UFC Undisputed 3 Review

THQ are no stranger to the world of fighting games - they have produced some of the best wrestling games available. This however is a different beast altogether; it’s got the wrestling but also just about every other martial art you have seen in the UFC.

On starting up the game it is clear this is not going to be a simple game, and you’re not disappointed. The complexity of it is daunting at first; there are a lot of options, which range from the simple quick fights through the now compulsory Create-a-Fighter to a very extensive career mode.

The options for the Create-a-Fighter are so complex I could write a whole book about how to combine the hundreds of differing options and layers to make almost anyone you have seen step inside the Octagon, and quite a few who haven’t. Ranging from the basics of selecting your shorts colour right up to spots and blemishes on your fighter’s body, this is quite possibly the most complex system for creation of your character I have seen. Once in Career mode you begin, not in the UFC, but in the World Fighting Alliance; kind of the Ultimate Fighting minor leagues. From here you progress through the years watching (or simulating) other events around the world and earning Cred, the in game “currency”, which is spent in-between fights on training and attending camps with other fighters to improve your stats.

The actual fighting in the game is well carried out, with options for either Amateur or Professional button sets, I chose amateur as I’m not a master of this type of game, this however does not detract from the game at all. During your fights submissions are a vital part of the UFC-type game, and this system has been overhauled in this version to make it simpler to understand - an octagonal HUD appears over your fighters which you having to keep your coloured bar overlapping your opponents as they chase each other around the octagon. I found this a great improvement and could actually carry out submission holds, which pleased me.

One major addition to this game is the inclusion of the PRIDE championship, the now defunct Japanese version of the UFC, the rules in PRIDE are different to the UFC and several moves that are banned in the UFC can be used in the PRIDE matches. These also take place in a more traditional ring instead of the familiar UFC Octagon. This is a lot more brutal than the UFC and taking your opponent out with a strong kick to the head is one of the more satisfying changes.
The number of real life fighters included is good with several huge names from the world of both UFC and PRIDE, names like Michael Bisping, Brock Lesnar, Frank Mir, and Quinton ‘Rampage’ Johnson to name but a few. All of the fighters actually look like who they are supposed to be as well, which isn’t always the case with other games of this genre.

The game also has an extensive Online community and servers for online play, which also allows you to upload your user made content; this includes highlights from your fights, your own logos and even your own fighter banners. You can also, in the online mode, create your own fight camp and have all your friends join you - how about creating the next big stable of dominant UFC fighters?

The only problem I have with this great game is the massive amount of loading it has to do between each menu screen and each fight in Career Mode. But this is a minor issue and doesn’t really detract from the game in anyway, if anything after some of the fights you’re glad of the rest for your tired fingers and thumbs, all of which are doing something during the fights.
The initial trepidation due to the complexity of the game soon gives way to a feeling of accomplishment when your fighter wins his first fight and starts on the long road to the UFC or PRIDE championships’.

All in all this is an excellent game, while it may not win over anyone who isn’t already a UFC fan it is an accomplished and well-rounded game with just about every conceivable option included. THQ really listened to the fans with this release.