The full version of UFC Undisputed 3 has been released, and I’m thoroughly enjoying my plunge into the virtual Mixed Martial Arts world.
With full game in hand, I’ve explored every avenue of this title (except the online play, as the servers weren’t available late last night), and I have a detailed breakdown of this deep and exciting MMA title.
Here is how the game stacks up:
Graphics & Animation
Undisputed 3 looks outstanding. The detail to the fighter’s faces, tattoos and physiques is awesome and a upgrade from Undisputed 2010, which was solid visually in its own right. This title raises the bar for MMA titles visually and it rivals the visual accomplishment of Fight Night Champion from EA Sports.
Check out “The Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit in UFC 2010 Undisputed and his likeness in UFC Undisputed 3:
The quality isn’t limited to the fighters. The venues and crowds are also done extremely well, and it all goes along way in creating the type of authentic atmosphere most MMA fans are looking for.
So much has been done with the lighting, and it shows the player models and venues off much more.
Delving in deeper, lacerations are more gruesome, and have more variety, but they aren’t over the top. There is a lot of blood, but not so much that would make you say, “I’ve never seen this much blood in an actual fight.”
The blood stains the attire, as well as the skin of the bleeder and the fighter inflicting the punishment. It’s just a small nuance, but it’s the type of detail that is noticeable and joyfully brutal.
The animation is perhaps one of the most improved aspects of this version in the franchise. UFC Undisputed 2010 felt very stiff to me, and that was a turn off.
This version is far more free flowing, with only a hint of the stiffness; it allows for more of the fast-paced action fans expect from MMA fights.
Most of the strikes and kicks look the same, but it’s the actual movement of the fighters that has been cleaned up, and it’s a welcomed improvement.
This title definitely brings it from a visual standpoint; it can certainly create the double-take moments that non-gamers experience when they catch a glimpse of a visually realistic sports video game.
The only things that could improve this game visually, would be a tad bit more life to the hair of the fighters and better sync with the commentators’ mouths during cut-scenes.
Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg’s lips are still on auto-pilot during close-ups. They should probably clean this aspect up, or take this out completely.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Gameplay & Realism
The gameplay was a sticking point for many fans in Undisputed 2010, as it was seen as too complicated and intimidating. The developers addressed that issue and the aspect of the gameplay that was the biggest target of critics, the submission system.
In this version, the old, rather secretive submission system has been replaced by a on-screen meter that is similar to the system used in WWE’ 12, another THQ/Yukes developed title. Now, an octagon appears on the screen, and a mini-game ensues between the two fighters.
The object is to cover your opponents player indicator with your player indicator. Spending more time covering your opponents’ indicator increases the submission meter, and ultimately leads to a submission, or an escape.
To inject some realism into this little cat and mouse game, the speed of the fighters’ indicator is dictated by their skill level on the ground. An extremely skilled submission artist’s icon will fly around the octagon meter, while a fighter who doesn’t defend himself on the ground well, will have a slower meter, thereby struggling to elude or capture control.
It actually works out pretty well, and there is much more rhyme and reason, as well as clarity to who is in control on the ground.
When the fighters are on their feet, the game is at its best, just like a real MMA bout. The exchanges can be brutal, but it certainly isn’t void of strategy.
There are tons of counters, varied attacks to the legs, torso and head, and the collision detection is solid when fighters collide.
The fighters have different weaknesses and strengths, and it is a challenge to learn the best way to fight with different styles. When contrasting styles collide, it’s a battle of who can execute their game plan best, and force the opponent to fight their fight, and this is just as it should be.
Although the game is definitely easier to control this time around, it still isn’t simple or arcade-ish. I strongly recommend going through the full tutorial, especially before you get your virtual butt beat online. Mastering the controls and implementing them in the right situations is key.
The gameplay and realism is at an all-time high for the series. The only thing that keeps it from perfection is the slight stiffness I mentioned in the graphics and animation section.
It rears it’s head most in gameplay, it sometimes makes it difficult to employ the foot speed advantage that a fighter like Anthony Pettis might have over an opponent.
Aside from that small issue, the game plays stellar. Check out this video of a Brock Lesnar-Sean McCorkle clash:
Rating: 8.75 out of 10
Sound & Presentation
The commentary was just OK in UFC 2010, and it is at about the same level here. This is perhaps the most neglected aspect of sports gaming. There simply isn’t enough attention paid to maintaining some freshness in regards to the audio contribution of a game.
The announcing and catch phrases of UFC Undisputed 3 don’t get as annoyingly repetitive as most games, but they certainly reach that point before they should. Up to this point, the best example of commentator usage in a sports game is in NBA2K12.
The three-man group of Clark Kellogg, Steve Kerr and Kevin Harlan actually sound like they are conversing with each other.
That is a rarity.
This game employs what most gamers are used to, which is predictable and generic commentary that is ignorable after about 10 matches. There aren’t a lot of specific references to fighters while the action is taking place, and no storytelling between rounds, it’s just kind of blah.
The presentation, however, is pretty solid. The game uses many of the familiar overlays UFC fans have become familiar with, just as it did in UFC Undisputed 2010.
