The Champ is here!
It’s been a long time since we have had a good boxing video game, the last being Fight Night Champion that I can think of off the top of my head. UFC has been cranking out games here lately and those are fine, but they just aren’t the ‘sweet science’ Well developer Steel City Interactive has brought us Undisputed; their latest game is a boxing simulation and it does a lot of things really well, but then does some other things not so well.
One of the things that Undisputed lacks is game modes, but what’s here is pretty good and is a lot of fun to play. In the career mode players can either create their own pugilist or choose one of the many licensed boxers in the game. During the career mode players will rise through the ranks of the boxing world from humble beginnings in their quest to be the camp. It does a really good job of simulating what professional boxers have to do inside and out of the ring. This includes training sessions, management decisions and more; and these various decisions can affect the boxer in the ring with various debuffs and buffs.
MSRP: $49.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $49.99
Gameplay feels very close to what EA has done in the past with its Fight Night franchise, there is even the ‘hit-stick’ option, which allows players to throw their punches with the right analog stick. I have never been a fan of this control wise, and stuck to the face buttons for my boxing. Gameplay mechanics are designed to simulate real-life boxing with a strong focus on strategy, timing and skill. While you can fight matches with a ‘slugfest’ mentality, I guarantee you that it won’t get you far. Players have a wide array of punches and other moves at their disposal and playing against the AI or a skilled opponent turns bouts into a test of tactical prowess, which is what boxing really is; instead of just button-mashing. The developers have nailed the ebb and flow of real boxing matches and rewards players who effectively can manage their stamina correctly.
One area I have very mixed feelings about is the roster, there is a good mix of licensed boxers from current and yesteryear for players to choose from. There are some head scratching absences though like Mike Tyson for one, but as Ryan told me ‘Iron’ Mike is picky about who he lets use his likeness. But still, the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, Terence Crawford among many other big names. My guess is that these will come in time, but for now the roster is pretty good. There is also a really good character creator system so players can try and create some of the missing legends themselves.
Graphically speaking, Undisputed boasts some impressive looking visuals, with realistic looking character models and detailed environments. Fighters are meticulously designed with lifelike animations that showcase the sweat, strain and blood that goes into each bout. There are some issues with cuts displaying correctly, if your boxer takes a pummeling there is a good possibility that a cut will devlop on their face. While the game tries to showcase the damage getting worse as the hits continue but a bug just makes it so your boxer will be clear of blood and then after one punch is covered. I hope this is a bug because it is definitely jarring to witness.
That’s not the only issue I have with Undisupted, one of the big ones is the lackluster commentary. The lines are repetitive and often fail to match the excitement happening in-ring. This too distracts from the overall immersion, as the commentary is supposed to add some color and atmosphere not distract from it. Also, the game uses one of boxing great referees; Kenny Bayless, who has officiated some of boxings biggest fights. But for some reason you never see a ref in the ring during the bout, instead you will catch a glimpse of him in the opening and ending of each fight, its sad really. Fight Night Champion had the ref in the ring throughout the fight, surely that is something we can do almost 15 years later.
Undisputed is a fantastic attempt to bring boxing back into the forefront of video games. The engaging career mode, realistic graphics, and well-executed in-ring action make it a strong contender in the otherwise quiet genre. For boxing enthusiasts who have been missing these games, Undisputed does a great job of bringing the thrill of the ‘sweet science’ to life. While I wish the roster had more current big names and the commentary was better; Undisputed still manages to stand tall as king of the ring for now.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
