the core gameplay. It's like adding sparkles and chocolat fudge on top of shit. No matter what you add, it's still shit. If you ask any wrestling fan who plays games, they'll all choose WWF No Mercy over any Smackdown(vs RAW) game.
Smackdown vs. Raw has an insane amount of problems, I'll admit. I've said all along there's no excuse to beat a guy down until he's in red, only to have him do one insanely easy reversal and he's hopping around like a fucking chipmunk on crack. But the gameplay is still solid and I love what they've done with the analogue control. '07 was the best wrestling game I've played since No Mercy. '08 was a step back, but it looks like they're going back to the old formula with '09. And you should go back and try No Mercy now. It hasn't aged well. It's still a fun, very competent game, but nostalgia's a bitch.

Outcast2004 said:
The problem is that it's too much for their shitty netcode to handle.
Press a button to do move, wait a second for the move to register

Match goes on slowly with 3 other guys all dressed as hip hoppers with 100 overall guys spamming the same move over and over

Wait...dropped match...

Perhaps the focus for TNA's online was so it wouldn't be a laggy, unresponsive mess?
The netcode isn't that bad. I play an average of 10 games a night. Have probably three bad matches where it's laggy. Some times more, some times less. What kills the online is the rampant glitching. And that's why you turn CAWs off. Sure, they're fun to use, but it's broken. And I imagine IMPACT will be the same way.

And judging by the Midway rep, the reason their online is shit is because they didn't have enough time for it. It looks promising, at $40, which is what I'll probably pay unless I'm really bored this week and reviews are good.
 
Rated-Rsuperstar said:
He should be free since his moveset will be the same as Christopher Daniels. Because you know Curryman is Daniels.
Same guy, but not same moveset. Both personalities work completelyt different styles.
 
JdFoX187 said:
But the gameplay is still solid and I love what they've done with the analogue control.
The gameplay is THE main problem with the Smackdown vs. Raw series, imo. I was just watching a video that IGN posted showing Finlay vs. Santino in SvR '09, and it pretty much shows why I can't stand the series now. There's just no flow to the matches at all and the animations feels so disjointed throughout the match. I personally despise the analogue control.

JdFoX187 said:
'07 was the best wrestling game I've played since No Mercy.
Both of the Day of Reckoning games are far superior to anything that's come out of the Smackdown vs. Raw series, imo.


JdFoX187 said:
And you should go back and try No Mercy now. It hasn't aged well. It's still a fun, very competent game, but nostalgia's a bitch.
I still play No Mercy regularly and the game (specifically the gameplay) holds up just fine.
 
JdFoX187 said:
Smackdown vs. Raw has an insane amount of problems, I'll admit. I've said all along there's no excuse to beat a guy down until he's in red, only to have him do one insanely easy reversal and he's hopping around like a fucking chipmunk on crack. But the gameplay is still solid and I love what they've done with the analogue control. '07 was the best wrestling game I've played since No Mercy. '08 was a step back, but it looks like they're going back to the old formula with '09. And you should go back and try No Mercy now. It hasn't aged well. It's still a fun, very competent game, but nostalgia's a bitch.

The netcode isn't that bad. I play an average of 10 games a night. Have probably three bad matches where it's laggy. Some times more, some times less. What kills the online is the rampant glitching. And that's why you turn CAWs off. Sure, they're fun to use, but it's broken. And I imagine IMPACT will be the same way.

And judging by the Midway rep, the reason their online is shit is because they didn't have enough time for it. It looks promising, at $40, which is what I'll probably pay unless I'm really bored this week and reviews are good.
smackdown has been garbage since it's inception, a waste of money, with poor, shitty, awful controls and horrible gameplay. i'm amazed that people buy that shit every year.

then again, they don't have any competition...

i play good wrasslin' games, like fire pro, koc, revenge and no mercy.
 
The Faceless Master said:
smackdown has been garbage since it's inception, a waste of money, with poor, shitty, awful controls and horrible gameplay. i'm amazed that people buy that shit every year.

then again, they don't have any competition...

i play good wrasslin' games, like fire pro, koc, revenge and no mercy.

Add GG and TR to that list too! (actually I'm not a huge fan of either)

But I agree. That entire series is crap, and the only way I suppose people could like it is if they haven't played anything better.

