TNA: This IS wrestling.
I bought this game because I'm a fan of the brand, but with all the previews and Q & A's, and not to mention that this is Midway's very first wrestling game (that WWF Wretestlemania Arcade game doesn't count, THAT was fighting), I wasn't expecting much.
However, having played it for several hours, I'm quite impressed.
The graphics are sharp, and complement the moves well. I especially like the crowd, they're not cardboard cutouts like Smackdown vs Raw.
The sound is perfect. Punches, kicks and slams sound as they should. The environment reacts well too (i.e. getting thrown into stairs, you hear the stairs bang)
There's a plausible assortment of moves. Not as grand as the Smackdown series to date, but this is their first first. I especially like the reversals. It appears as though you can reverse every move directed towards you. However, , there's no weight recognition, anyone can pick up anybody, no matter the size difference.
The commentary is well done in this game. I haven't gotten bored of Mike Taney and Don West, they're not as repetitive as JR, King, and who ever else has ever done commentary for Smackdown (S vs. R 2008 was so bad, I had to shut off audio on commentary).
The story mode is interesting and entertaining. Unlike the Smackdown series, where the story modes (if any) were any stories that were done in the past year of RAW and/or Smackdown.
There aren't that many choices in matches. Everything else you've seen before, except Ultimate X, which plays out like a ladder Match with climbing the turnbuckles. Ultimate X is fun and innovative.
There's a fair selection of TNA stars in the game, and there are more to download, which should raise the replay value.
One of the biggest features with wrestling games have been CAW (Create A Wrestler). This is where the disappointment sets in. You can only create FIVE (5) wrestlers, which then must go through story mode for further upgrade (at least one CAW). WWE's Smackdown series has spoiled us with CAW content, since this is what keeps us playing. To be honest, since I bought SvR 2008, I haven't played with ANYONE on their roster, since all I do is create. CAW is also good at overlooking the flaws of the rest of the game. At least TNA: Impact is fun on its own, with its limited choices.
The entrances aren't bad, but quite short, and there's no Soundtrack substitution for CAWs (SvR 2007 didn't have this for the Xbox 360 either).
There's no different types of CAW costumes either, so whatever your CAW is wearing, that will be it for the match, entrance, and backstage.
Overall, the game is not bad at all, just lacking some features we've grown used to.