UFC 2009 Undisputed

"THE FIGHT IS OVER! Even Howard Dean screamed less!"

UFC UNLEASHED! I can't help but be happy that I got this game aside from the minor flaws.

To those of you who have never played a UFC game this is the one to start on. As I write I play no less. This game is all around great with a few hits to the score due to shoddy online and unfinished issues.


Gameplay: 7/10: To anyone who knows THQ/Yukes you will feel that fear in the pit of your stomach when you go to the store to pick this game up. But unlike the shoddy WWE Smackdown Vs Raw games (of which I own all of them) this game is rather polished and well made. The models are GREAT but that is nothing new from the team of THQ Yukes. Cuts develop rather well from hits and hit connection though not always spot on is rather well absorbed from the person taking the shot. This feels like a UFC game since more often then not you will be treated to a flash KO where in the middle or near the end of round 1 or two when your opponent is still trading shots with you you will land that sweet hit and good night they are gone. The A.I. in the fights picks up on your moves and will learn to avoid them for example you are throwing a shin kick then body kick then head kick combo over and over they will start to block this combo string and even counter it with their own combos or worse yet a takedown counter grab. All of this makes for great fights with the computer. However points are docked for the career mode sparring AI and Training Camp AI which is hell bent on stopping you from completing your goals. Example they will crush you in sparring often times better than the opponents in the actual matches making you wonder why Joe or whatever his name is not the Champ rather than Brock Lesner who you crushed with little effort. But in Training Camp they will make sure you do not succeed by staying on the mat for in my case 30 seconds while you are waiting for them so you can only put them back on the mat again. Other issues include a sadly useless E-mail system that many people will start to ignore after a few matches and something called "Cred" I assume this stands for credibility but I am not sure. Cred is built after fighting matches and making appearances. The latter of which is a colossal waste of time taking precious time away from training or resting. On the up side with Cred you can unlock more sponsors, however sponsors only give you more Cred and thus we have a horrid vicious cycle. Aside from these issues the game play flourishes.

Control 9/10: Control for UFC Undisputed is perfect. Old button presses for strikes and shoulder button and stick movement for grapple and block. The system works well but it does take time to master. A while should be spent in the tutorial learning the controls before you come out play for real or you just might break that fifty dollar equipment. The flaw with control is the sensitivity, at times you are going for a subtle move only to completely miss and get saddled with a mistake perhaps as important as leaving mount for side control.

Sound 4/10: This is why you have a 360. The music on this game is garbage. It is hard to call it music since there are maybe four or five songs I have heard thus far all of which replay to the nth degree making it boring. In Career mode you are stuck with maybe fifteen sound clips from various fights or after speeches. The first time they may be cool, some even get a chuckle the second or third time but after that you are waiting till your matches to turn off the mute. Matches however are a whole different thing. The sounds of combat are great as are the crowd sounds but the commentary needs work to say the least. Useless facts about Rampage Jackson or Shogun Rua are OK a couple of matches but after that you are tired of hearing Joe Rogan banter about the Clinch or take downs. Stick to your own downloaded music.

Online: 7/10: Usually I do not judge online play. I got a card for Live just for this game and then chose to go back and play Call of Duty. This game suffers from people who disconnect. However in a Ranked Match you are stuck with not a win or a loss but a nothing. Now this could be less of an issue if it had not been an issue that 75% of the people who got this game do not know how to play or are not willing to take a loss. Until Live fixes the problem I will be avoiding online play.

There you have it. Damian Kain talking about UFC, I liked this game; it was the best UFC game to date aside from a few minor flaws. I will be keeping this baby. I enjoy creating fighters and taking on friends so this game will be with me for a long time. The key is moderation, don't over play and make sure when you do play you are ready for it. Keep in mind this is not street fighter. Rent it first or play the Demo if you like it, this game is worth the money. If not keep going you can always find something more your style.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 05/26/09

Game Release: UFC 2009 Undisputed (US, 05/19/09)