Before the insider betting scandal and its owner’s partner violence scandal, the Ultimate Fighting Championship for mixed martial arts was an up and coming new sports organisation. It wasn’t one which I followed particularly closely, as I found when playing its video game and quickly receiving a correction to my misapprehension that fights between women had been part of its appeal all along. From what I had gathered, my impression was of something which appealed to fans after the big personalities and centralised organisation and narrative of pro wrestling, but with a different kind of authentic sporting contest. (Although, see above re: insider betting scandals).
UFC’s breakthrough video game — the first in a few years and the first released by THQ — was handed to none other than Yuke’s, the same developer who went from Japanese wrestling to briefly turning WWF/WWE into one of the most popular video game series in the UK. There’s a whole new set of terminology to get used to, from choke victories to fighters getting gassed and rocked, but it’s a decision it’s easy to see the merits of.
Yuke’s did not go too far from what they knew for UFC Undisputed 2009, close-ups of ring girls and all. The level of visual customisation is down a bit again (still a chance for tight golden trunks) but the different fighting styles lend themselves excellently to character creation shorthand. You can also choose a nickname including, enjoyably, ‘Big Nasty’, so commentators can call you something. Get to the fights and the number of fighting modes is reduced to keep things appropriately serious, but the existing Yuke’s technology and approach can fit right in.
There’s a similar emphasis on season mode and building up a narrative over the length of training and fights and resting, with the UFC owner himself getting in touch to dub you the next big thing despite all evidence to the contrary. You can also replay real UFC matches of the past, with a lengthy video intro explaining the background narrative to an extent which nearly, but not quite, worked to fill me in on caring about the narratives involved, and was presumably great for actual fans.
The biggest changes to matches themselves are in going a bit more back to basics compared to more recent WWE games, which is mostly a welcome return to what made WWF Smackdown enjoyable after a bad first impression. In UFC Undisputed 2009, there’s only one stamina bar to keep track of, which serves double purpose as a health bar at its maximum. In fact, by default, there’s not even that to keep track of, because it’s invisible.
It’s a pretty striking move towards presenting you with something which looks more like a real UFC fight, but it does make it all too easy as a beginner to tire yourself out completely. Go and turn it on and UFC Undisputed 2009 almost feels like a different game, with the informational tools suddenly at your disposal to understand and execute strategy. In video games as in sport, there is such a thing as reaching too hard for authenticity.
Top of the charts for week ending 23 May 2009:
Top of the charts for week ending 30 May 2009:
