Real Talk By: KJ

After taking a year off, THQ’s MMA series has returned. UFC Undisputed looks to be the clear-cut standard of the genre. While many of the tactics used in the last two games can be used again to win, THQ looked out more for the casual player. Theres detailed tutorials throughout UFC3 explaining the mechanics of the sport to newcomers.

The career mode is similar to the last game, but with less frustrations. The boring rest periods and  monitoring your cardio have been scrapped. Your allowed two training sessions. Do the usual training exercises with even more mini games now, or hone your special attacks in different fight camps. Sticking with a particular camp will earn you more points. The points can be used for all kinds of unlocks including better sponsorships and such. Using the points the player can unlock more fighters and CAF add-ons (more animations, nicknames, and victory poses).

While Career really is solid, it feels more as if your on the outside looking in, or A regular fan. Really it’s not a bad thing, but Fight Night Champion had such an engaging story mode, it would have been nice to see more cutscenes with your fighter. The last game had vids with Dana White and more interactions within the world. The fight interviews and other personalized things have been removed. I think Champion really raised the bar for combat sports titles. It opened my mind a bit. Maybe on UFC4, an Ultimate Fighter Mode would suffice. Fighting to get into the house would rock, and interacting with the other inhabitants. Don’t forget about the excessive swearing.

The Multiplayer is smoother than most THQ online experiences. Most matches are so fluid, its like you’re in the same room with the opponent. Its uses the online pass, but it does offer a 7 day trial. Also there’s fight camps you can make with your friends. Just like real training centers, players can spar and show each other new techniques. Challenge other camps and rise in the ranking.

Ultimate Fights mode is back. Theres still a check list of things to carry out. Now the goals come up on the fly, you’ll have a designated time period to carry out the tasks. Land 5 knees in the clinch, land 10 strikes from side control (in 30 seconds). It’s really hard to get all the challenges in one play through. The good thing is that the game saves all the tasks completed, you’ll only have to worry about the incomplete ones. Its foolish several are locked down as DLC. Moving on before I rant, on to the Title Modes. Climb the ladder to win the belt, then unlock title defense. In title defense its Survival mode. The player must defend 100 times, but damage will carry over to the next fight.

Then there’s Pride. So the legendary MMA fighter Bas Rutten is commentating, just like the old days. The classic music and presentation have all made the jump as well. The first round of fighting is 10 minutes in length, and knees to the top of the head are allowed. Even more vicious is the ability to head-stomp an opponent from the standing position while their grounded. Think of a Gears 3 curb stomp. With the rule changes, Undisputed feels like 2 games in one.

Gameplay is similar to the last game’s, but it’s simply more functional. While it’s still complex, the game makes sense out of the controls for you. A casual option is available. When transitioning on the ground instead of rotating the stick in specific motions, all you will have to do is flick up on it. All of the movements are less robotic, and the graphics look insanely better than the earlier version. WWE Games, take notes. KO’s dazzle and the commentary is top-notch. Fighting in a PPV is awesome. Video packages set up your fighter Rogan and Goldberg explain your fighters history, and point out their strengths. If your fighter in career mode is on a winning streak or specializes in submissions, exc. the commentators will point it out. Seeing characters that mirror their life counterparts is icing on the cake for MMA fans. UFC Undisputed really benefited from taking a year off. It’s the little things that received TLC that TLR appreciates. More Fighters, sharp graphics, and solid online make for a game that’s well worth the 60.

UFC Undisputed 3 Gets

Out of five

What’s Legit?

+Presentation Mirrors the real events

+Mechanics fine tuned

+Pride Mode

What’s Perpetrating?

-Online Pass

-Several pieces of content locked on the disk #Capcomswag