By Fraser McMillan

Fighting games are, like RPGs, notoriously homogenous in their structure.  Going by the name of the genre alone, you’d be unlikely to conceive of a template so standardised – or, indeed, the one-on-one, 2D versus set-up at all. In every RPG, we are accustomed to expect reams of stats, levels, loot etc., but think for a moment of what ‘role playing’ actually means.

Presented with just the bare-bones definition, one could expect to assume a character’s persona and ‘act’ with it in the context of their surroundings. The genre, however – lifted almost wholesale from ancient tabletop RPGs – is mired in fantasy, hit points, turn-based combat and the +8 Enchanted Blades of Doomhammer. Is, let’s say, Far Cry 2 an RPG then? By genre definition, not at all; by literal definition, absolutely.

Similarly, the fighting genre has its own perplexingly explicit tropes. We then have the less prevalent but similarly particular beat-‘em-up and so on. Their titles mean absolutely nothing, but we know what they entail because a single release boasted its own type and a pantheon of imitators followed, forming the basis for the genre.

Rubber Ninjas, the newest release from Rag Doll Software (a.k.a. Matteo Guarnieri), is a definitely a fighting game in the literal sense, and ostensibly the genre classification as well – two or more models pummel one another over two axes. In reality, though, it’s an entirely alien entity. Superficial parallels can be ignored because, mechanically, Rubber Ninjas is like little else aside from its forebear Ragdoll Masters.

//Using your fingers
It’s probably the best not-a-fighting-game-fighting-game ever made, though admittedly those that fit such a concentrated description could be counted on one hand with fingers to spare. Rubber Ninjas is great fun and ticks almost all the boxes a fighting game should: easy to pick-up-and-play, tough to master; it contains surprising depth; there are a variety of styles to have a crack at; there’s an element of strategy; the multiplayer is excellent. It’s concurrently familiar and an altogether different beast, and here’s why: simplicity.

Fighting-game-fighting-games are notoriously demanding. They require extraordinary dedication and reflexes, daring devout fans to program lengthy move lists to muscle memory in order to merely compete. In other words, they’re super hardcore. Rubber Ninjas bothers with none of this nonsense. Four buttons tug the player’s floppy avatar to and fro, with its comically exaggerated flails making for some surprisingly awesome moves. Think Team America’s puppet fight, but more wobbly.

Whenever one ninja bounces off of the other hard enough – depending on which body parts made contact – damage is dealt, with individual sections of the model highlighted if hit. Blood-like stars shower fiercely from each wound, occasionally consuming the entire screen in an insane clusterfuck. Some of the attacks can appear mercilessly brutal, and the vague controls offer just enough influence so as to preserve the element of skill. Tactics may be diluted to timed flails, but they’re there, and the spectacle of each fight is really something. There’s something hilarious about the way the ninjas move, rag-dolling all over the place as they do, and Guarnieri has made a fantastic job of collision detection to ensure everything looks and feels right. When contact is made, the camera zooms in and displays the near-miss, block or attack at the coolest possible angle, doing all sorts of Matrix-esque spinning to enhance the effect.

Weapons, rather than being arbitrary double damage sticks as they are in other fighting games, have a spatial impact that imbues each with its own value. As well as affecting the dummies’ physics, they are effectively – as real clubs and swords are – extensions of the person.  A bloody great big stick actually has the properties of a bloody great big stick, which is nice to see. Included in the full version is the two player mode in which both character model and weapon can be chosen before bouts, and it’s an absolute riot. Thanks to the unpredictability of the fighting mechanic as a whole it has a zany, slapstick appeal, and triumph over the opponent after a drawn-out bout of dodging and frustration is to be savoured.

The single-player campaigns change things up often enough to retain interest, the shallow controls holding their own for a good few hours. It’s a casual fighting game, no doubt about it, but it’s almost perversely engaging for exactly that reason. Sadly, it loses its sheen for chronic lack of personality, with the sphere of combat only serving as a background image. Too many games use this aesthetic for it to remain visually arresting, and though it fits well and makes sense, throwing the little ninjas into a Street Fighter inspired market or beach hut would have done wonders.