One new addition is the signature ring or Octagon entrances. The fighters show the same mannerisms and rituals as they enter for battle and it adds more authenticity to the overall package.
The fighters’ preflight, in-ring and post fight attire is accurately recreated. There are multiple venues to compete in, and there is a healthy amount of UFC referees to choose from for your bouts.
There isn’t much lacking in the presentation department, but the audio is underwhelming.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Modes & Options
I say this tentatively, because the servers were not available for online play at this time; but UFC Undisputed 3 offers the most comprehensive and deep set of features I’ve ever seen in a combat sports video game.
From returning and improved modes like Ultimate Fights Mode and Title Mode, to PRIDE mode.
This game is chock full of features that will create unprecedented longevity. The game boasts a sick 150 fighters to compete with from day one with more to come through downloadable content.
All of the expected stars like: Anderson Silva, Jon “Bones” Jones and Frankie Edgar are there, but so are a host of others. Click here to see the full roster.
Ultimate Fights still recreates great fights in MMA history, but now there is a guided and timed task completion list for each fight. It’s incredibly challenging and fun to try to execute the game plans of past fighters in their most storied moments.
The Title Mode is largely unchanged, but it offers a cool Career Mode-like experience, in case you don’t want to go through the time of creating a fighter and fighting your way up the ranks.
Speaking of Career Mode, it is one of the highlights of this title. It is incredibly deep and features awesome task-based progression, as well as a nice create-a-player suite. Anybody that has followed my work on franchiseplay.net knows I’m a sucker for a good create-a-player system.
The Mode takes you through an entire career, learning new techniques, game planning for fights, joining camps and gaining new sponsorships. The process has a ton of variety, and it doesn’t get monotonous as some Career Modes can ultimately be.
All the while you’re competing in your Career Mode, you’re earning Cred points. These can be used to purchase unlockables such as fighters like Chuck Liddell and Mark Coleman.
You can also purchase more distinct actions for your created fighters like taunts and celebrations. You can also buy fight gear like Affliction and BadBoy shirts and caps.
Another huge addition is the aforementioned PRIDE mode. PRIDE Fighting Championships is a now defunct promotion that merged with the UFC in 2007.
With the UFC owning the rights to all things PRIDE, they have finally included the beloved history and nuances of the old school PRIDE fights.
All of the rule differences for PRIDE are present. You can punt opponents’ heads or stomp them as they are on the ground, as well as deliver knee strikes to the heads of unfortunate downed virtual combatants.
PRIDE also has different round lengths and other differences that create an alternate experience from a UFC fight.
PRIDE’s legendary ring announcer Lenne Hardt is on hand to deliver here signature ring announcements, (think female hybrid of Gollum and Yoda), though they aren’t what you’d want from your date on Saturday night, it is entertaining in this forum.
The commentators for PRIDE fights are Bas Rutten and Stephen Quadros; they bring a new twist on the action, and it’s a nice deviation from from Mr. “Coming up Next” Mike Goldberg. Check out Gary “Big Daddy” Goodridge battle “Big” Bob Sapp in a PRIDE match:
One of my favorite modes, the Event Mode has returned. This is the mode that allows you to create your own event card.
You can designate title bouts and the main events get special pre-fight presentation. At the end of your custom event, which you are allowed to name, the UFC nightly awards will be given out as well, just as it was in the previous version.
You’ll see a replay of the Knockout, Submission and Fight of the Night.
It’s largely unchanged, but still cool as hell. Here is a video that summarizes an event created in Event Mode:
There is also Tournament mode which allows for you to construct old school UFC tournaments. These are the events that required fighters to battle through a tournament bracket in one single night to crown a winner.
There are a few references to this in the commentary, but it would have been better if the fighters carried wounds from the earlier bouts and their energy for latter rounds was effected by early fights.
Still, it’s a cool mode that appeared in UFC Undisputed 2010 as well.
All fight footage is stored on your console’s hard drive up to 50 slots, with each round you fight counting for one slot.
You’re able to go back into view and edit these highlights in the clip editor to produce custom highlight reels that can be uploaded for other gamers to view through the game as well as online.
All this, and I haven’t even touched the online aspect. That features custom fight camps that you can start or join. You can create and share your created fighters, as well as logos and banners. The options are unreal.
The game does employ a Season Pass. It is a pay service for online play that has become common place for sports gaming franchises of late. Much of the online content is only accessible to those who have purchased the Season Pass.
It will cost gamers $16.99, but if you pre-ordered the game from the THQ store, you received it for free. It’s the business side of gaming that gamers hate, but it does privy you to automatically receiving almost all of the DLC that THQ has planned for the near future.
Click here to see a schedule of the DLC and the terms of the Season Pass.
The only thing that could ruin this package of features is a faulty set of servers; so we’ll have to see how that works, but assuming that is reasonably in place, this game will keep you playing for a long time.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Overall
This is just a tremendously solid title. Hardcore MMA gamers will love its authenticity and realism, while fans of fighting games will appreciate its pure fighting mechanics.
Whether you love MMA/Combat sports games, or fighting titles, UFC Undisputed 3 will not disappoint. This is an absolute must-have for any fans of the two genres.
Bottom Line:
8.8 out of 10
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