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UFC 2009: Undisputed
Undisputed captures the feeling of the sport.
May 19, 2009 | 8:15 AM PSTKombo's Review Policy: Our reviews are written for you. Our goal is to write honest, to-the-point reviews that don't waste your time. This is why we've split our reviews into four sections: What the Game's About, What's Hot, What's Not and Final Word, so that you can easily find the information you want from our reviews.
What the Game's About
UFC fighters are the new gladiators of our generation. The sport pits two bloodthirsty fighters in an octagon ring and lets them duke it out until a decision is made by judges or knockout. Back in the mid to early 90s, professional wrestling was all the rage and now the attention has been turned to the decidedly more realistic UFC. In terms of games, the UFC, for its popularity, hasn't seen a release since 2004. With THQ and Yuke's at the helm, UFC 2009: Undisputed pounds down the competition for an amazing fighting game that is sure to make new fans of the MMA sport.
What's Hot
Yuke's has a lot of experience developing fighting games. They are responsible for most of the modern WWE: SmackDown vs. Raw games that release annually. Tackling the world of UFC is much different and much harder. Where WWE is about entertainment and showmanship, UFC is about hard knocks and ruthless grapples. After a lengthy tutorial where you are exposed to all facets of a UFC fight, you are thrown into the big leagues hoping to be honored with a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Capturing the raw brutality is something that was obviously on top of the features list because when you start a career or play a quick match with a friend, you'll start feeling the punches immediately. The controller rumbles at the right times and the screen will earthquake when you land a heavy punch. The immersion level in Undisputed is the next best thing to actually being in the ring.
A large part of UFC is close combat. Undisputed displays some amazing collision detection that goes hand in hand with equally amazing animations. Since UFC moves are highly technical and require textbook perfection to be effective, it was important for Undisputed to nail the moves of the fighters. Watching the fight as it happens on screen with the detailed graphics is jaw dropping. To make use of all the moves, the button map for the control is rather expansive and highly situational. Many of the moves are contextual depending on your distance from your opponent, which keeps collision detection looking good. There is always a move at your disposal providing you know what buttons to press.
Undisputed is one of those games that you sit down and play and next thing you know it's four hours later. It is true that UFC fights are brutal but there is also a strategic element that goes into the fights. It is a nuanced part of the violence that is often over looked to more casual fans or watchers. Undisputed keeps with the strategic elements with the fights and adds that extra layer of depth to keep you playing. Out-thinking your opponent is just as important as beating the crap out of them.
What's Not
One of the game's problem is that with as many moves as there are, there is a steep learning curve to master the moves. The tutorial mode is helpful, but when you are in the thick of battle, you won't have the time or the memory to remember it all. Taking it slow in the beginning and building on what you know is the only way to master your fighter.
There is a loose career mode that throws together a story for a created fighter. When you aren't fighting with the brilliant gameplay, the menus and training in between the matches are boring and lose the forward momentum. It is a relief that mini-games weren't thrown in the just to fill the gaps but tightening the gaps between matches and streamlining stat increases would have kept the adrenaline pumping 24/7.
Final Word
After years of not seeing a UFC game, it was well worth the wait. The word that keeps popping up when discussing Undisputed is "amazing." Not since the Nintendo 64 WCW/WWF wrestling games have I had this much fun with a brawler like this. All the moves and complexity with all the graphical trimmings to sell the feeling of actually being an MMA fighter is outstanding to experience in the same package. Undisputed is the new world champion and it any challengers will be hard pressed to dethrone this king of the ring.
What the Game's About
UFC fighters are the new gladiators of our generation. The sport pits two bloodthirsty fighters in an octagon ring and lets them duke it out until a decision is made by judges or knockout. Back in the mid to early 90s, professional wrestling was all the rage and now the attention has been turned to the decidedly more realistic UFC. In terms of games, the UFC, for its popularity, hasn't seen a release since 2004. With THQ and Yuke's at the helm, UFC 2009: Undisputed pounds down the competition for an amazing fighting game that is sure to make new fans of the MMA sport.
What's Hot
Yuke's has a lot of experience developing fighting games. They are responsible for most of the modern WWE: SmackDown vs. Raw games that release annually. Tackling the world of UFC is much different and much harder. Where WWE is about entertainment and showmanship, UFC is about hard knocks and ruthless grapples. After a lengthy tutorial where you are exposed to all facets of a UFC fight, you are thrown into the big leagues hoping to be honored with a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Capturing the raw brutality is something that was obviously on top of the features list because when you start a career or play a quick match with a friend, you'll start feeling the punches immediately. The controller rumbles at the right times and the screen will earthquake when you land a heavy punch. The immersion level in Undisputed is the next best thing to actually being in the ring.
A large part of UFC is close combat. Undisputed displays some amazing collision detection that goes hand in hand with equally amazing animations. Since UFC moves are highly technical and require textbook perfection to be effective, it was important for Undisputed to nail the moves of the fighters. Watching the fight as it happens on screen with the detailed graphics is jaw dropping. To make use of all the moves, the button map for the control is rather expansive and highly situational. Many of the moves are contextual depending on your distance from your opponent, which keeps collision detection looking good. There is always a move at your disposal providing you know what buttons to press.
Undisputed is one of those games that you sit down and play and next thing you know it's four hours later. It is true that UFC fights are brutal but there is also a strategic element that goes into the fights. It is a nuanced part of the violence that is often over looked to more casual fans or watchers. Undisputed keeps with the strategic elements with the fights and adds that extra layer of depth to keep you playing. Out-thinking your opponent is just as important as beating the crap out of them.
What's Not
One of the game's problem is that with as many moves as there are, there is a steep learning curve to master the moves. The tutorial mode is helpful, but when you are in the thick of battle, you won't have the time or the memory to remember it all. Taking it slow in the beginning and building on what you know is the only way to master your fighter.
There is a loose career mode that throws together a story for a created fighter. When you aren't fighting with the brilliant gameplay, the menus and training in between the matches are boring and lose the forward momentum. It is a relief that mini-games weren't thrown in the just to fill the gaps but tightening the gaps between matches and streamlining stat increases would have kept the adrenaline pumping 24/7.
Final Word
After years of not seeing a UFC game, it was well worth the wait. The word that keeps popping up when discussing Undisputed is "amazing." Not since the Nintendo 64 WCW/WWF wrestling games have I had this much fun with a brawler like this. All the moves and complexity with all the graphical trimmings to sell the feeling of actually being an MMA fighter is outstanding to experience in the same package. Undisputed is the new world champion and it any challengers will be hard pressed to dethrone this king of the ring.
February 8, 2010
