Review | UFC Undisputed 2010
Crowned…
Format: Xbox 360/PS3 | Genre: Fighting | Publisher: THQ | Developer: Yuke’s | Release date: 28/05/10 | Price: £50
Daniel Lipscombe steps into the octagon with UFC UNDISPUTED 2010.
AS THE flashbulbs cease, the crowd roars. Bruce Buffer grips the microphone and, in that ever-so-familiar voice, announces that the Savage will be facing off against the legendary George St. Pierre. As the fighters approach each other in the middle of the octagon, sweat beads appearing on their brows, referee Herb Dean steps in to deliver the rules. These two gladiators touch gloves, and the recognisable drawl of Joe Rogan begins his commentary with his long time partner, Mike Goldberg.
Punches are thrown as the match starts. Sweat sprays through the air with each contact, and soon the strut of these warriors becomes a tired hunch. Each kick takes their energy away, stamina dropping, and soon someone’s guard comes down. St. Pierre takes a crushing kick to the face and his flesh tears instantly. The claret blood trickles down his cheek and drips onto his chest, glistening under the spotlights.
The final thundering blow comes as Savage delivers another head kick, and in a second St. Pierre’s eyes roll backwards and the referee jumps in to protect the fighter. The bout is over, and a new champion is crowned. Every blow took its toll on the competitors; two broken but proud men stand on the centre of the octagon as Joe Rogan enters to interview the winner. Savage thanks his fans and his sponsors. His hand having been shaken by his interviewer, he exits the ring.
Cut wide open
THQ have captured every nuance and detail that makes the UFC such a tour de force. Mixed martial arts, or MMA, is about pride and passion dripping in blood spilled from battle. Every inch of this latest iteration is amazingly realised. Fights are as brutal and strategic as their real-world counterparts, the Ultimate Fighters themselves look great, and the commentary flows realistically.
If it wasn’t for the computerised appearance you could be fooled into thinking that what you are seeing is the real thing. Each fighter’s movement is genuine, the swing and sway of their 
bodies as they feel each other out and the snap of the kicks making each blow feel more authentic.
This is a stunning looking game. Familiar faces are pockmarked and scarred, every expression delivers each pang of pain, and every twinge from injuries causes the fighter to grimace. Accompanied by gruesome sounds of flesh being bruised and bones crunching, the game becomes all the more tangible.
Ground and pound
The excellence of this title doesn’t just come from the visceral feedback or the extensive roster of fighters; it also comes from the wealth of options available. There are plenty of modes 
to play through here, ensuring that fans will be in their element.
To begin with, the fighter creation is wonderfully in depth. Everything from hairstyles to tattoos, muscle formation to body hair and, of course, fighting styles and stats – all are customisable.
Your created fighter can then be used in any of the games modes. Among the selection is Event Mode, which allows you to set up your own pay-per-view event and either play through it or watch it. Then there’s Title Mode, another simple idea: pick a fighter and work your way up through a ladder of fighters to win the championship belt of the weight class of your choice. Once you’ve cleared Title Mode then you’ll unlock Title Defence Mode. This plays a little like a survival mode in a fighting game. Choose any fighter (bizarrely, it doesn’t have to be the one you used in Title Mode) and defeat 12 people in a row to defend your belt.
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