I really hope there's a demo, and that said demo would support 4 players. And has some fun modes along with tag matches for 4 way matches. If the game is fun (esp with 4P), I can see myself biting.
 
RBH said:
The gameplay is THE main problem with the Smackdown vs. Raw series, imo. I was just watching a video that IGN posted showing Finlay vs. Santino in SvR '09, and it pretty much shows why I can't stand the series now. There's just no flow to the matches at all and the animations feels so disjointed throughout the match. I personally despise the analogue control.
The animations aren't the greatest. TNA's animations look odd as well. And I agree about the flow of the matches. I've been saying that since the beginning. The only reason I can think it could be like that is because it's more player-friendly.

Both of the Day of Reckoning games are far superior to anything that's come out of the Smackdown vs. Raw series, imo.
The original Day of Reckoning game was horrible. I played through it when it first came out and detested it. And that was before I had even touched the Smackdown series.

I still play No Mercy regularly and the game (specifically the gameplay) holds up just fine.
I quit playing it after I sold my N64. Bought a system about two years ago and found No Mercy recently. After not playing it for so long, it just seems so archaic. It's fun, yes. But I still prefer the analogue grappling and most of what SvR does. It needs a lot of work and I hope someone else takes over the series after Yukes is done next year. But it's not as bad as some make it out to be.
 
I'm starting to think we wont see any reviews until the game has already been out for a day. I'm depending on you people to pick it up and let me know how it is.

Well, that is if I don't blind buy it the morning it comes out, and that's very possible. :lol
 
Downhome said:
I'm starting to think we wont see any reviews until the game has already been out for a day. I'm depending on you people to pick it up and let me know how it is.

Well, that is if I don't blind buy it the morning it comes out, and that's very possible. :lol


As soon as a review comes in (Website or fan) it will be in the OP.
 
first review from a swedish site, by way of the IGN boards..

7/10

http://boards.ign.com/nwa_tna_wrestling/b7248/170425572/r170425764/

http://www.gamereactor.se/recensioner/15195/TNA+Impact/

There's the link to the review. As I know, you're not able to speak swedish, so let me get the good parts out from the review.

+ (Positive)

Innovativ gamecontrol
Funny matchtypes
Good animations
Extremly (!) good multiplayer
Funny story

- (Negative)

Old Graphics
Sucky commentators
Lack of features

Graphics: 5/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Sound: 4/10
Durabilty: 8/10

Total: 7/10

-----

Since I don't have the time to translate the whole thing, I can tell you the keyparts.
The reviewer basically says that this game is all about gameplay and is the funniest and fastest wrestling game since DoR2. So, gameplay wise, this game totally rocks. But the lack of depth and features brings down the totalscore. In the end, he writes that TNA iMPACT! is the best wrestling game in years, even though its a diamond in the rough.

Hope this helped a bit, this guy is a huuuuuge wrestling fan and a WWE-mark, so it is a fair score.
 
No, no, no. Smackdown IS as bad as people say it is. Everything about it is shit, mostly because its the same damn engine from the first Smackdown. Animation issues aside, the core gameplay mechanics are flawed and arguably completely broken. No Mercy, a ten year old game is much better. Stop buying SD, STOP SUPPORTING SHIT.
 
I can deal with a lack of features for the first title out the gate from TNA. It's the gameplay foundation that's key, and it sounds like they've done their homework. Extremely good multiplayer? That's what matters.
 
bishoptl said:
I can deal with a lack of features for the first title out the gate from TNA. It's the gameplay foundation that's key, and it sounds like they've done their homework. Extremely good multiplayer? That's what matters.

This. I tend to ignore most of the *extra* features in wrestling games these days. Gimmick matches never flow quite as well as they do on TV and setting up big bumps can become tedious. If the grappling system is good, that is all I really need.
 
bishoptl said:
I can deal with a lack of features for the first title out the gate from TNA. It's the gameplay foundation that's key, and it sounds like they've done their homework. Extremely good multiplayer? That's what matters.
Agreed about the gameplay and multiplayer.

I mentioned this before, but reading these previews of Impact, this game is reminding me more and more like WCW vs. nWo World Tour. World Tour also didn't have too many features, but the gameplay and multiplayer were excellent and helped create the foundation for Revenge. Hopefully Impact can do the same for the next iteration in the series.
 
