Game Reviews

UFC Undisputed 2010

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iOS
| UFC Undisputed 2010
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UFC Undisputed 2010
|
iOS
| UFC Undisputed 2010

Back in his World Wrestling Entertainment trunks, a young Brock Lesnar once infamously fought and injured Hardcore Holly with a botched powerbomb throw, sidelining his victim for more than a year.

I say 'botched', yet in truth the fault lay squarely on the veteran's shoulders - or more precisely, neck. He was allegedly aggrieved at the upstart rookie's rapid ascent and promptly went stiff midway through the manoeuvre.

While THQ delivers an authentic experience in UFC Undisputed 2010, including the aforementioned Lesnar, the Octagon action is tempered by staccato gameplay and a limited range of moves, which doesn't extend to the above spectacular slam.

A straightforward combo

Opting for an intuitive combination of swipes and taps, THQ avoids many of the awkward control pitfalls that befell the game's chief rival MMA by EA Sports.

Two clearly defined zones corresponding to punches and kicks complement a virtual stick of sorts and a 'clinch' button. To deliver a head strike, for instance, you drag your finger forward and up over the punch region. Given such controls, the exclusion of the uppercut is mystifying.

When you've had enough of trading jabs, hooks, and thigh shots with any of 25 incredibly detailed UFC competitors (spread across five weight divisions), you can apply a clinching hold by tapping the grapple box.

Pummelling your judo or jiu-jitsu opposition rather mechanically from this position is an option, though a well-timed takedown leads to a tap out or knockout sooner.

Should you wish to destabilise your foe at an opportune moment or subdue his flailing limbs from a distance, meanwhile, swiping down on the virtual stick followed by much furious rapping of the screen grounds him.

Missing in action

More quick time events unfold during transitions and submission attempts / escapes: you're challenged to rapidly trace circles and puzzle paths, respectively, to gain the upper hand.

Prioritising speed over accuracy in these pivotal moments, THQ creates an unforgivable imbalance, leading to bouts being won far too easily after only a minute or so of exchanges.

And since your path to single-player Championship glory only consists of four contests, the game's shelf life is worryingly short. A healthy roster of achievements neither offsets the measly Tournament mode, nor the omission of multiplayer and character creation.

I can't help feeling that in simplifying the controls and downsizing the move set, some of UFC's intricacies - not least the cat and mouse strategic sparring - intensity, and appeal are lost in the translation to touchscreen.

UFC Undisputed 2010

THQ scores points for the accurate depiction of Dana White's universe and innovative finger flourishes, but loses out on stilted combat, shallow game modes, and a subdued atmosphere
Score
Richard Brown
Richard Brown
With a degree in German up his sleeve Richard squares up to the following three questions every morning: FIFA or Pro Evo? XBox 360 or PS3? McNulty or Bunk?