UFC Undisputed 2010 Launch 03 May 2010
By Iain Liddle

UK mixed martial arts stars Ross Pearson, Paul Kelly and Terry Etim were among those in London on Thursday to help launch the new UFC Undisputed 2010 video game.

The lightweight competitors, along with British Ultimate Fighter competitors Nick Osipczak and Andre Winner, made the trip to Orchid Bar and Lounge in Piccadilly Circus to join several media members for a preview of the latest installment in the series, developed by Yuke's and published by THQ.

The 2009 edition was widely praised by gamers and MMA enthusiasts, who had been deprived of a UFC title since the 2004's 'Sudden Impact' on the Playstation Two, and the eagerly-anticipated sequel promised more improvements than simply a few new additions to the list of fighters.

Upon entrance, the excitable press pack made a dash towards one of the many consoles assembled around the trendy nightspot for a chance to get a first feel, before a presentation outlined the major changes.




For all the aesthetic differences the developers could implement, the title will live or die on the simple concept of how fun it is to play.

2009's game was a good start. Easy to pick up and play, but with enough depth for more hardcore fans to be rewarded for their time invested. This year the game play amendments, along with all the other changes, make it a more realistic and rewarding experience.

A problem with the original was how restrictive it felt in certain situations. This time, this time the action takes place in more scenarios, such as grappling against the cage, while the previously clunky submission system has been overhauled.

The standing clinch controls has been made more akin to grappling on the floor, with competitors fighting for control of their opponent and, this time, able to throw their rival, depending on their specialist skills.

On the mat, the submissions are more fluid and you now have the ability to transition from one submission to another, depending on your position.

This is symbolic of the theme of changes this year, where MMA fans will have a more realistic experience, but, in general, the game just feels a lot more complete.

In terms of striking, the developer presentation highlighted a problem with the 2009 version was the over-reliance on fighting at range, which created sometimes dull and predictable scraps.

To counter this, quite literally, the 2010 version boats the ability to bob and weave on the feet, creating a more tactical battle and the ability to stand 'in the pocket' and think about your attacks rather than simply windmill, while taking turns to block.

Create-a-fighter has also been over-hauled, with fans now able to edit almost every aspect of their creation including the addition, at last, of the ability to be a southpaw fighter and the introduction of new fighting styles such as Sambo and Karate.

From a first glance, it now seems possible to have a vision for the fighter you want to create and actually be able to put that into practice. Last year, it occasionally felt as though changing physical appearance and the name were the only ways to really stand out from the other fighters on offer.

Career mode has also been re-designed, with the presentation making it seem a far more engrossing experience. Some of the main changes include the chance to actually train with real life fight camps, such as Greg Jackson's gym, spar with professional fighters and learn specific and trademark moves from them.

To add a touch of realism, your creation will also age as the game progresses and your fighting skills will decrease unless you put the time in to spar between fights.

Another nice touch is that your creation does not automatically start in the UFC this time, and you must win fights in the WFA feeder promotion in order to be invited by Dana White to join 'the big leagues'

There are several more superficial changes, such as your fighter wearing their own specific walkout t-shirts after bouts, while White wraps the title belt around your waist and your own trainer celebrates behind you. Again, all nice touches for UFC fans.

It is hard to get a true feel for the game while playing it for a couple of hours and wasting a presentation designed to sell the product. However, the initial impression is overwhelmingly positive.

Every tweak, from the the most minor to the grandest, appears to have been done for a purpose, rather than an excuse to milk the cash cow and simply churn out another, slightly different, release.

The demo is available now to members of the official UFC Undisputed community, so many reading this will have a chance to gauge it for themselves.

The biggest compliment I can pay it however, is that the new version seems so far and above the 2009 game, that I can't imagine ever feeling the need to go back and play it. 2010 is better in every department.

The developers have set the bar even higher this time.