Last week we had the opportunity to preview the upcoming fighting game UFC Undisputed 3 from THQ. This game is, as the number would suggest, the third game to be released in the franchise. What is notable about this third entry is that it has been in development for over 18 months now, which breaks the yearly cycle that most sports oriented games usually get. The developers have used this time wisely as they have put extra effort into the game by adding features and fine tuning gameplay elements. We spent the day with a full version of the game that is nearing completion and getting ready to head off for certification. We tooled around mainly in the career mode, but we also got to see the new features that have been added to the game as a whole as well.
One of the first things that I noted was a new option to allow for either Amateur or Pro Control for the transition game. This is a big thing given that the transition game is so important in MMA fighting. Should you play using the Amateur mode, controlling the transition game is as simple as a flick up or down on the right analog stick. Should you opt for the Pro Control, which is what the original games have focused on, then you need to be more specific in your use of the right analog stick as there are more ways to move it and they are somewhat more complicated then a simple flick up or down.
I really appreciated this new control option as it allows for different levels of gamers to play. What is key here is that the control option makes the game more playable for those who are not adept at a fighting game like this while still allowing veteran players who opt for the Pro Control to have an advantage over the simpler Amateur mode as the control over what kind of transition moves you have as your disposal in Pro mode is much more varied and deeper then when using the Amateur mode. This was evident when the developers were showing how you can actually fake your transition move and then use a different one when trying to get out of a clinch/takedown. You cannot do this when using Amateur mode, so in essence the game rewards those who take the time to learn the controls in and out.
Also new to this UFC Undisputed 3 is the ability to sway left or right when you are on the ground. Where this plays a part in the gameplay is that you can now dodge attacks when on the mat. This is particularly evident when fighting in Pride Rules. Being able to move in such a way on the floor allows you to keep on step ahead of your opponent when they are attempting to strike or kick you while you are down. It adds yet another layer of strategy and defense when playing while also adding yet one more stitch of realism to the virtual representation of MMA fighting.
I ended up playing the career for about 3-4 hours during our time with the game. One thing that I felt as I played my career mode is that it did not seem to drag out nearly as much as the previous versions. Don’t get me wrong, the previous career mode was good in itself, but it did seem to drag on now and then, but this time I felt it was not such a grind. The time between fights feels less, and you were not tasked with managing every single aspect of your time between fights as you focused on mainly training your fighter which meant playing the game. In terms of the latter, you were only allowed to choose so many actions (e.g. exercise, spar, work with your camp, set goals) prior to your fight, so the speed that you went through your routine was amped up a bit and did not drag out. It was a nice balance between managing your career, and actually participating and playing the game. The developers even stated that there is more focus on training sessions (e.g. drills, sparring, etc) and more focus on fighting as opposed to going through the menu and managing the little things. As with real life, you will be working your way though the WFA (World Fighting Association), UFC Ultimate Fight Nights, Pride Rules, and eventually make it to the UFC main fights, including a title shot should you be good enough.
Another feature new to the career mode is the ability to take your favourite fighter and guide them down a “not so beaten path”. This is some great fan service to those who love the UFC as they can now take any fighter that they really like and create a new path for them, particularly where they go (e.g. WFA, Pride or UFC) and what weight class they fight in (different then their real life one). Of course weight class ultimately affects who they will fight against. So, for those looking to take George St. Pierre or Rampage Jackson into Pride Rules fighting, and in a different weight class, feel free to do so and see how they do.
One big change that fans of the game will notice is that to get a submission there is a new “submission mini-game” for you to play. When a submission move is applied, an octagon ‘track’ is overlaid on the screen, and both players are represented on the ‘track’ with a P1 and P2 icon. The player that is trying to earn the submission must keep their icon and bar on the opposing players icon and bar while moving around the octagon ‘track’. Players can move in any direction too. The goal for the player trying to get the submission is to keep their bar on the opponents bar long enough to earn the submission, and if the defending player keeps the other player off his bar long enough during the mini-game’s time period, the submission move is defended. It is a neat feature to have and I thought it was well implemented. I also noticed that a lot of other people at the preview event were having fun with it too.
You have no doubt seen me mention Pride Rules fighting during this preview, and this is one of the biggest additions to the game overall. Pride Rules fighting is quite different then UFC as you are in a different ring, the rounds are different (1st round is 10 minutes and the 2nd and 3rd rounds are 5 minutes) and overall rules and fighting styles are different as well. In regards to the rules and fighting styles, they are different in such that one of the main differences in Pride Rules is that you are allowed to knee, stomp and kick your opponents head when he is on the ground. Heck, there is an Achievement called “Gooooooooooal” for kicking your opponent’s head while he is on the ground. I found it amazing how Pride Rules really does change your gameplay style and you will be choosing different fighters based on how their skills can be used in Pride Rules.
As for the presentation of Pride Rules fighting, you’ll find everything that is there in this game, including the music, entrances, ring, and announcers is very different from the UFC experience. Just look at the bright white ring when you fight, it is in stark contrast with the octagon of the UFC All that is Pride Rules is faithfully recreated to add a new feel to an already great game. I was amazed with how many people at the preview event were playing Pride Rules fights. If anything, I was somewhat unaware of Pride Rules prior to this event and after seeing it in the game I plan to watch a lot more of it now.
There are also a lot of other new features that help make UFC Undisputed 3 such a great game. You will find that you can set the gameplay to ‘equalized stats’. Here, all the stats of the fighters entering the ring become equal, so there is no one specific advantage of one fighter over another. Where this makes the game so interesting is that a fight really comes down to what moves you use and how well you time them, be it against the computer AI or another human opponent. There is also a new ‘energy setting’, which again affects gameplay as the higher the setting the quicker your fighter burns more energy. This setting is really for the hardcore player out there. You’ll also find new stats as well, such as footwork, ground top, and ground bottom to name a few. There are also individual fighter entrances too, so for those who have a favourite fighter you’ll enjoy watching them enter the arena. Yet another new feature, and something true fans will enjoy, is the Highlight Reel. The game records highlights from the last 50 rounds from any mode and any fight. You can take these highlights, splice the best ones together, add film effects, music, and transitions, and make your own custom highlight reel. You can then upload and get graded from other UFC fans and vice a versa. That is too cool. There is even a new ‘fake’ control in this years game, which allows you (or the AI) to fake low and hit high. Yet another layer of strategy and realism that has been added. I could go on for even longer, but I have to save some of my content for my eventual review, and there is no more room for me to talk without taking up too much time.
After my time with the game I have to say that UFC Undisputed 3 is looking to be the definitive virtual UFC experience to date. The cooperation that the developers have been able to secure with the Zuffa Entertainment (UFC and Pride Rules’ parent company) is amazing, and it shows from the presentation of the game, the included in-game fighters and fighter video clips, to the implementation of all the fighting rules; all of this is very encompassing and makes for one hell of a full featured fighting game experience. UFC Undisputed 3 is looking very good, and with a release date of February 14th, gamers and UFC fans alike don’t have much of a wait to get their hands on what should be a great overall fighting game.
