UFC Undisputed 2010 Review
Game: UFC Undisputed 2010
Developer: Yuke’s
Publisher: THQ
Available on: Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 (Reviewed on Xbox 360)
UFC Undisputed 2009 was rather well received, perhaps too well received? How do you build on something that there were very few complaints about in the first place? With EA looking to muscle in on the MMA market, Yuke’s/THQ cannot afford to rest on their laurels. With UFC Undisputed 2010, could they somehow move forward and provide gamers with an even better gaming experience than their 2009 effort? Read on for the full review.
GRAPHICS: You’ll feel every impact on your fighter, the blood and sweat might even make some people feel a little nauseus when watching extreme slow motion replays. Make no mistake about it, this game is a joy to behold, realistic fighters, muscle tone, blood and punches that will make onlookers wince.
He only wanted to give him a hug
The fighter models are very detailed and the stars look like they should. As with all games that contain the option to create a character, they are only as good as the time the user spends on them, but you should be able to come up with something decent to fight with should you choose that route.
GAMEPLAY: There is a hugely detailed tutorial in the game that you may well end up playing twice, just to be absolutely sure you fully grasp the mechanics involved. The face buttons control fists and feet (punches and kicks) which are modified by either moving the left stick, or holding the left trigger or bumper to change attack height. Although this already sounds complicated, that is actually the easy part! The right stick is probably best described as a “grapple” control as you use it initiate said move but you also use it to activate moves whilst on the floor; wrestling with your opponent or countering him, depending on the situation. Again, you’ll want to be sure you have played the tutorial and understand what you are doing! Rather than risking getting bogged down talking about the controls, potential newcomers to the game need to understand that this game has a complex fighting system and you will need to invest time to get the most rewarding experience from it. Button mashers need not apply.
New to the 2010 edition is the “sway”, giving you you a new way of dodging opponents would-be attacks. You can also switch stances in 2010, giving you the southpaw option on the fly. More fighting styles have been included too, giving even more levels of realism and showing that this is more than just an annual update.
A large development focus has clearly gone into the online as well this time around, with the online gym mode which is akin to clan support. You and friends can create a gym and play together, fight and even train together. However, the online modes come with a slight “buyer beware”, if you don’t purchase the game new you will not be able to play the game online without purchasing “access”. This is done via a 400 Microsoft points purchase of a small file that unlocks online play. As long as you are buying new you have nothing to worry about though as the game will come with a single user code that does the same thing.
I guess he wasn't happy about the attempted hug!
One of the biggest criticisms of the first game was the training (more menu’s and loading than actual training) but this has been given a fairly large overhaul for the 2010 edition. They developers have clearly listened to the complaints from the first game and have taken the time to remedy things that made the game difficult to get on with. The ridiculous method of saving from the first game (it took ages) is gone and you can manually save, it’s as simple as the click of a button. Increasing your fighters stats is still done in a similar way as the original though, you are given a set number of weeks to prepare for a fight and you can choose to increase certain aspects, spar or just rest up for the big fight.
Sadly, at the time of writing it seemed difficult to get many online games, whether down to lack of players or network issues (there was even a message regarding Xbox LIVE issues displayed on the ticker) but when actually getting into matches they seemed exactly as you’d wish for, lag free and very very tense.
Offline though, there are a lot of modes including the obvious draw of the fully fledged career mode. This time around there is even an attempt at a story, once you’ve created a fighter (you can create up to 40!) you will get a cut-scene introducing your coach setting up the idea of you being a newcomer. As you progress you’ll see more of these kind of scenes, even getting to take part in interviews! It’s little touches like this that really do make it feel like a fully authentic experience, though sometimes you may feel like they are a little silly in places. You can also play ladder tournaments, exhibition matches and even event cards from the real world UFC.
Looks like a hug is totally off the agenda now
SOUND: Everything is geared toward creating an accurate representation of the sport, authenticity is key. Kicks/punches sound nice and meaty (the crowd react accordingly) and the commentary is well done, giving you up to date reports on the fights. With a nice sound setup you’ll feel as though you are there in the octagon, fighting for that all important win.
LONGEVITY: As with most sports titles, the game will last as long as you want it to. There is no doubt that if this game is succesful then a 2011 title will be released sometime next year. With a healthy online section you can be playing this for quite some time, and downloadable event cards (assuming they keep up with them) will keep you coming back for more as well. If you have a gang of friends who love the sport, going online regularly, then the online gym will keep you busy for as long as you are interested too.
VERDICT: Sequels are never easy and sports sequels are even harder, sometimes they are little more than an updated roster, but UFC Undisputed 2010 is a genuine attempt at bettering its predecessor, something which it achieves with gusto. Healthy online modes and an improved roster of fighters, styles and modes, improved in every area that mattered. If you are a UFC fan or just loved the previous game then purchasing UFC Undisputed 2010 should be a no brainer.
There is one major problem though…..how the hell do they improve on this for next year?!
