If ever there was a time THQ needed a TKO in the video game retail market, it is now. Well, maybe they needed it last year. Regardless, the publisher has been ravaged with layoffs recently and rumours of an imminent sale have investors and fans of the publisher concerned for THQ’s future. While many questions regarding THQ’s future remain unanswered, one thing MMA fans can count on from THQ is a top-notch UFC game. When UFC Undisputed 2009 burst onto the scene, fighting fans rejoiced as the game provided a fabulous introductory experience into the world of MMA fighting and the UFC. When UFC Undisputed 2010 touched down, it built upon an already strong 2009 game and delivered yet another successful MMA game for THQ. Almost two years later, allowing for some extra time spent in the shop building an even better MMA experience, UFC Undisputed 3 arrives with some anticipation and at a time when THQ needs to deliver one of those GSP superman punches for a KO in the worst way. Will UFC Undisputed 3 for the Xbox 360 meet those expectations? Only time will tell, but I will certainly tell you all about my experiences.
When I first fired up the game, the biggest question I had was how could the developers improve on an already solid game? Both the 2009 and the 2010 UFC games from THQ were very good. Both delivered superb MMA games that every UFC fan should buy, so I really questioned how the development team could improve the experience. Interestingly enough, what many initially thought was going to be yearly instalment, the 3rd UFC game has been in development for almost two years. Breaking that yearly cycle could be considered a bold move but it was something the developers clearly wanted to do in order to add features, make the game more inviting to casual gamers, and fine tune the already fantastic gameplay.
So how does UFC Undisputed 3 play? It plays great, but that is nothing new to the franchise. So maybe perhaps you are wondering if the controls are too complex or difficult to pick up? Well, the short and simple answer to that is ‘no’ as well. In fact, the controls this time around make the controls of the previous UFC games seem a tad more complicated than they needed to be. Sure many would argue that as it is an MMA game you should expect some complex controls given all the complexities that come along with the various fighting styles of the sport. Despite this, the reality is many, including myself, found the controls difficult to master in previous MMA games. The punching, kicking and blocking aspects have always been straightforward but grappling, clinching, transitioning and submission aspects of the games were always somewhat of a frustrating endeavour for me. This does not seem to be the case in this year’s game and much of that has to do with the two new control options introduced in UFC Undisputed 3.
This time around the developers have introduced “Amateur” or “Pro Control” for the transition game. Punching, kicking, and blocking controls all remain the same. In fact, submission, clinching and take downs also remain the same, but given the transition game is so important in MMA fighting the developers have introduced the new control to make the game a little more forgiving for casual or new fans to the franchise. Playing in “Amateur” mode involves a simple as a flick up or down on the right analog stick when transitioning. “Pro Control” is much similar to previous games and is intended for the more seasoned UFC gamers. In this case you need to be more specific in your use of the right analog stick as there are more ways to move it and it involves more than a simple flick up or down. Here you need to make quarter turns, half turns and so on with the stick in order to re-position yourself on your opponent.
Having these two different controls options not only satisfies the returning UFC gamer, but it also is satisfying for the newbie. This being said the game does encourage you to become more acquainted with the Pro Control as the fact remains you have more transition moves in your tool-belt per se if you use the Pro Control. Pro mode is simply much more varied and deeper then when using the Amateur mode. For instance, you can fake a transition move using Pro Control whereas you cannot do this when using Amateur mode. Playing online, and even when you progress towards the later stages of your career mode, you will eventually have to make the switch and use the Pro Control for even greater success.
Another new control addition to the franchise is the ability to sway left or right when you are on the ground. UFC Undisputed 3 gives you the ability to dodge attacks while on the mat and this control comes into play when you are trying to withstand a severe ground and pound beating. It becomes a critical defence mechanism when fighting with Pride rules as well. Being able to dodge attacks on the mat can allow you to keep one step ahead of your opponent when they are attempting to strike or kick you while you are down. In a game that is all about realism, this new feature just adds one more element that makes UFC Undisputed 3 the truest to life MMA game yet.
While on the topic of controls, I should mention the games new and revamped submission system. Unfortunately I was not a big fan of it as this new “submission mini-game” as I found that it took me away from the fight at hand and aggravated me more often than not. More specifically, when a submission move is applied, an octagon ‘track’ is overlaid on the screen. Both the your fighter and your opponent are then represented on the ‘track’ with a P1 and CPU/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. It is almost a cat and mouse game. 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. On the surface the new submission system seems like quite the innovation, but in a game that stresses realism and authenticity this new submission system was neither real nor authentic. That being said, I know our Editor-in-Chief enjoyed the system, so it may come down to personal preference.