Mechanically, it’s probably one of the best fighters ever, especially for those of us who want to feel like we’re actually beating the faecal matter out of someone. Unfortunately, uninspired music and visuals mean it burns out before its time, but with a bigger team, a little more time and a bit of added flair, this engine could go a long way. Thankfully, a purchase secures user-made campaigns and continuing development builds, so perhaps it’s something to look forward to in future. Still, we’ve got the best non-fighting-game-fighting-game of all time to enjoy until then.

6/10

What does this score mean?

Format: PS3 | Genre: Action/Fighting | Publisher: Temco | Developer: Team Ninja | ETA: Autumn 2009

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is a difficult game to explain, in theory. It’s essentially just Ninja Gaiden 2, with new characters and all the bugs fixed. Yet it still feels like a completely new game. Allow me to elaborate.

In the build we played under the watchful eyes of Team Ninja yesterday, we were introduced to two new characters, though they may be slightly familiar depending on your gaming pedigree: Ayane of Dead or Alive fame, and Momiji of Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword. Both were playable on the day, and Rachel (the angry hammer-wielding woman from the first teaser trailer) is also planned for her own playable experience.

//Costume party
The first thing you’ll notice, if you’re sensible enough to ignore their ridiculous costumes, is that these characters seem to move noticeably more slowly than their male counterpart. Whether this is a design decision or simply the fact that, even when walking, Ryu seems to be busting a sprint animation isn’t clear. However, the focus is more on combat than acrobatics with the two new characters, a refreshing change from some of the occasional off-putting parkour forced on you with the game’s Xbox version.

Ayane’s demo weapon was a set of two short katana, wielded with deadly skill, though with her being the one to equip Ryu with the awesome Dragon Sword, this isn’t surprising. And her finishing moves  – which can be used once the foe targeted has lost at least one limb – are far faster than Ryu’s. This goes a long way in alleviating the tension you’ll sometimes feel when ten ninja are circling you as your character pulls off a lengthy death-stroke animation, allowing your living antagonists to close in. However, her swift combat skills are more than adequate, with a lot of opportunities for mashing the square button in comparison to Ryu. His main fault was that, even when wielding claws, he he would occasionally slow down as the looping attack animation wound to a close. With Ayane, it’s more a case of the combo finishing when you finish, though you’ll want to learn how to dodge, as with only two short swords, her blocking ability leaves a lot to be desired.

[Continues...]

By Paige Barclay

UFC 2009: Undisputed is the first game in the series since UFC: Sudden Impact way back in 2004. Given the tradition of yearly sports updates, it seems unusual for this particular franchise to wait five years for its return to the spotlight. Still, it’s been worth the wait.

The UFC is a mixed martial arts organisation that attracts fighters from a range of fighting styles. A UFC fight will consist of either three or five rounds, each lasting five minutes, with the winner determined by a knockout, a submission (forcing your opponent to quit) or by judges’ decision. Some fighters choose to focus on boxing and standing combat styles, while others attempt to defeat their opponent via Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and martial arts that focus on chokes and holds.

Battle strategy

The possible depth of the combat provided in UFC 2009: Undisputed is enormous, even compared to other fighting games out there. A lot of thought has evidently been put into the this area of Undisputed, and it has certainly paid off.

There are options to take the fight to the floor, grapple with the other player and of course simply stand while fighting. Additionally, each combat variation comes with a variety of techniques and strategies to wear your opponent down, and essentially squeeze in the most hits.

The basic fighting foundations even have variation to them. Kicks and punches can be executed fast yet weak or slow yet powerful. Plus, with the simple holding-down of the left trigger, you’ll be able to aim your punches at body instead of the head, to wear down your opponent. These are essential when fighting and using a combination of the two will deliver the best results. Kicking your opponent while standing will depend on the range between you and them, so if you’re both reasonably close the kick will turn into a knee to the stomach instead – and the same goes for throwing punches. It may sound like a simple mechanic but it adds more realism to the game.

