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UFC 2010 Undisputed Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

UFC 2010 Undisputed Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

Fighting on a Smaller Scale

UFC 2010 Undisputed is a great game on the PlayStation 3/ Xbox 360, and when it came out four months ago, I was wowed by its high production values, deep combat system, and multitude of play modes. The PSP version, which came out only a few weeks ago, is still quite a good game, and even though there are some areas where it falls short of the console version, if the PSP is your console of choice, you shouldn’t feel like you are getting the lesser package.

UFC 2010 Undisputed  screenshot

Like the larger console version, UFC 2010 Undisputed on the PSP has a plethora of modes designed to keep you playing for a long time. The game’s flagship mode, career mode, allows you to create your own UFC fighter, develop his fighting style(s), and become the weight-class champion. This mode is replicated almost exactly on the PSP, and you’ll be able to go through the game’s RPG-like progression system with all of the stats you are used to, including the popularity metric, which was introduced as a new part of the career this year.

In addition to the career mode, there is also an exhibition mode, title mode, and even an ultimate fights mode, which allows you to relive some of the UFC’s more memorable moments. All of these modes retain their depth from the console release, and you can expect to get the same twenty to thirty hours of gameplay out of the PSP version that you would out of the console version.

However, there are some big changes between the two versions. One glaring area where UFC 2010 Undisputed on the PSP doesn’t quite live up to expectations is in the technical department. First off, the visuals are just not as good as they could be. While no one expects the PSP version to have looks on-par with the big console versions of the game, there are a number of issues that hold this title back from being a good-looking PSP game. While the fighter models do look good, the animations between attacks can be choppy, and there is quite a bit of clipping when you are fighting in close quarters. This can become an especially bothersome issue when you are playing the ground game, as timing is important, and a misinterpreted animation can mean the difference between victory and an opponent recovery.

UFC 2010 Undisputed  screenshot

Another issue I had with the PSP version was the long loading times. Now I know, this is a common complaint, and each person’s tolerance for loading times is different, but the loading in UFC 2010 Undisputed is just egregious on the PSP. From the ten seconds it takes to enter a fight to the almost minute it takes to get to a match (each menu screen takes ten to fifteen seconds to load), the experience in this game was hampered by the long loading times. Even the pause menu took two to five seconds to load! Although there is an option to install the game, the performance is only minimally improved.

The sound in the game is also a point in the PSP version of the game that could have been improved. The background music is simplistic, and there is no real commentary during matches, which makes the experience painfully quiet. The only area where the sound is actually decent is during the lead-ins to the “legendary” matches, where a female commentator explains what the circumstances are behind the fight. But aside from these small snippets, the audio content in the game is largely nonexistent.

UFC 2010 Undisputed  screenshot

Still, despite these gripes, the one major area where I was concerned UFC 2010 Undisputed would falter on the PSP is actually the area where it succeeds most easily: the control. One of the defining features of the PS3/Xbox 360 version of the game was its deep and nuanced control. This type of control is definitely not possible on the PSP, but the way the new control scheme was imported, it works just the way it should.

UFC 2010 Undisputed  screenshot

You should know right off the bat that the controls themselves are much simpler, and you won’t be able to do as much in the PSP version as you could before. However, the moves roster is robust, and you’ll use the face buttons for your base attacks, and the shoulder buttons as modifiers for these attacks. Although the direction of the attack is pre-determined, you can move around your target (and to a certain extent, the ring as well) using the directional buttons. Of course, this leaves the grapple function, which has been smartly tied to the analog nub. Since the grapple function in the UFC franchise can be used in a variety of ways, it can be used in conjunction with the face and shoulder buttons to execute different grapple moves.

Although the game does not have any online multiplayer modes, the PSP version of the game does include an ad-hoc mode which allows you to play with friends. Though I would have preferred some type of online mode (even a watered-down one), the inclusion of ad-hoc multiplayer is a nice option, and if you are at a UFC gathering with some friends with the game, there’s some decent fun to be had with this mode.

If you’ve already played UFC 2010 Undisputed on one of the bigger consoles, then you’ll probably want to skip the PSP release, as there is nothing new here. However, if you haven’t checked out the newest entry in the franchise, and prefer your UFC action to go, then this title won’t leave you disappointed. It has almost all the content of the previous release (with the notable exception of the online mode) and works well with a modified control scheme. Although there are some technical issues that hold this title back from being as great as it could have been, UFC 2010 Undisputed is still a worthwhile title on the PSP, and is worth checking out if you haven’t already!

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.0 Graphics
UFC 2010 Undisputed’s fighter models are okay, but the animation suffers from clipping and occasional slowdown. 3.9 Control
Though the controls aren’t as deep as those found on the console versions, they translate surprisingly well. 3.3 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The voiceover is minimal but the video segments sound good. The lack of commentary is sorely missed. 4.0 Play Value
There is plenty of content in this portable version of UFC 2010 Undisputed, but the lack of a proper online mode does do some harm to the replay value. 3.8 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • UFC FIGHTERS AND PERSONALITIES: Navigate an unparalleled roster of more than 100 prolific UFC fighters, each fully rendered to convey a photorealistic appearance.
  • ENHANCED COMBAT: Step into the Octagon with improved combat. A new Sway System with full upper body and head movement allows for the dodging of attacks, while on the ground, a new Posture System delivers strong, fight-ending strikes from every position. Manage Octagon control with new strikes, submissions, transitions, and cage positions, as well as experience added realism with the introduction of Southpaw stance.
  • FIGHTER CUSTOMIZATION: Enjoy customizable freedom with created fighters by combining move sets from numerous MMA disciplines. Choose from an array of moves from all available disciplines, including newly added Sambo, Karate, and Greco-Roman Wrestling, to become a true mixed martial artist.
  • CAREER MODE: Become the next UFC champion, where player actions, choices, and proficiency directly impact career progression.
  • AD-HOC MODE: Encourage camaraderie by creating or searching for matches against other PSP players in an ad-hoc wireless environment.
  • TITLE AND TITLE DEFENSE MODES: Fight through one of UFC’s five official weight classes to earn and defend a championship belt in Title Mode. In Title Defense Mode, a fighter’s condition remains persistent, with milestone challenges built in along the way.
  • TOURNAMENT MODE: Explore up to 16-player individual and team tournaments within one system. Utilize UFC fighters or created fighters and select from arcade-style play with repeated fighter appearances or experience simulation play with fighter representation limited to one appearance.

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