After more than two years in development, 'TNA Impact' makes its videogame debut.

TNA, the second largest wrestling company in the USA, has a unique, high-risk wrestling style. The question is: does this translate well into a game?

In short: There are many elements that make a successful wrestling game and 'TNA Impact' possesses most of them — but not all of them.

The first element used to capture any player's attention is the visuals and thankfully 'TNA Impact's' are fairly good. Special attention has been paid to the recreation of TNA's studio in Orlando, Florida, with the set rendered in great detail. The six-sided TNA ring looks particularly snazzy, complete with actual dirt marks. If only the crowd didn't look so lacklustre and repetitive.

Character models are another important part of any wrestling game and Midway managed to score a few points here too. When starting up my first match with my favourite wrestler — AJ Styles — I was pleasantly surprised by all the details, such as his stubble and the general sheen to his lycra pants.

Characters also move fluidly, which is a welcome change from 'Smackdown vs Raw's' slow and robotic movements. Watching each individual rope bounce as one runs into them is a small testament to the amount of little details in the game.

However, one can't help but feel that 'TNA Impact' should've spent a few more weeks in testing. Clipping is often a problem, with characters' arms disappearing into their opponent's chest. Bodies also tend to disappear into the ring mat for some odd reason. A friend even said that while hitting Kurt Angle numerous times with a chair, it got stuck in his body.

The sound in 'TNA Impact' is your standard collection of grunts, ring announcements, and commentary. Anyone who follows TNA wrestling will instantly recognise Don West and Mike Tenay spewing forth their commentary. However, it does tend to get repetitive, despite adding great atmosphere to the action.

Gameplay wise, Midway captured the fast-paced action well — the vast array of aerial manoeuvres mirror what one will see on broadcasts. From the high-flying hurricanranas to the head-jarring clotheslines, every move makes an impact (pun intended).

The ability to disrupt moves is another welcome feature. This was a problem in many other wrestling games where one had to sit helplessly as one's partner got mercilessly beaten.

'TNA Impact' doesn't boast nearly as much match types as the 'Smackdown vs Raw' series. However, there is one kind of match that single-handedly makes this game worth a look: Ultimate X. This TNA signature match sees wrestlers climb onto criss- crossing ropes suspended above the ring in an effort to grab the prize. There are many gob-smacking moments to be had as the grapplers fall, dive and flip off of the ropes. This match-type goes a long way to make up for the lack of others.

A wrestling game doesn't really require a story, but 'TNA Impact' tries to spin the average yarn about revenge. It sees you being beaten to a bloody, unrecognisable pulp, after which you have to work your way back up the TNA ladder.

While doing so, you'll discover that 'TNA Impact' has a few flaws that prevent it from becoming a truly great game.

The first flaw is the lack of match types. While no new franchise can compete with the vast array of match types seen in the WWE games, the lack of ladder and cage matches might put off some.

The second flaw is the lack of moves in the game. Apart from their finishers, nearly every wrestler shares a similar move-set; from the gigantic Abyss to Samoa Joe, there is not much difference. Oftentimes you'll be left thinking, "He can't do that in real life!"

This problem carries over to the lacklustre Create-A-Wrestler mode. In addition to the meagre list of moves, this mode doesn't offer as much depth as even the previous generation of consoles' titles. This makes it almost impossible to create an accurate character.

The gameplay, while smooth and fun, needs to be expanded on. The lack of a stamina meter of sorts means that one can run around for indefinite periods of time without getting tired. While this is a way of making sure that the game will always have a frenetic pace, the lack of it as an option does mean that one can play at a less strategic pace.

Another problem I had with 'TNA Impact' was the lack of certain situation-based grapples — for example, there are no back grapples. While the game does a pretty good job of covering it up, it's a feature that is available in every other wrestling game.

A steel chair — the staple weapon of American wrestling — makes an appearance as the only weapon in the game. Once a character has it in his hands, it renders them almost invincible as they can't be grabbed while in possession of it. One can't help but feel that weapons are an afterthought. A nifty little detail though, is the way the chairs deform after each strike.

If you're looking for a decent alternative to the WWE games, don't hesitate to get it. However, 'TNA Impact' lacks just enough to not be a great game.

7/10