UFC: Undisputed Demo Impressions
A demo version of UFC: Undisputed is now available on Xbox Live. Being a huge UFC fan, I have been anxiously waiting for the release of this game. The demo features only two playable fighters, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. The two went toe-to-toe at last Saturday’s UFC 97 Pay-Per-View, with Rua practically forcing Liddell into retirement with a huge shot to the dome. I was hoping this demo would be as good as the Iceman-Rua finish and for the most part, it is. However, there are some minor issues that will hopefully be fixed by the time the game is released on May 19.
Positives:
-Deep controls scheme that’s easy to learn, but challenging to master.
-Moves and controls give an accurate representation of MMA. Striking is performed with the face buttons, grappling and jockeying for positions (side-mount, full-mount, half-guard, etc) is done using the right stick and submissions are done by clicking down the right stick and pounding down the face buttons.
-Fighters looks dead on like their real-life counterparts.
-Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan do an excellent job analyzing a match. The play-by-play doesn’t sound “canned” and gives you the feeling you are watching a real UFC match. Bruce Buffer doing the intros is also a nice touch.
Negatives:
-Animations could be improved. Some of the transitions (grapple to takedown, knockouts, live action to replay) are terrible. In one case, I threw an uppercut that knocked Rua out, but the replay clearly showed that I didnt even hit him.
-The tutorial “guide” mode is way too slow. Before you perform any move in the tutorial, you are forced to watch a video of the move being done. Annoying. I’ll stick to exhibition mode, thank you.
-Fighters do not walk down the arena before stepping into the octagon, nor do Mike and Joe go over each fighter’s strengths and weaknesses. How could you not have this in the game?
-A.I. is not a challenge. I’m sure the demo is on it’s easiest difficulty level, because I button-mashed myself to victory too many times.
