Today sees the release of THQ's excellent MMA game, and to celebrate, alongside
Ed Moorhouse's 4 and a half star review, we're offering seven reasons why UFC Undisputed 3 puts other MMA game titles to shame. Well, eight really, because that cover is almost a reason to buy the game in itself: the image of winning cover star Anderson Silva is an iconic one, and that will always go some way to establishing a brand. And hopefully, given how well this title has done for THQ, a brand and extended franchise is exactly what we are going to get under the Undisputed banner. First though, here's the launch trailer... http://youtu.be/4Zp6sHLJKtw
Broad Appeal
To describe MMA titles as traditionally very niche concerns is something of an understatement: marketing programmes generally target only the primary market - fans of the sport - and as such general markets are almost completely ignored. After all, spending marketing dollars on trying to break into the general gaming market with something so specific is often a fool's endeavour, so targeting real fans with prior knowledge makes far more financial success. But this time out, THQ have made a concentrated effort to bring in a wider appeal, targeting traditional fighting game fans, and creating a game set-up that allows gamers without prior knowledge of the sport and its many rules the opportunity to learn from the ground up. As a result, Undisputed 3 is far more than just a "tie-in" sports franchise, and sales will no doubt reflect as much.
Gameplay
Fighting has rarely been this good, especially in an MMA title, which usually have the tendency to be easily muddled and difficult to master without lapsing into frustrated button-bashing. The fighting mechanics are very deep, and very rewarding, and crucially are not completely impenetrable to anyone not hugely familiar with the intricacies of the sport.
Depth
Multiple game-modes and an exceptional career mode make Undisputed 3 a massively varied and deep gaming experience: there's something for every level of gamer, and while there are obvious concessions to more casual fight game fans, there is more than enough hardcore content for those fans who will buy the title specifically because they are MMA fans. Online play is also just as impressive, and it's one that players will no doubt stick with for a good while, especially with a DLC programme to boost content even further.
The Submission System
An inherently important aspect of MMA fighting, submissions offer a difficult prospect to game developers, because they are deemed the least entertaining part of combat gaming by more casual gamers. Some would say that casual gamers have no place playing this sort of title, but THQ are actively courting that sort of mass market appeal, and concessions must be made. Thankfully, the octagon system that the developers have come up with is great: a gauge appears at the side of the screen when either fighter initiates a submission and the player must line his gauge with that of his opponent for long enough to force the submission. It's a fairly simple mini-game, which changes massively depending on base level abilities, but which adds something for both casual and hardcore players alike. And that's not something to be sniffed at given how much other franchises have fudged new submission and grappling systems in the past.
Series Progression
The 2009 original was a great start, but 2010's follow-up was somewhat under-baked, leading to a less glossy, and far less impressive sequel. Undisputed 3 takes the finest points of the first two, adds a serious uplift in visual quality and as a result is very much the best game of the series so far. As such it's also a good jump-on point for new players, who won't need to have played the 2009 or 2010 versions at all to enjoy this one.
Pride Fighting
Definitely one for the hardcore fans, and hardcore is the most appropriate way of describing this frankly brutal rule set: players are allowed to fight in what can only be described as an unsporting manner - head-stomping, kicking opponents when they're down, nipple twists that sort of thing (NB not nipple twists) are all fair game, and only eye-gouging and groin shots are really off the table. Yes, reading the bible and educating oneself is all well and good for the advancement of the species, but there is just something incredible good about this brand of unadulterated, no-holds-barred violence. Provided it sticks in the imaginary world that is.
Rewards
More than any other sports game before it, Undisputed 3 tangibly rewards the player's efforts in the ring. The training system is great, and advancing your skill, as well as the base-level abilities of your fighter feels far more rewarding than other combat titles can ever usually manage. As a result, players will feel far more compelled to return to the game beyond the usual shelf-life, which is also helped by the fact that there is an embarrassingly rich amount of content to reward that loyalty. Buy it now on
XBox 360 or
PS3. Follow all of our coverage
here.