UFC fans have long waited for a game that truly captures the multiple aspects of ultimate fighting. While previous games tried to simulate this unique sport, none of them really met the high expectations of it's die hard fans. Now, after taking their time in development, UFC 2009 Undisputed comes out swinging. But is 'Undisputed' more of the same, or does this deliver the fighting experience fans have been longing for?

The gameplay truly shines in this game, and appeals to a wide variety of players. Whether you want to be a stand-up fighter who's looking for a knockout blow, or if you want to take your fight to the ground, many tactics are at your disposal. There is definitely a steep learning curve on this game, and the more you practice, the more you improve. Learning striking, takedowns, ground and pound, submissions, clinches, and reversals, give you a wide variety of ways to attack your opponent. Going through the tutorials, and attending "Camp Invites" during career mode, really help to hone your fighting skills. Some players may find fighting on the ground daunting, but once you figure out the thumbstick movements, you may never want to be a stand up fighter again.

While much of the gameplay is good, there are a few things that annoyed me. The CPU opponent can be easy as cake, tough as nails, or just downright cheap. While everyone loves a challenge, it's still incredibly frustrating to be knocked out 10 seconds into the round on a fluke strike. My biggest complaint gameplay wise is submissions. There is no point in attempting a submission against the CPU. They break out of it, or reverse it with ease every time. Against human opponents, submissions are used and abused. It is way too easy for your opponent to submit you, and vice versa. Even after pummeling an opponent from the mount position, I've been submitted countless times. I hope in the next edition submissions and reversals are more difficult to pull off. Another complaint I've heard from many UFC fans, is not being able to interact with the ring. In real life, many fighters use the ring to their advantage by slamming their foe into it. Also, many fighters break bones during a fight. While it may be too much for a "T" rating, snapping someone's leg with a powerful leg kick would be quite a sight. We'll see if these recommendations make it into next year's game.

The graphics in "Undisputed" are pretty good, but not amazing. The player movements are very fluid, and the character models are solid. You can definitely recognize which real life fighter you are playing as, or fighting against. Face and body damage incurred throughout the fight is excellent. Swollen eyes, cuts on the forehead, and bruised ribs are some of the injuries you can visibly see. While many of the strikes you connect with look painful, they don't look as devastating as they should. While in the demo, slow camera close ups of devastating knockouts did not make it into the final version of the game. I was disappointed to find that it was replaced by an almost overhead angle view. It's not nearly as cool, or satisfying to watch. I was also disappointed at the lack of venues in the game. You just get the same boring ring and venue every fight.

Much like the graphics, the sound is solid. Commentary from Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg is excellent, and really make every match feel like a real UFC event. Their commentary really feels unique every match. On the flip side, a wider variety of music would be nice. It feels like there are only 4 songs in the entire game. Also, the sound bytes of "post fight interviews" was a nice thought, but quickly become very annoying. There is no option to simply turn these individual features off, so you just have to deal with it. I did not like that, either.

Career mode lets you create your own fighter to battle your way to the top in the respected weight division of your choosing. There are a number of choices to make in creating a fighter, but more are needed. This mode is just not as detailed as some other games. It would be nice to choose specific punches, kicks, fighting stances, etc. for your fighter. More fighting styles are needed. I can guarantee you there are more than 4 fighting styles out there. You only get new moves by going through "camp invites". There are only three levels, but each level takes an eternity to reach. This slow leveling eventually leads to being very under matched against higher rated fighters. It would also be nice to play as your favorite fighter in career mode. It would have been awesome play as Brock Lesnar or Loyota Machida in career mode.

All in all, 'UFC 2009: Undisputed' is definitely a step in the right direction, and definitely the best MMA game experience to date. The graphics are good, and player movements are realistic. The gameplay is excellent, and moves are executed with relative ease. Online play is very good, and playing locally with your friends is a blast. Withholding a few minor gripes in regards to the CPU, fights are usually exciting and can lead to some epic matches. With some minor tweaks to gameplay, and some added depth to career and create-a-fighter modes, I have no doubt that next years edition will be much improved. Until then, I recommend giving 'UFC 2009: Undisputed' a try.

Overall- 81

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