UFC 2009: Undisputed Review
Games about the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in general have a very up and down past. Due to it being a very niche area of the Fighting genre, some games have been well received, while others have been completely slated. UFC 2009: Undisputed is looking to change that, as it comes to the floor with a new team that it hopes will lead it to the Heavyweight title.
UFC 2009: Undisputed is the first game in the franchise to be produced by the team of THQ and Yuke's. However, it's not the first foray into MMA by THQ, as they've produced some Pride Fighting games in the past. Yuke's are also known by many for their work on the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) games, but a UFC game is a completely different proposition and it's a challenge they've tackled head on.
Probably the most prominent aspect of the game is its attempt to really bring the player into what the UFC is all about. Dana White, the president of the UFC, greets players with an ultimatum as soon as the game loads up and this helps set the scene; the UFC isn't just all fun and games. To back this up, the roster of fighters available is extremely extensive and huge effort has been taken to make all the fighters as realistic as possible, in both looks and moves.
Fighters sweat, bleed, tire and get completely bruised and battered. The engine is fantastic at really drawing the player into the experience and it really helps make the combat seem all the more real. When a big right-hand connects and the opponent's face gets cut open it really adds a sense of achievement, in a slightly sadistic way. Likewise, as the fight progresses, the fighters start to perspire and look visibly battered.
Under all the crisp graphics is an extensive system, which emphasises that there's definitely more than one way to win in UFC 2009. Obviously the most common victory is the straight knockout (KO), which can actually be achieved with the first punch of a fight. However, there are also submission moves, decisions and total knockouts (TKO). Knockouts can only be performed by hitting the opponent in the head, and each strike will increase the damage accumulated. The higher the damage, the higher probability the opponent will either be rocked, or knocked out. However, the opponent can also be rocked from consistent damage to the body and both can lead a successful way to victory.
Submission moves and knockouts from the floor require a lot more skill to achieve, as they require knowledge of the ground combat system. While the standing combat is much more similar to a typical fighting game, the ground combat will probably be a completely new experience for most players. It's a constant struggle for power, with each fighter trying to gain the upper hand to either launch a powerful offensive, or try and escape from a sticky situation. While striking moves can be performed, often this scenario revolves around using the right analogue stick to jostle for position or block an opponents transition attempts. While it may be an accurate depiction of the UFC, it does sometimes get a bit monotonous and boring.
