UFC 2009 Undisputed was developed by Yuke’s, the same people behind the popular Smackdown wrestling series. Unlike some of the over the top Smackdown titles, UFC is a much more realistic experience for the user, resulting in quite possibly the best UFC title to date.
When it comes to a fighting game, there is something very appealing about just taking two guys and putting them into a cage for a fight where pretty much anything goes. Add one of the most advanced fighting systems seen to date and the result is UFC 2009 Undisputed.
Graphically, the game is definitely impressive. The characters are very realistic, and the environment looks fantastic. Even the ring girls and the audience look great. THQ definitely spent a lot of time making sure that this was a realistic UFC experience for the user. The presentation of the game is also pretty impressive; it feels true to the TV broadcasts.
The movements of the fighters are smooth and natural in all 6 available fighting styles, including everything from boxing to Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Transitions between striking and grappling are seamless. Once an opponent is grabbed, it is very easy to bring the opponent to the ground and either strike them or lock them up in a submission to get them to tap out.
This game is not for the faint of heart, however; anything can happen at any moment, including reversals and one hit K.O.s, which can be very satisfying to pull off on an opponent.
Although the create-a-fighter mode is fairly robust, there is definitely room for improvement. Characters can be customized to a certain extent, but there need to be more areas for the user to customize, such as movesets.
