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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Fighting Developer: YUKE'S Publisher: THQ |
Fans of UFC who have been wanting to take part in the animalistic actions of their favorite fighters in the ring are now able to with “UFC
2009: Undisputed,” the first in what many will hope to be a long running franchise built from the group up by THG and YUKE’S. Since
players have had to wait so long before venturing back to the virtual octagon, there is a ton of pressure on this UFC game to accurately
depict the complexities of the sport while still making it a blast to pummel an opponent.
The first thing that players will notice when they sit down to play “UFC 2009: Undisputed” is the complexity of the control scheme. No
matter how advanced players are with videogames, they will be daunting to one and all that pick up the controller at first, but THQ has
done a great job of mapping the intricacies of the fighting to a game controller. There is also a tutorial and an in-depth training mode
where player will be able to hone their skills in the ring.
Standard attacks are easy enough with a combination of face and shoulder buttons being used for high and low kicks and punches, as
well as blocking. Players will see cool variations to almost every strike in the game depending on which fighting style is chosen.
Landing punches is fairly satisfying, but players won’t hear the thunderous blows as in “Fight Night Round 3.” Of course the standing
striking of UFC isn’t what differentiates it from other sports like kickboxing. Instead, it is the intricate and complex ground fighting and
positioning, something that had to be a worry for the development team when they began working of the game.
The ground game translates perfectly onto the right analog stick. Through a series of minor and major transitions players can naturally
move to and reverse any of the ground positions that can be seen at a Pay-Per-View event. However, every so often player will feel like
they have landed a transition or counter by luck. Players will try repeatedly to do a reversal or transition out of a position and it won’t
work. Then, magically, their final attempt gets the desired result.
There are a few serious problems with the combat in “UFC 2009: Undisputed,” with the first being the submissions. While they are fun
when playing against another person with a controller, they are practically worthless against the AI. In order to be successful, players
will need to significantly drain the other fighter’s stamina and then players will have a better shot at making their opponent submit, but
there are no guarantees.
Another issue comes in the form of a complete lack of speed when compared to actual UFC fights. Because the game play looks and
feels so much slower than actual UFC fights, players miss out on a lot of the animalistic actions and intensity that happen in the real
octagon. The results are a lot less organic and more mechanical fighting experience that doesn’t recreate the real UFC as well as it
could have had the frame rate been pumped up a little bit. It is still fun to get in the ring and cause some damage to the opponent in the
ring, but for those who are real fans of the real UFC, they are sure to notice a big difference.
Graphically the game is very strong. All of the 80-plus fighters look and, for the most part, move like their real like counterparts and the
frame rate never dips to show significant slowdown. Little touches like cuts the bleed onto the opponent and progressive bruising that
develops in certain places help bring the game closer to the real thing. It is when players hop outside the ring that the look of “UFC
2009: Undisputed” takes a shot to the head. The menus are boring, as are the presentation elements that pop up throughout the
career mode. Every character model that is not the two people fighting in the ring could use some touching up for the next release.
The Career Mode is where players are likely to spend most of their time in the game. While the Create-A-Fighter options for designing a
brawler are extremely limiting, the design of the mode itself is actually very well done. Players start as a nobody and need to train to
become a lean, mean fighting machine, or get pummeled in the ring. To do this, players will participate in a variety of training events.
Players can train their core strength, cardio and speed attributes, spar in the ring, or attend UFC Camp. Other than that, players will
also be called on to participate in promotional events for sponsors that players sign, players upgrade their training equipments, attend
other fights, showing that there is no shortage of things going on during a career.
“UFC 2009: Undisputed” has its fair share of issues, but this is to be expected from an up-start franchise, but that doesn’t mean that
UFC fans and non-fans won’t have fun with the game once they figure out the controls. The Career Mode is fun and well designed, the
combat is fun and engaging and the classic fights are sure to please UFC fans. Once THQ fixes the blemishes and speed thing up a
bit, this could be a serious contender in the field of fighting games.
2009: Undisputed,” the first in what many will hope to be a long running franchise built from the group up by THG and YUKE’S. Since
players have had to wait so long before venturing back to the virtual octagon, there is a ton of pressure on this UFC game to accurately
depict the complexities of the sport while still making it a blast to pummel an opponent.
The first thing that players will notice when they sit down to play “UFC 2009: Undisputed” is the complexity of the control scheme. No
matter how advanced players are with videogames, they will be daunting to one and all that pick up the controller at first, but THQ has
done a great job of mapping the intricacies of the fighting to a game controller. There is also a tutorial and an in-depth training mode
where player will be able to hone their skills in the ring.
Standard attacks are easy enough with a combination of face and shoulder buttons being used for high and low kicks and punches, as
well as blocking. Players will see cool variations to almost every strike in the game depending on which fighting style is chosen.
Landing punches is fairly satisfying, but players won’t hear the thunderous blows as in “Fight Night Round 3.” Of course the standing
striking of UFC isn’t what differentiates it from other sports like kickboxing. Instead, it is the intricate and complex ground fighting and
positioning, something that had to be a worry for the development team when they began working of the game.
The ground game translates perfectly onto the right analog stick. Through a series of minor and major transitions players can naturally
move to and reverse any of the ground positions that can be seen at a Pay-Per-View event. However, every so often player will feel like
they have landed a transition or counter by luck. Players will try repeatedly to do a reversal or transition out of a position and it won’t
work. Then, magically, their final attempt gets the desired result.
There are a few serious problems with the combat in “UFC 2009: Undisputed,” with the first being the submissions. While they are fun
when playing against another person with a controller, they are practically worthless against the AI. In order to be successful, players
will need to significantly drain the other fighter’s stamina and then players will have a better shot at making their opponent submit, but
there are no guarantees.
Another issue comes in the form of a complete lack of speed when compared to actual UFC fights. Because the game play looks and
feels so much slower than actual UFC fights, players miss out on a lot of the animalistic actions and intensity that happen in the real
octagon. The results are a lot less organic and more mechanical fighting experience that doesn’t recreate the real UFC as well as it
could have had the frame rate been pumped up a little bit. It is still fun to get in the ring and cause some damage to the opponent in the
ring, but for those who are real fans of the real UFC, they are sure to notice a big difference.
Graphically the game is very strong. All of the 80-plus fighters look and, for the most part, move like their real like counterparts and the
frame rate never dips to show significant slowdown. Little touches like cuts the bleed onto the opponent and progressive bruising that
develops in certain places help bring the game closer to the real thing. It is when players hop outside the ring that the look of “UFC
2009: Undisputed” takes a shot to the head. The menus are boring, as are the presentation elements that pop up throughout the
career mode. Every character model that is not the two people fighting in the ring could use some touching up for the next release.
The Career Mode is where players are likely to spend most of their time in the game. While the Create-A-Fighter options for designing a
brawler are extremely limiting, the design of the mode itself is actually very well done. Players start as a nobody and need to train to
become a lean, mean fighting machine, or get pummeled in the ring. To do this, players will participate in a variety of training events.
Players can train their core strength, cardio and speed attributes, spar in the ring, or attend UFC Camp. Other than that, players will
also be called on to participate in promotional events for sponsors that players sign, players upgrade their training equipments, attend
other fights, showing that there is no shortage of things going on during a career.
“UFC 2009: Undisputed” has its fair share of issues, but this is to be expected from an up-start franchise, but that doesn’t mean that
UFC fans and non-fans won’t have fun with the game once they figure out the controls. The Career Mode is fun and well designed, the
combat is fun and engaging and the classic fights are sure to please UFC fans. Once THQ fixes the blemishes and speed thing up a
bit, this could be a serious contender in the field of fighting games.
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