Reviewed: UFC Undisputed 2010 (360, PS3)
Our review of UFC Undisputed 2009 was a very positive affair. Not only did we get hooked on a game that married traditional fighting games with more depth and strategy but I personally got hooked on the sport itself.
Sports sims have a tendency to add a couple of features and update rosters, add a bit of spit of polish and get released as a full price title when in fact the level of advancement can sometimes be only justified as DLC. It is refreshing to know that some developers out there like to push the envelope further and Yukes has certainly done that with UFC Undisputed 2010.
The press and fans were happy with the original result but Yukes have surpassed themselves by stripping away the original mechanics to bring more depth and realism to the gameplay this time around. New features to the control system like posturing, an enhanced and easier to control ground game, a simplified but smoother grapple system and a more dynamic combo system has definitely ironed out all the little kinks, makes the fighting a lot smoother and easier to control and with the implementation of the new sway system which helps counter punching makes UFC Undisputed 2010 a more strategic, dynamic and versatile game that easily smacks down any other game of the fighting genre in this generation of consoles. It has to be said that the amount of moves on offer can be overwhelming to begin with but with a comprehensive tutorial mode which can be revisited it doesn’t take you long to start dialling in the basics.
Anyone that has played UFC Undisputed 2009 will be aware of the usual modes within the game. Tournaments, events (that can also be downloaded or created), title shots and defences can all be found on the main menu and with 100 fighters now present there is plenty here to keep your quick fixes going for a long time. The real meat, gravy and the most rewarding and the most satisfactory option comes from the career mode that is so deep you could be lost in there for months.
You start out creating your fighter in the comprehensive creator mode. So deep is this mode that to select your height, name age, base fighting style, add equipment, clothing and assign their base attributes can take 10 minutes or more. You are then ready for the amateur ranks where you can hone a few skills before moving into the professional ranks, backed by your camp and trainer, in the search for the call from UFC President, Dana White and that all important UFC contract. As you get closer to that contract call, you will unlock various sponsor kit that can be worn for bonus points. There is also a reaction system in place too where you can either respect or disrespect your opponent inside the ring and at interviews to start rivalries and friendships.
As you progress through your career, your trainer will line up balanced fights on paper for you to choose with a training period in between. From there you can manage your training regime from Strength, Speed and conditioning coaching through to sparring and working on game plans. You also have the ability to rest and manage your fatigue against condition leading up to the fight. The biggest draw is with the training is the ability to visit other camps to work on your skills and develop your fighter further into the style you want him to adopt. There are countless camps, each based on real life camps, and each have their own specialist skill sets and moves that you can learn. You choose the move you want to work on and are put into the training ring to fight one of the trainers or fighters. Each time you land the specific move you are learning you are awarded points and when maximum points are achieved you will gain that technique which will replace the default skill for your original move. The depth here is astounding and really adds to the creative aspect of developing your character the way YOU want rather than being dictated by the game.
With all the fights you have, management of your stamina is key to success and UFC Undisputed 2010 works very hard to make you play the game the way it is meant to be played rather than trying to mash buttons in rapid succession to get the quick knockout. Strategy is key here and the ability to utilise your skills defined by yourself for that particular character will determine your success within the octagon. If you go in too hard and gas yourself out then you are opening yourself up for a flash KO by your opponent. If you utilise your strengths and focus on your opponents weaknesses then over time you will get the success that your time spent with the game will rightly give you.
Overall, UFC Undisputed 2010 is without a shadow of a doubt the most comprehensive, complete and rewarding experiences you will get in the fighting genre. Yuke’s have excelled themselves by stripping away what they considered weak aspects of the control system of the game and give the gamer a more rounded, smoother and deep experience. The addition of cage control, along with major improvements to all areas of the ground, grappling and striking game coupled with a submission system that is easier to use and has more control and a posturing system that compliments risk with reward makes the user controlled experience second to none.
The addition of fight camps, online and offline, more immersion in your career gives UFC Undisputed 2010 more additions than any other sports franchise on the market. For any UFC fan the game can be best described as George St Pierre. Virtually impossible to beat, a true master of its craft and all aspects of their games finely tuned to deliver the knockout blow. UFC Undisputed 2010 really does live up to its name – the undisputed king of the fighting genre and the most comprehensive fighting game on the market today by a mile.
UFC Undisputed 2010 will be available to buy on Friday 28th May on the 360 and PS3 for around £39.99
