Review: UFC Undisputed 2010 - Let's Get It On, C'mon!
November 23, 2010
Overview:
As a UFC fanatic and a heavy player of their Undisputed series on the consoles, I was excited to hear that the fury was hitting the iOS! Having owned the previous 2 console releases, I knew the iOS version would offer only a fraction of the action given its technical limitations. Nonetheless, I was looking forward to getting my hands on it, because it meant I could get my MMA fix while on the go. Let's see if UFC Undisputed has what it takes to become a number one contender.Features:
UFC Undisputed 2010 by THQ features 25 top UFC fighters from all weight classes, here are the fighters that made the cut: Heavyweight: Brock Lesnar Cain Velasquez Frank Mir Junior dos Santos Shane Carwin Light Heavyweight: Forrest Griffin Lyoto Machida Mauricio Rua Quinton "Rampage" Jackson Rashad Evans Middleweight: Anderson Silva Michael Bisping Demian Maia Nate Marquardt Wanderlei Silva Welterweight: Dan Hardy Georges St-Pierre John Fitch Josh Koscheck Thiago Alves Lightweight: BJ Penn Frank Edgar Gray Maynard Kenny Florian Sean Sherk
This is a universal app, which means you also get an iPad-optimized version when purchasing it for your iPhone (or vica versa). There are 2 gameplay modes including "Exhibition" for a quick and unranked bout, and "Championship", which places you in a series of match ups on your quest for the gold.
Undisputed features an in-game leaderboard system which displays the top 10 players in the world; Game Center leaderboards coming soon. It also features a robust achievements system, which adds longevity to the title by having you win bouts under specific conditions. If social networks are your thing, you can show off your progress to friends on Facebook and Twitter.
There are some nice extras including a fighter guide which displays the full roster in every weight class, complete with photos and stats. Another nice extra is the polling section, which shows upcoming UFC events, and allows you to place your picks for the main events. There is a news ticker scrolling below the main screen with real time news and updates on the UFC world.
The Good:
The visuals are pretty impressive for a mobile title; the fighters look pretty close, though the moves are generic and not unique to each fighter. As expected, Undisputed makes use of the touch screen by utilizing a tap and swipe system for attacks. Don't pick this up expecting a simple time killer, as it does present a learning curve.
Though the iOS variant is greatly lacking in the move-set department when compared to its console predecessors, it does have its share of strikes, kicks, holds, and submissions to master. Trading blows on foot is always fun, but you really need to be on top of your game when the fight goes to the ground. It will take a certain level of skill to successfully escape pins and chokes.
Escapes are achieved in an interesting manner; an indicator will pop up on the screen showing you the pattern to swipe your finger in order to escape. Failing to do so will quickly result in your fighter tapping out. The take-down system is done pretty well for a mobile touch-screen based platform. You swipe down when the opportunity arises, and and rapidly tap the screen to win the struggle.
The Bad:
Being a mixed martial arts game, I really wish I could be more mobile in the octagon. The graphics are in 3D, with 2D physics which make it difficult to roam around and experiment with fight strategies. Controls feel a bit jerky and unresponsive at times, and the movemant of the fighters look and feel awkward. I just didn't get the sense of being in control during the matches, and had to resort to button mashing a lot of times.
There is no blood in the game, but blood is a harsh reality in MMA. So its absence dings away from the game's credibility as an authentic MMA experience. Even after the most gruesome matches I had in the game, the fighters looked scratch free in the end.