Despite this, I found the game does a wonderful job at helping the player learn the various controls. In fact, they almost go overboard. You will never have to Google search UFC Undisputed 3 controls or ever refer to the games manual for the control layout. In addition, to a comprehensive tutorial that gives you a step-by-step guide of how to pull off the various grappling moves, takedowns, ground strikes, etc., the game also features in-game hints and control tips as you are fighting for those that just want to get into it. Again, you are inundated with information on how to be a proficient fighter. This is great for new comers but can be a tad annoying for those that have played the previous instalments in the game and are already versed in the game’s controls. Fortunately you can turn off the tips in the pause menu.
While UFC Undisputed 3 is a game that any casual gamer can pick up and play, I cannot stress the importance of investing the time to learn all the various moves, go through the games tutorial once or twice, and become fully acquainted with the games ground and clinch game.
I spent the bulk of my time in the Career mode which is truly a delight. Just like in previous UFC games, you start off by creating a fighter with all the customizable options you could ever want. The amount of character customization options is impressive as I found that I could almost create a near duplicate of my own personal likeness. From tattoos to scars on your face, the game gives you plenty of options in terms of how you want your fighter to look. After you create your fighter, Mike Goldberg takes you through some of the new additions to the single player career more. After he introduces you to the training regimes, camps and cred elements of the game, it is not long before you fight your first fight.
The biggest noticeable difference I found when playing the game in career mode is the time spent in-between fights feels less then last the 2010 version. Granted when you first jump into career mode, it will take you somewhere around 30-45 minutes to set up your fighter and become acquainted with the menu, stats, camps, cred and the training system; yet once you have jumped that hurdle and are ready to start fighting, the game picks up the pace considerably. Unlike previous UFC games, you are not tasked with managing every single aspect of your time between fights as you focused on mainly training your fighter which means playing the game. In between fights you are only allowed to choose between a certain number of actions prior to your fight. Whether it be hitting a heavy bag, tossing oversized tires around, or sparring/working out with your camp, UFC Undisputed 3 limits the amount of extra stuff a fighter must do in-between fights. Gone are the days of checking your in-game email. The developers understood that the true enjoyment in the game comes with fighting and that is evident in UFC Undisputed 3.
As with pretty much any typical MMA fighter who has made it all the way up to the UFC, in career mode you will work your way through the WFA (World Fighting Association), UFC Ultimate Fight Nights, Pride, and eventually make it to the UFC main fights. And of course you earn title shots. Each fight awards you credibility (cred) points which unlocks sponsors and gives your fighter access to some of the best trainers in the world who will train you in the best camps. Much like previous UFC games, manually training awards you more points that go towards your fighter’s attributes, but if you have no desire to mess around training, you can auto skip these segments and just receive about half the amount of points you would have if you had manually trained your fighter.
All in all, the career mode is fabulous and realistic as well. Most UFC fighters do not go through their career undefeated and neither will you. Granted, I got on a roll at times winning 4-fights in a row on two separate occasions; however many will find the career mode challenging, hence the importance of training and ranking up your skills. One thing that I really liked about the career mode this time around is that the roster fighters from the UFC and Pride can now be taken through career mode. Granted you still have to improve their attributes and have them earn more cred as you progress, but there was something special for me as I used fellow Canuck George St. Pierre through the entire career mode. Taking your favourite fighter and guiding them through the games career mode does not restrict you to their present weight class either. You can make GSP a Heavyweight and eventually have him face Lesner if you want. The super fight you have always dreamt of watching can now be at your finger tips.
Another big addition to the franchise is the addition of Pride and, of course, those brutal Pride rules. For those of you who are unaware of Pride, their rules for fighting are considerably different than UFC rules. Pride involves a different ring, the rounds are different (1st round is 10 minutes and the 2nd and 3rd rounds are 5 minutes) and the overall rules and fighting styles are different as well. Pride rules is simply more brutal as you can knee, stomp and kick your opponent’s head when he is on the ground. Playing in Pride is a hoot and is a lot of fun. It is brutal but certainly entertaining at the same time. All in all the introduction of Pride is a welcome addition and something any MMA fan will not only enjoy, but appreciate.
