Does this game fight its way to the top?
UFC 2009 Undisputed is an explosive fighting game detailing the action, intensity and attitude of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Featuring an authentic and comprehensive UFC atmosphere, including an extensive roster of the best mixed martial arts fighters in the world, players will push the envelope with a powerful new game engine and put their best fighting disciplines to the test in the world famous Octagon. Take your best shot – UFC 2009 Undisputed is as real as it gets!
I’m unfamiliar with UFC. Infact, this is the first time I’ve ever played anything related to it. At a first glimpse, it seems like an arena with no rules. As a game, it handles quite well and there’s something quite satisfying about it.
UFC 2009 has the typical career and exhibition modes that you would expect from a fighting game, but it’s the way the game handles which makes it stand out as a must-have fighting game. Combat is easy but rewarding, a combo of punches can leave some pretty deep facial cuts that are unlike anything I’ve seen before. Blood can splatter onto the arena too, it’s all fairly impressive stuff. Sweat is visible too and looks great.
As you would expect, the game lets you design your own fighter and the customisable options are pretty good. The controls are easy to get used to and while it’s not as deep as some fighters, it’s just as satisfying…if not more so, mainly because you get to see the damage you do to your opponent during the fight. Achievements in the game are mixed, some require you to get featured in all the replays of a round and the rest come along with just playing the career mode and playing online. It’s simple stuff, but getting them all should take some time.
There are also classic fights to do as well as fun online modes to delve into. It’s nothing we haven’t seen before, but it is pretty deep. Perhaps not enough to contend with the other MMA’s, but overall it does enough to stand on its own. The way it handles makes it accessible to both casual and hardcore players, which is always a hard thing for a fighting game to achieve.
Visually, UFC 2009 is pleasing to the eye, it’s not the greatest looking game…but the attention to detail is impressive, especially when it comes to character models and the realistic damage they take to their bodies. Other than that, there’s not much to mention when it comes to the game’s graphics. In terms of audio, the game has a great soundtrack and commentary is near perfect.
The Verdict
UFC 2009 Undisputed is a fun, realistic fighting sim and one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. It may not add anything new, but its improvements take it above and beyond any past game in the series, making it a must-have for any fan.
