First Round K.O.- UFC 2009: Undisputed

UFC 2009: Undisputed for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Developer: Yuke's, Publisher: THQ


Immediately after Street Fighter II was released, some complained that games were getting too complicated. Accustomed to a stick and two button control scheme, SFII’s six action buttons seemed daunting to the uninitiated. As history has shown, these detractors were quickly silenced by the innovative incorporation of subtle strategy that catapulted Street Fighter to monstrous success. With a tutorial that requires an hour to complete, gamers are going to have to make another great leap forward with UFC 2009: Undisputed. It’s one of the most complicated, yet satisfying sport sims on the market.

The developers of UFC have ingeniously reverse-engineered the sport, interweaving intense strikes, clinch battles, grappling and submission holds into one seamless contest. The title represents a pinnacle of intricacy; developer Yukes Media Creations has managed to integrate a majority of what mixed martial art (MMA) fans expect from a game. Mastering those elements may seem overwhelming at first, but diligent players will certainly be rewarded by Undisputed’s intense depth. Those seeking a quick and lighthearted diversion should probably think twice before stepping foot into the Octagon.


One of the core requirements of a fighting game is a quick and responsive control scheme.  Fighters in Undisputed strike with a venomous velocity, accurately conveying the ferocity of the sport. Each of the face buttons offers a punch or kick that is context-sensitive. Strikes are intelligently determined by the fighters’ proxemics, and can be directed toward the body with the shift of a shoulder button. By pressing toward a selection of more powerful, albeit slower, attacks is accessible.

Graphically, UFC’s exhaustive roster of fighters closely resemble their real world counterparts. Each is meticulously modeled, with remarkable skin and hair textures. Small cuts and bruises are rendered realistically, although intense match halting gashes, are inexplicably absent from the game.  Hit detection, a nuance that is often lack-luster in 3D fighters, is masterfully programmed and gives the game a requisite sense of physicality. The title convincingly recreates all the visual elements of a UFC match by incorporating authentic cut men, ring girls, and sponsors.


Although Undisputed is a well-polished simulation of MMA fighting, a few nagging deficiencies are present. Although real life fighters use the walls of the UFC cage to trap their opponents and assist in takedowns, the in-game walls only serve as confinement. Players will not be able to pin an opponent again a wall of the octagon. Many games concluded with a flash knock-out of one of the competitors. While this increased the tension of our simulated skirmishes, KO’s happened too frequently to mirror realism.

Still, such deficiencies can almost be overlooked by the sheer amount of content in the game. The title ships with over eighty fighters and players can create their own warriors with the game’s handy editor. Beyond customizing the likeness for your combatant, players can choose two fighting styles from the games range of six: judo, boxing, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, wrestling and muay thai. Undisputed’s career mode offers a constant flow of incentives to keep the player engrossed. While earning trophies and belts was an interesting diversion, unlocking new moves for my flourishing fighter kept me coming back to the game.  Lastly, there are a number of challenges that recreate real-world UFC matches. If players excel, they will unlock short video montages of the events.


Gamers might be reluctant to purchase UFC 2009: Undisputed based on its untested rookie year status. Considering past attempts at recreating MMA sims, I can understand your hesitation. Amazingly, UFC feels like a second or third iteration of the game, and not a new upstart.  The title’s level of polish, detail, and inclusion of ancillary content contradicts the expectations associated with a new franchise.

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Posted by DesertEagle at 5/21/2009 1:24 PM
Categories: PS3,360,Reviews
 

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