In addition to the career mode, UFC Undisputed 3 features an enhanced online mode. The online mode allows two players to go head to head in an exhibition match using any of the 100+ fighters featured in the game. There are ranked matches as well where players can select their fighters, referee, and venue within UFC or Pride. There are quick matches and custom matches too. For those wondering about online capabilities, there are ranked statistics and new servers that are designed to improve online matchmaking. The online mode of the game was an area I admittedly did not spend too much time in; however the time I did spend was enjoyable even if I got my ass kicked. In addition to the online play there are also your typical exhibition type match-ups seen in nearly every sports game to date.
It is difficult to capture all the new features within the confines of this review. Such features like equalized stats, energy settings, and the Highlight Reel have all been added to enhance the Undisputed experience and the results are simply superb. We did manage to cover a bunch of these new features in our preview in January, so check HERE for more details on how good these additions truly are.
Visually, UFC Undisputed 3 is a fantastic looking and wonderfully presented game. It pays great homage to the UFC and Pride and delivers authentic experiences unlike I have seen before. The most noticeable improvement from my perspective is the fighters and venues. The UFC and Pride fighters look very similar to their real-life counterparts. All their signature moves, post-fight celebrations, mannerisms and fighting styles are accurately reflected in the game. The lightning quick jabs, heavy roundhouse kicks and all the moves you typically see in a MMA fight look incredibly authentic. The game’s opening presentation sequence shows real-life MMA fights blended in with virtual fights from the game. The visual quality between the two is strikingly similar. The way the fighters move when they strike, kick and grapple is simply well done. I noticed no clipping issues and no such phantom punches and kicks where fighters would not connect yet the opponent would react as if he had been struck with a blow. Everything from tattoo’s, scars, blood on the mats to the tiny sweat beads on fighters faces, UFC Undisputed 3 delivers a true to life experience and it starts with the fighters themselves.
Another detail I was impressed with, albeit not a minor one by any stretch, was the game’s environments and venues. It comes as no surprise that the octagon itself, along with all the advertising, padding, and surrounding areas, look bang-on. The camera flashes going off and stadium lights glaring about as fighters enter the ring was impressive. Even the Bell Centre’s LED lights that circle the arena is exactly as it is at the home of the Montreal Canadians (Hey, I am a Habs fan so I noticed this). The rabid UFC fans are equally impressive as well and do not simply fade into the background like we see in so many other sports games.
UFC Undisputed 3 menus are also easy to navigate. It is easy to jump into a game and you are simply inundated with helpful hints along the way. The game also runs smooth as silk as I found no technical issues. I did note that it does seem to have some long loading screens at times, but these instances only seem to occur when you first fire up the game. All in all, the overall presentation of the game is everything you have come to expect from the UFC/Pride and more. The ring girls also look great and the fighters walking down to the aisle towards the Octagon creates the prefect atmosphere. Of course Bruce Buffer’s announcing and signature arm gestures can give you goose bumps. It is amazing how much detail is put into bringing the whole experience alive.
As with the graphics the sounds in the game are stellar. Authentic and staying true to the UFC/Pride brand are what comes to mind when I think of the games audio. For starters, the music is primarily that hardcore metal which totally immerses you into the game and something you hear in nearly all pay per view UFC events. For instance, when fighters are introduced or video clips of fights are being played, the UFC’s signature metal rocker tunes are thrashing in the background and the results are simply fantastic. Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg set the stage for the commentary and they are perfect for the video game’s atmosphere. Additionally Mike Goldberg walks you through the games tutorial mode, character creation, and virtually all the aspects of the game are explained by none other than Goldberg himself. The amount of dialogue he contributes to the game is impressive. Rarely is he repetitive and both he and Rogan sound fantastic. Should you play any of the Pride fighters in Pride rules matches, the music changes to match that of a Pride presentation and you also get the Pride announces, for even more authenticity. As for the rest of the games sound effects such as the punching, kicking, grunting and all the other sounds your would typically hear in an MMA fight, UFC Undisputed 3 is spot on and the surround sound effect of your trainers in the background to the crowd surrounding the octagon or ring is amazing. That being said, the games combat sounds take a back seat to the fans, music and the commentating from Joe and Mike as well as the those who announce in Pride.
After an almost two year break since the previous UFC game, UFC Undisputed 3 arrives with a bang as it manages to up the ante and provide a game that MMA fans and fighting fans alike will undoubtedly love. The visuals are stunning and the sound is top-notch. As for the gameplay, it is highly enjoyable and the career mode, which is focused more on fighting and training, provides for the most authentic and truest to life MMA experience to date. Well done THQ, way to throw a knockout punch as UFC Undisputed 3 is a winner indeed.
