Playing Midway's upcoming TNA iMPACT! for Xbox 360 reminded us of the glory days of wrestling games, when we almost failed out of college playing WCW Vs. NWO World Tour for Nintendo 64. It has this sweet pick up and play arcade feel that delivers instant gratification, and we can't wait until the final game ships next spring to get in some four player action.

We have lots of love for THQ and the work that went into its WWE SmackDown Vs Raw series, but the robotic animations, lengthy load times and simulation antics have us ready to declare a new wrestling champion. Even at 60% complete, TNA moves and plays better than SmackDown, thanks to the skilled programmers at Midway LA and Epic's Unreal Engine 3. All of the wrestlers, including favorites Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Christian Cage, Sting and Abyss look phenomenal, sporting realistic skin textures and plenty of sweat. Even better, they move like actual human beings. Punch a guy in and stomach and he covers his breadbasket, smash him in the face and he shields his nose, deliver a dropkick to his chest and watch as he sails backward into the ropes, which actually respond to his body and shake. TNA looks outstanding.

It also plays phenomenally. Midway used its arcade experience to craft a solid wrestling game featuring hard-hitting and addictive combat where guys sail out of the ring, leap off the top rope and pulverize each other. You also have full freedom of movement, so if you run in one direction, you can actually change direction and literally run circles in and around the six-sided ring, something that blew our minds.

The controls work simply enough. You maneuver your chosen grappler with the left analog stick, punch with X, kick with A, grab with Y, run with the right trigger and counter with the right bumper. When countering, you anticipate your opponent's move and hit RB right as he or she goes into it. Depending on your positioning, you'll block a punch/kick or spin around, grab their waist and deliver a punishing back suplex.