The create-a-wrestler is one of the weaker sides to Impact. The amount of customisation is limited at the start and whether this improves over time remains to be seen. You can still make up a decent grappler, but the lack of items is ever so slightly disappointing.

Live is pretty good too with a choice of Ranked and Player matches and the lag isn’t really there other than at the start, but do be patient, as the menus and selection areas are a little sluggish to select. Other than that it’s as smooth as it needs to be.

As I said at the start of this review, I’ve really never been a fan of wrestling games, but this one appeals to me. It’s not necessarily one I’d rush out to the shops and buy personally, but I can certainly see the very playable and enjoyable game lying underneath all that muscle and dodgy haircuts. It’s a must for the young fans and a scream for the drunken adults who are either closet fans or too inebriated to care. It takes WWE Smackdown vs. Raw and pins it for the three count, somewhat ironic for a company who at one point did the arcade games for the then World Wrestling Federation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, your winner….. and NEW champion of the console wrestling genre… TNA Impact!!