Look: UFC 2009 Undisputed

[Phistar]

LAS VEGAS--Not every generation is fortunate enough to witness the birth of a new sport. Every mainstream sport in the United States (and most international sports) has roots that date back several decades. Ultimate fighting hopes to be the next new sport. One factor that bodes well for the UFC is its early presence in the console gaming market.

On the eve of the Ultimate Fighter finale we had a chance to check out the latest creation from the THQ-Yuke's team: UFC Undisputed 2009. UFC heavyweights Forrest Griffin and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (team coaches from the mixed martial arts reality show) were on hand for the unveiling and offered the play-by-play during the gameplay demonstration (which featured two Yuke's developers playing as Forrest Griffin vs. Rampage Jackson).

The first thing that stands out about UFC Undisputed 2009 is the accuracy of the game's player models. We were shown side-by-side comparisons of B.J. Penn, Anderson Silva, and a few others, along with their in-game equivalents. Each of the game's 85 fighters (across all five UFC weight divisions) uses more than 30,000 polygons, and the ones we saw looked impressive. B.J. Penn's rendition in particular drew some applause from the audience.

The presentation mimics what you might see in an actual UFC event on television, even down to the music played during the fighter intros. The prefight commentary and between-round banter follow this theme as well. THQ associate designer Wes Bunn acknowledged that the similarity to an actual UFC broadcast was important to make the experience feel authentic. That's even reflected in the absence of any visible health bars or HUD display. Instead, the definition of the player models will let you gauge the damage and fatigue of your fighter simply by looking at him.

The developers behind Undisputed are aiming to set a new standard in the way collision detection is handled in console gaming. Throughout the trailer and subsequent gameplay there was not one instance of a fist clipping through the opponent's body. THQ suggested that glancing blows--made possible with the improvements to collision detection--will also play a prominent role in-game (though the speed of the gameplay made it difficult to view firsthand). As good as the collision detection is, transitions between animations (especially in the stand-up) could be smoother, but this is likely something the development team is still tweaking.

The speed of gameplay mimics that of the Smackdown vs. Raw wrestling series (also developed by THQ and Yuke's). Bunn said one influence was the way EA presented Fight Night: Round 3. While the game would feature great visuals and a fast-paced experience, button mashers would struggle with winning consistently with this type of game.

In UFC matches, factors such as position mean just as much as hitting your opponent, and the array of standing, ground, and submission moves should allow for various combat strategies. The game will include moves from various disciplines, including Brazilian jujitsu, boxing, kickboxing, muay Thai, and wrestling. The large number of moves is handled through a context-sensitive system that selects the appropriate animation depending on the position of your fighter. For instance, your fighter will not attempt an uppercut if he is too far from his opponent to reasonably land it.

Though it isn't the first UFC game (that distinction goes to 2000's Ultimate Fighting Championship game on the Dreamcast), UFC Undisputed 2009 could be the start of the next wave of growth for the burgeoning sport. The game is due on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in the spring of 2009, and we'll be bringing you more information on it in the months ahead.

-GameSpot

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/ufc2009undisputed/news.html?sid=6192826&mode=recent

[Wilson_]

dope

[Crono139]

I can't wait for this game.

Being able to use 85 fighters is nuts.

[Phistar]

this will be badass...

well, at least i hope it will be

[nyG]

This game could be very good or awful. I don't see how mounting/guard will work after takedowns. If I'm beating on someone with Rampage and he isn't blocking, the fight BETTER be over in seconds. Presentation is one thing, but the controls will determine how good it is.

[Phistar]

that's what i'm saying...

i hope they think all the little shits through before they release this biznitch!

[Crono139]

My guess is that the ground controls will be similar to wrestling games.

Either constantly tap a button(s) to stay in the fight (might not be the best idea), or time your blocks accordingly with your opponent's attacks.


Maybe I'll download Ultimate Fighting Championship for Dreamcast just to see how those controls were.

[Crono139]

Referring to UFC on the Dreamcast...

The game has an easy-to-learn control scheme that, at first, seems extremely Tekken-like. But while you use back on the D-pad to block and each of your limbs has a button assigned to it, UFC is no fighting game. The game is chock-full of counters, reversals, submission holds, and lots of different situations. You may find your fighter's back on the mat, with the opposing fighter mounted on top of him, delivering blows to the face until your fighter loses consciousness. Or, if you're fast, you might catch one of those fists and roll your opponent over and try for an arm or leg lock. The submission holds in the game are extremely simple - either you counter them or you tap out and lose the fight. Luckily, the submissions aren't too hard to counter once you're familiar with game's controls.

[El Torofuerte]

This game you reffer to was the 1st UFc game on dreamcast??? That game was fun and easy. Enjoyed the create a fighter aspect to it. To me what will make or break this game is the controls and online play.

[P J Shaker]

the fact the THQ is doing this game pretty much means its gonna be good....the wrestling games are alot of fun and i dont even like pro wrestling....

[Crono139]

Update.

Originally Posted by GameSpot

UFC 2009 has a unique opportunity to capture a growing market at a time when the sports has never been hotter. All it will have to do is deliver a game that is true to the real thing. We've been following the game for a while now and, while we unfortunately didn't get a chance to play the game at the Game Convention today, we can say we continue to be intrigued by what we see of UFC 2009.

Consider the numbers alone: 80 real-life UFC stars to choose from, somewhere in the ballpark of 3,000 moves in the game (including 200 submission moves alone), and a body damage system that registers approximately 100 "cut zones" on a character's body where he can bleed, and you've got the makings for an impressive game. Add to that a create-a-fighter feature, career mode, and gorgeous character art and animations and it's tough not to be excited by this one.

We didn't get a chance to see many of those new features in today's demo, unfortunately. In fact, the demo still featured the same two fighters we've been watching since the game's initial debut: Quentin "Rampage" Jackson and Forrest Griffin. Though it seems like there's still a massive amount of tweaking to do, we did get a slightly better understanding of the game's combat system. The built-from-the-ground-up engine will be very context sensitive when throwing punches and kicks. For example, if you're far away from an opponent and are throwing punches, your fighter will extend his arms as far as he can; should your opponent move in close, however, those same punches will turn into elbow and forearm shots automatically. Similarly, kicks that will extend out fully at distance will turn into knee strikes, or ankle kicks when up close.

We also got another peek at the ground game which, as any mixed martial arts fan will tell you, is where any fighter lives and dies. In the game, you'll have multiple positions to attack and counter from when on the ground, and you're opponent will have plenty of opportunities to turn the tables on you. Producers told us they've even gone forward with little touches to ensure realism in the game. For example, if you're on the ground with your opponent on top in "guard" or "half guard" position, there will be very little chance that you'll be able to punch your way out of trouble. Just as in a real UFC bout, you'll instead need to look for ways to maneuver out of trouble. Another excellent detail: as a match progresses, fighters will begin to sweat; if you try a submission move on a sweaty opponent, there's a chance he'll slip right out of, which is something you often see in MMA fights.

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/acti...ml?sid=6196322