The review was pretty much what I was expecting. The game was going to get slammed for its lack of features, but at least the control scheme sounds like a welcome change from the Smackdown vs. Raw series.


Differences between the 360 and PS3 versions:

If you dig TNA's gameplay, you'll dig online -- however, unlike over on the Xbox 360, there is no voice support for TNA on PlayStation 3.

The lack of voice chat is just one of several differences between the 360 and PS3 versions of iMPACT!. Overall, the game's a whole lot sharper and more detailed on the 360. The PS3 characters look good, but their 360 counterparts look like they're pulled from TV. Also, there's some slowdown when cycling through wrestlers at the character select screen and during entrances like AJ's that make use of lots of fireworks. PS3 also suffers from a lot more clipping issues. While playing the PS3 version of iMPACT!, I saw heads dipping into the mat, hands going through opponents, and during a Kurt Angle match, a crotch stomp near the ropes teleported to the outside mid-animation. None of these problems popped up like this on the 360. iMPACT! also took 17 minutes to install on my PS3.
 
nightside said:
It seems to me that fans are still chanting for Sintg :-p... And this looks like a "millionare's club vs new blood 2" :D

It's only good if "Above Average" Mike Sanders makes an appearance.
 
Cerrius said:
first review from a swedish site, by way of the IGN boards..

7/10

http://boards.ign.com/nwa_tna_wrestling/b7248/170425572/r170425764/


He must of never played KOC or Fire Pro then if he thinks this is the best wrestling game in years.. I hate the fasted pace wrestling games, slow pace where I can control the match and have time to actually think about what I am gonna do next is what I like.

Honestly until Spike start developing Puroresu games again, wrestling games are gonna suck! They are miles ahead of Yukes and the Midway team.. Spike know how to create wrestling simulation games..
 
saw the video review, the game is exactly what I thought it would be: a shallow game which is nothing more then a renter. The sequel will be actually something to look forward too
 
DoctorWho said:
Just read it. Looks like I'll rent this and stick to playing Day of Reckoning 2.

That reviewer is not to be trusted in this case. He's aTOTAL WWE mark (which he admits) and thinks that SD vs Raw is phenomenal.... even though its boring as hell, glitchy and half the extra match types you NEVER play.

I'll take a game that's got solid, fast and FUN gameplay any day over SD's Madden-esque roster updates and feature reductions.

kobashi100 said:
He must of never played KOC or Fire Pro then if he thinks this is the best wrestling game in years.. I hate the fasted pace wrestling games, slow pace where I can control the match and have time to actually think about what I am gonna do next is what I like.

Honestly until Spike start developing Puroresu games again, wrestling games are gonna suck! They are miles ahead of Yukes and the Midway team.. Spike know how to create wrestling simulation games..

I LOVEEEEEE KOC2, but that slow methodical pace doesn't fit what's essentially an X-Division game.
 
aki-ID.gif
 
Captain N said:
Why would Midway have them working on Ready 2 Rumble and not this game?
Today's AKI is nowhere close to the old team. Those teams are LONG disbanded.
The last time they had anything resembling the old team was Def Jam Vendetta
 
Outcast2004 said:
Today's AKI is nowhere close to the old team. Those teams are LONG disbanded.
The last time they had anything resembling the old team was Def Jam Vendetta


I know that..still..when you've got AKI attached to the title it gives you a little more faith than the team that worked on Backyard wrestling.

I've got this game pre-ordered and will be picking it up this week..so only time will tell if I end up liking this bad boy.
 
MassiveAttack said:
Midway no longer owns the rights to R2R. They have nothing to do with the new R2R in development.

Why is Afro Thunder from Ready 2 Rumble in TNA? well at least DLC in the future?
 
Outcast2004 said:
Today's AKI is nowhere close to the old team. Those teams are LONG disbanded.
The last time they had anything resembling the old team was Def Jam Vendetta


DJV was still pretty good, and loads better than the debacle called Def Jame next gen
 
Just in case anyone didn't see this posted

PS3

- 17 Minute install
- No Voice chat online



MassiveAttack said:
They own the rights to the character but not the license.

Really? I had no idea.
 
kobashi100 said:
He must of never played KOC or Fire Pro then if he thinks this is the best wrestling game in years..
I did the review on the swedish site Gamereactor, and I wan't to comment on that. I have played Fire Pro quite a bit, but they are not released in Europe. And since we do a magazine and a website with a lot of readers (by far the biggest in Scandinavia), I think it's important to only compare to related games that people actually might have played.

A review written specific for wrestling marks would of course have more depth, but then might have been of no use to the average reader in Sweden since wrestling is almost unknown and people in general has no knowledge about it.

But all that aside, TNA Impact is a really fast paced and fun wrestling game and much more "pick up and play"-friendly than the Smackdown-series. I really hope it does sell fairly well, since they got a good foundation for the future here.

Oh... And by the way, here is the link to the review. At the bottom is a lot of pictures that we took ourselfs. They can be resized up to 720p and be viewed exactly as they look in the game. http://www.gamereactor.se/recensioner/15195/TNA+Impact/
 
Rated-Rsuperstar said:
Really makes you wonder what the install is for when it still runs worse than the 360 version.

Maybe the load times are faster? Install would be worth it if it did.

Syringe: from what I've seen in the videos so far, it doesn't look very fast paced at all, it seems just right for my tastes (slower than Smackdown vs. RAW) and not as slow as No Mercy (not a flaw of NM, but I found it slow). But I suppose that when you say that you're meaning that you aren't on the floor having the time mashing buttons to get up?
 
Syringe said:
I did the review on the swedish site Gamereactor, and I wan't to comment on that. I have played Fire Pro quite a bit, but they are not released in Europe. And since we do a magazine and a website with a lot of readers (by far the biggest in Scandinavia), I think it's important to only compare to related games that people actually might have played.

A review written specific for wrestling marks would of course have more depth, but then might have been of no use to the average reader in Sweden since wrestling is almost unknown and people in general has no knowledge about it.

But all that aside, TNA Impact is a really fast paced and fun wrestling game and much more "pick up and play"-friendly than the Smackdown-series. I really hope it does sell fairly well, since they got a good foundation for the future here.

Oh... And by the way, here is the link to the review. At the bottom is a lot of pictures that we took ourselfs. They can be resized up to 720p and be viewed exactly as they look in the game. http://www.gamereactor.se/recensioner/15195/TNA+Impact/

fair point. how do you think TNA Impact will do in europe? I have not seen one TV ad here in the UK yet.
 
MassiveAttack said:
It's never been an original IP. They licensed the rights from Michael Buffer who owns the trademark.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Buffer

The characters and engine are all original IP. Just the name tag is trademarked (which is AMAZING that Buffer got it trademarked considering how trademarks work), so it seems a different company is using the name and creating all new characters and engine?
 
Two years of hype. At least they have the engine in place. Make good use of another 9 months, and knock it out the park!

So, its not much better than a post-patch Wrestlemania 21? That is interesting.
 
*sigh*, I was fully prepared for an average wrestling game, but the botched PS3 port pretty much assures that i'm going back to Smackdown vs RAW this year.

Anyone here ever play AJPW on the Saturn? I swear, it's the only wrestling game i've played that is focused on simulation rather than arcade gameplay, even it's sequels (the Giant Gram games on the Dreamcast) go down a more arcadey route.
 
Was anyone actually able to buy this today? I got a voice mail from Gamestop claiming my pre-order would be in Wednesday afternoon.
 
I ordered it off Gamestop.com when free overnight was offered. I looked at my status tonight and it's backodered.
O_o

but if you look at the game page...
Usually Ships In 24 Hours

if it doesn't ship tomorrow, screw it.
 
Got the game yesterday about 5 at good old Walmart.

Played it for about 5 hours nonstop. It has a definite learning curve, so it's not as "pick up and play" as they'd like to think.

But, when you get a handle of how things go, you're going to have a lot of fun with it. This is a gameplay style catered to the highfliers though.

Ultimate X is a blast to play.

My only real gripe, its too damn hard to kick out of a pinning situation.
 
Rated-Rsuperstar said:
Do the computer characters go for the turnbuckle as soon as the bell rings like ladders in Smackdown? Or does the match have a good pace to it?

Has a pretty good pace to it actually. They'll fight with you for a bit and wait until you are stunned before they make a break for the cables.

There's usually enough time for you to get up and fight him off the cables or pull him down. Pulling the X down is done with a timing based mini game.

I've pulled some SICK moves off the cables with AJ (he's the games star, really. It's ALL about the X-division guys)

You HAVE to go through story though. Over half of the roster is locked at the start.
 
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