UFC Undisputed 3 review
There is an old saying that states that we should ‘never fix something which is not broken’.
However many small issues some gamers mentioned that there were in UFC Undisputed 2010, it was not a complete failure. Taking such a complicated and progressive sport such as MMA, and successfully transcribing to a videogame has been no small feat for THQ, and the time and effort that went into UFC Undisputed 3 has certainly paid off.
Whenever a game becomes part of a franchise (and THQ’s UFC range certainly is now), the only other MMA game you can truly compare it to is any other game within that franchise. Ever since UFC fans have been able to play as their favourite MMA stars in game, gamers have been desperately trying to master the complicated take downs with the scarily difficult submission system, and the above-mentioned ‘small issues’ to conquer the world of Mixed Martial Arts.
Can the wise old proverb be associated with THQ’s UFC 3: Undisputed and make this a come-back with more bruises than ever, or has the time taken to make this edition boosted it to the heavy weight division?
UFC Undisputed 3, with all it’s added bells and whistles; such as Pride Mode and the addition of new weight divisions, leg TKOs, ring entrance animations and a barrel load of new submissions, appears on paper to have come back fighting for a third round. (I’ll try and lay off the fighting references…) THQ have addressed many of the issues the previous titles suffered, to give a better rounded and a more precise look into the world of a UFC fighter. With taking on such a detailed and demanding sport, have THQ travelled the light years since the first UFC and moved away from the seemingly daunting and deep features within the UI?
One of the first features you are faced with upon loading the game is the grappling system options. It’s either Amateur or Pro, and if you are new to the series then Amateur is a key ingredient to success, as a simple ‘up or down’ on the analog stick can change between minor and major transitions. The Pro option remains as it always has, with different rotations of the analog stick to pull off that big move. Either way there are hints and tutorials to help you along the way, which is a massive stride forward for the developers. Listening to past concerns from players and moving towards solving them has certainly lifted the spirits of the die-hards, but from the off-set these changes could seem off-putting to any newbie.
The biggest and greatest change to Undisputed 3 is the addition of Pride FC. With all the features and fighters (as-they-were-then) of the once great league; including head stomps, the 10 minute first round, luminous Japanese music and commentary and the backbreaking survival fights. Another huge refurbish within UFC Undisputed 3 comes with performing submissions. With previous titles within the series, performing a take down and then a submission was like a fumble in the dark and coming out of the other side non-the-wiser.
Now, during those important submissions a slightly large octagon shaped status bar appears on screen, and you must keep your coloured bar within your opponents as it speeds around the octagon. It’s during this time you will have wished to train more in ground work, as it’s here your ground skill level really counts. The higher your skill level, the longer your bar will be and the easier it will be to get the submission. The same can be said for stamina training also, as the less fatigued you are, the longer your bar and the harder you are to bring to submission. Comparing the submission system to older models of UFC is a KO, as the visual aid here seems intrinsic it brings about a satisfying, yet demanding feel to the game when you finally manage that take down perfectly.
Another aspect with a tasty make-over is career mode. Not only can you play as any existing roster fighter from either UFC or Pride, but you can train them in any fighting style and move them from WFA champion to UFC superstar. The UI within career mode has been slimmed down a great deal also, with less statistics and menus to read and sort through, and the only schedules to manage are your training and fights. It really is focused directly on the action rather than the admin. Once you arrange a fight, your scheduling up to that point is far shorter a journey. You have the choice of joining a camp or training, which then adds to your levels and stats which in turn tunes up your fighter. The only small issue found within career mode was the lack of a time-frame. The calendar from previous UFCs has been completely axed, which on one hand subtracts from realism but adds to the ‘all action’ feel UFC Undisputed 3 has in abundance.
Visually, UFC Undisputed 3 could certainly be better. Whilst rendering of characters from the actual UFC roster is realistic, the ‘build-your-own’ base (CAF) is terribly generic and by accident Gamedot’s fighter looked exactly the same as our fighter in UFC 2010. Oh, he has better eyebrows. And again, whilst bruising and claret spill looks fantastic, with sweat glistening as it should, movement looks stiff and undeveloped. The audio seems to have been a little neglected as well. With the same tracks being looped during the dreadfully long loading screens and commentary, even with great AI, becoming repetitious, the game was muted during breaks.
There really isn’t much wrong when it comes to UFC Undisputed 3. It has been developed into a well-rounded, almost finished article with any flaws that lurked within the previous version being ironed out. The Career Mode is perfect for the player who looks to season a fighter, with all the expected challenges that comes with UFC Undisputed. For those who just look for a quick fight fix there is Exhibition Mode, whether online for the glory or alone on the couch. The controls that seem completely overwhelming at first become simple and seamless, and with a little tutorial play-through the experience can be absolutely rewarding.
The balance that exists within UFC Undisputed 3 is something the developers should take Pride in. The less experienced UFC gamers can take comfort in the less daunting menus and easier control system, whereas the UFC vets can get engrossed in all the action to be had within the new features. The out and out winner has to be the new submission system with the added on screen status bar. Congratulations THQ, a fantastically realistic UFC game with what could possibly be an endless gaming experience.
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http://www.gamedot.co.uk Liam
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http://twitter.com/Reesters Rachel Jean Rees
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http://www.gamedot.co.uk Liam
