The elevating chant of the crowd resonates through the tiny hall and fills every inch of the metal octagon. I can feel the blood surging through my veins, pumping faster, as my knuckles turn white with anger. This is what I have been waiting for. This is what my life is about. Using every single fiber in my being to annihilate my opponent is my sole purpose for living. The bell rings and I lunge at him, and as I do, I breathe in the sound of the crowd rising from their seats in anticipation. I am a UFC fighter…and this is what I live for.<\/p>\n
This is more or less the feeling you get when you first step into the relentless and unloving ring of UFC 2009: Undisputed. The sweat runs down your haggard body in the crispest HD and you swear that you can almost feel the burning sensation in your lungs as you fend off a flurry of brutal punches from your opponent.<\/p>\n
From the beginning of the game, the core basis of what UFC 2009’s objective is, is rather clear…use any part of your body to beat your opponent to the point that he either stops breathing or taps out in anguish. And with a selection of over 50 fighters, going about this violent task is a rather fun and vicious accomplishment. Choose any of your favorite surgeons of hurt, like Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, and take them through a daunting series of fights.<\/p>\n
There are a wide variety of finishing moves in UFC 09. Tap out is one of them. TKO is another. Or my favorite… simply send such a severe blow to his cranium, that his mouth-guard shoots out in a stunningly visual spectacle…also known as: The Knock Out. The knock outs in UFC truly are fantastic though.<\/p>\n
There are two ways of putting your opponent on the floor thanks to your brute force. One of these techniques is called Flustered. This happens when you deliver so many punches in rapid succession that your opponent becomes flustered. In this state he is more vulnerable, and in fact, the entire screen goes grey and blurry to enhance the effect. If you are able to knock him onto the mat, you are able to get on top of him and engage in a brutal flurry of face and body shots to finish it. This experience is so gruesome and violent, that you almost feel bad doing it. Almost. Other than that, you get the plain old knock out. However, this is one of the most infuriating aspects of UFC 2009.<\/p>\n
UFC sticks to a realistic recreation of the sport. An example of this is how at any point a single punch can change the entire match. Timed correctly, you are able to knock your opponent out with just one hit, which ends the fight immediately. This is rather irritating, as a huge lead can be negatedwith one well timed punch in the head.<\/p>\n
Also, if you do decide to partake in UFC 2009: Undisputed, pack a supersize box of plasters before you turn on your console. While it is a lot of fun, it’s murder on the fingers. You will button mash your way through a series of fights. Most of which you will win, simply because, if you go at your face buttons persistently, victory is pretty much assured from the beginning. However, if you do decide to enjoy the game in its fullest essence, then there is a tutorial mode where you will be able to learn every principle required to enjoy UFC 2009.<\/p>\n
The controls in UFC 09 are complex, and it will take one over an hour to learn just the basics. It’l take even longer to master these controls. This is mostly because of the highly complex grappling system, which is where UFC’s gigantic flaw lies. Nevertheless, UFC makes up for this flaw with its excellent career mode. Much in the same style as similar boxing franchise, Fight Night, you are able to create your own character with a richly in-depth character creation system. Thereafter, it’s the basic “go from zero-to-hero” rundown. Start in a shabby boxing ring and fight your way to the big time.<\/p>\n
Fun Factor <\/strong>(8\/10)<\/p>\n Despite its flaws UFC is actually rather fun. Planting a gruesome right hook on your opponent’s cheek, and then watching him fall to the floor like the pansy he is makes for a thoroughly rewarding experience. While in many ways it is just a good looking button masher, the added depth provided by the career mode and complex controls makes for a deep and rich experience. Visuals<\/strong> (8\/10)<\/p>\n You are able to witness every single piece of visual splendour that UFC has to offer from the moment you switch on the console. Outstanding graphis and slick animations make for a visually spectacular experience. Apart from the impressive gameplay visuals, UFC also features real commentator which are all accurately modelled on real people.<\/p>\n Story <\/strong>(7\/10)<\/p>\n Although there isn’t usually much of a story in fighting games, UFC kind of lends itself to the entire UFC franchise, mixing together styles of Def Jam and Fight Night. You are able to create your own character (down to his body type and scars) and then have the option to take him to the top. Fight promoters will email you, rivals will text you for a fight opportunity and love interests will let you know that they appreciate you.<\/p>\n Sound <\/strong>(8\/10)<\/p>\n The sound is so real it’s actually disturbing. When you land a blow on the cheek of your opponent, you can actually hear the spray of saliva and blood drop onto the mat. The crunch of your foe’s bones and the crack of his spine sound excruciating as you deliver a plethora of vicious strikes. And all of this comes at you in Dolby Surround…violence has never sounded so real.<\/p>\n Originality<\/strong> (6\/10)<\/p>\n Although this game has stepped out of the shadows of previous iterations and adds some great innovations to the genre, some may find that the UFC franchise is feeling a bit tired. Apart from having a lot more fighters to choose from and immensely upgraded graphics, the game is still pretty much the same as previous versions.<\/p>\n Longevity<\/strong> (6\/10)<\/p>\n Although the game does posses a well fleshed career mode and a vastly challenging 2P mode, the online mode is extremely laggy and is prone to numerous framerate drops, which make it a useless online experience. Plus, fighting games only remain fun for so long, and usually require to 2 players to truly be enjoyed.<\/p>\n Bottom line<\/strong><\/p>\n Simply put, if you are looking for a game that allows you to unleash a world of hurt on your friends in a variety of complex ways then UFC is for you. If you are however looking for a simple fighter, where you are able to experience realism, but not at the expense of sitting through a long winded tutorial, then you may be better off with the latest WWE.<\/p>\n UFC scores well as it manages to do exactly what it intended. Whether or not this is something you will enjoy depends on your preference.<\/p>\n
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