For first-time players, the depth of the system could prove intimidating and may well scare people off. But for any newcomers to the fighting franchise, Undisputed makes sure to inject all possible knowledge into them right from the start. Before the title menu even pops up on-screen you’re given the option to educate yourself regarding the controls and techniques of the game. This tutorial is one of the longest I’ve ever trudged through. The format is essentially the same for every new move mentioned – your opponent will show you the move, and then you’ve to copy. It’s great to learn all the moves, don’t get me wrong, but there’s little variation to keep the gamer hooked enough go through it. Especially with so much depth to the controls and fighting techniques, Undisputed could have integrated a more user-friendly system to show the player exactly how much fun they could be having with this game once they get stuck into the action.

Raising your profile

Your best bet at learning all the moves is to dive into career mode, which enables you to create your own fighter to plough up the UFC food chain. The options concerning your character’s creation aren’t as deep as some other games, but in this case they don’t necessarily need to be. You’re provided with all you’ll need, including their initial appearance, fighting style and chosen equipment for fights. Between said fights you’ll be using your trusty calendar to allocate your fighter’s time to training, sparring, attending media events or simply resting in the hope of regaining some much needed stamina.

Training is an automatic process that works without the player having to even lift a finger, and the end result is an increase in your fighter’s stats in speed, cardio or strength, depending on which area you selected for the session. Your fighter’s stamina will largely affect whether the training session will be light, moderate or intense and, of course, these will affect the fighter’s stats differently. The option of sparring will actually load up a ring for you to fight against an opponent in hopes of training for your next match. What makes this even more worthwhile is the fact that said opponent will be programmed to fight in a style akin to your next UFC opponent. So this mode can prove invaluable in providing yourself with a better chance of victory and time to fix up your game plan.

Meanwhile, media events help to boost your character’s profile and, in turn, gaining popularity offers you the chance to unlock new equipment or even work on your techniques at established fighting schools and camps. Attending these events helps you unlock sponsors so you can place logos on your shorts to achieve credibility. Unfortunately, this process is time-consuming and involves trailing through around six menus to implement. You’ll also have access to your emails, which will regularly be spammed with meaningless UFC newsletters or, if lucky, emails from rivals or the UFC Chief Dana White. The latter will usually involve choosing your next opponent, giving you a choice of three and providing you with an overview of their stats to aid you in your final decision. Despite some minor annoyances, it’s a solid system, adding more depth to the fighting and allowing you to feel personally involved with your schedule.

There’s also the ‘classic fights’ mode, which you’ll most likely want to check out. In this, you’re given the task to re-enact certain and win them in the correct way – meaning you may have to use a certain move in a certain round, or suchlike.

It does, of course, ship with a multiplayer component: after all, beating an AI opponent is never as satisfying as thrashing a friend or complete online stranger. However, lag is something that brings this part of the game back down to earth again, and can occasionally get so bad that it’ll put your timing off.

Hey, good-lookin’

The high-performance visuals go some way to softening the blow. Fighters are recognisable and the blood and sweat is unmistakeable. It all flows incredibly smoothly and opponents recoil after each heavy blow, making the hits feel as if they have real weight behind them. Cuts and bruises are your indication of your fighter’s health, which is a great change from green bars filling up the screen. However, there’s little variation to these cuts and bruises, meaning you may well tire of seeing the same ones every fight. The venues have few distinguishing features, and the crowd aren’t as lively as the cheers and shouts may suggest. The commentary, on the other hand is great, it really adds to the sense of being involved in a real match.

It may have a few flaws here and there, but UFC 2009: Undisputed is one of the better fighting games currently available. Even if you’re not into the sport, this game should appeal to a wide audience, and you may well have a changed opinion after having a play-through of Undisputed. Exciting, great-looking and chock-full of different combat options, Undisputed proves that it deserves the title of top fighter.

8/10

What does this score mean?