Review | UFC Undisputed 2010 (PSP)

UFC Undisputed 2010 for the uninitiated is a sanctioned game based on a league called Ultimate Fighting Championship. Further to this it’s a real sport where “Mixed Martial Artists” have at each other in a ring in order to answer the never ending question of who’s the best fighter, and fighting style.

Unlike most one on one contact sport, such as boxing for example, MMA features combatants from many different fighting styles. Kick Boxers will go up against Sumo wrestlers, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu legends take on Judo masters and so on.

People interested in the real deal can see it all in its sweaty glory on pay per view…or of course check the highlights out on YouTube. Alternatively you can play the game which was released to critical acclaim on home consoles and now naturally, the PSP.

When it comes down to it, it should be no surprise that the PSP version is inferior to its bigger cousins. The graphics are decidedly poorer (although stand up well enough compared to other games on the now aging handheld) and the extremely well done and accurate voice commentary is all but missing. No surprise really, the PSP lacks the power and the disc space to try to match the console alternatives.

That said it does do many things right. Somehow the powers that be have managed to include all 100 of the licensed fighters who featured in the ‘main’ version of UFC Undisputed 2010. The controls have also been done right so to speak. The lack of a second analogue stick no doubt made things a little awkward but were saved by the developers using the D-Pad for movement and the one stick for actual moves.

And moves there are a-plenty. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you’ll pick up the basics of UFC like you would most 1 on 1 fighting games. They’re complex, take tactics and require an awful lot of combo memorizing. Enough so that UFC U 2010 is out of the realms of the casual button masher.

Which brings me to the games audience? If you’re one of the two PSP owners out there that don’t have a PS3 or Xbox 360 consoles but love the sport it’s a good buy. If not then you’re certainly better off getting the superior bigger versions with all their better graphics, sound and online options (UFC PSP can only support 2 player multiplayer wirelessly). That said the game plays well enough and doesn’t feel like a lazy handheld port so some kudos must go to the developers for that.

Fans check it out, and if you haven’t heard of UFC before then hit up YouTube and be prepared to watch sweaty muscular men writhing on the floor together with their hands far too close to each other’s groins to be comfortable.