The day has finally arrived. UFC 2009 has officially hit stores, and it does not disappoint. MMA finally has an answer to the hugely successful Fight Night series. EA's series may have a successful and storied history, but THQ has put an incredible amount of effort into UFC 2009 and has truely launched a franchise that can compete in the big ring of next-gen fighting games -- whether it's four sided or eight.
MMA fans can finally take control of the best fighters in the world like Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre and BJ Penn. This game has them all, with a massive fighter list topping out at 82 if you purchase the game from GameStop.
Producing hours upon hours of bone-crunching, blood-gushing fun, UFC is the new premier fighting game. MMA fans and, fight fans in general, should rush out and pick this game up now because it's a must-own for any next-gen gamer.
Pros/Cons after the jump...
UFC 2009 is exactly what any MMA fan could hope for in a video game. It does have some flaws and areas to improve, but overall this is an incredibly fun and immersive fighting game.
Anderson Silva is a beast in this game
Pros:
- The graphics are extremely realistic.They are by far the best of any UFC game to date, and some of the best in all fighting games on the market. The fighters all look like the real people. By far the best part of the graphics is the realistic blood and cuts that result from the carnage you create. Also, the mouth piece flying out in a knockout is very satisfying and a great little addition.
- The presentation is spot on. From Bruce Buffer's introductions to Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg calling the fight; the game really feels like you are watching a real UFC event.
- The roster of fighters is massive.With 80+ fighters, no fan can complain that they cannot play with their favorite fighter. The game even includes ex-UFC fighters like Tito Ortiz and Tim Sylvia. My only complaint is I wish there were more retired hall of fame fighters available via unlockable achievements. I would love to see guys like Royce Gracie involved in future games.
- Career mode is extremely satisfying.You have to create your own fighter and then fight and train your way to the top. It's a fairly basic and simple setup but its pretty addicting. Learning to manage your training and what areas to best improve on will get you to the top that much faster.
- Deep control system allows you to fight a realistic fight.Whether you prefer the stand-up or ground game, it's all here. The controls are difficult at first and take some time to master but they are not unreasonable and once you grasp them the game will provide hours upon hours of entertainment.
Here comes the inevitable punch to the nuts
Cons:
- Collision detection is off at points.Not a major con, but sometimes you will kick or punch them at the same time and both fighters bounce awkwardly. It's really the only downfall in what is otherwise incredibly addicting gameplay.
- Career mode is only for created fighters.Once again, not a huge downfall but it would be pretty fun to take control of your favorite current UFC fighter's career. Training wouldn't be as important but you would need to maintain and improve their ranking by taking on all challengers. This is something to put on the wishlist for future titles.
The Verdict:UFC 2009 makes us forget about past failures and effectively resets the franchise giving it a clean slate. It was no doubt important for the UFC to have this first title for next-gen consoles be a great one, and at that they certainly succeeded. Once you get past the lengthy learning curve and master all aspects of the game, whether it's striking or grappling, you will realize that this game is addicting, remarkably satisfying and completely authentic to the sport of MMA. UFC 2009 is one of the best fighting games ever.
Go pick this game up and beat the crap out of your friends or the computer. You won't be disappointed.
Check out Gamepro's UFC 2009 Giveaway!
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- UFC 2009 Undisputed
- Score: 5.00/5.0
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