I picked up my copy of UFC Undisputed 3 on release date, as I have for just about every next-gen MMA game within recent years. Of course, I'd have to exclude those poorly reviewed Supremacy MMA,and whatever other wannabe that has tried to capitalize off the popularity of the sport. So far the only other MMA related games I've touched is UFC Disputed,UFC 2010,and EA MMA. Now, a lot of people may hate EA's version. I, on the other hand actually enjoyed it for what it was. I felt that it didn't try to replicate UFC as far as the game play was concerned. The longevity of it didn't hold up for whatever reason, as well as the UFC games. EA based their controls on pretty much the same ground that their boxing games were and the roster wasn't bad at all. Even Randy Couture is on the game, though he never competed for Strikeforce. If you haven't given it a shot and get bored, I'd recommend picking it up at a very low price of $19.99 or cheaper on Amazon.

UFC Undisputed 3 Review(PS3)

Note: I've never played a UFC game until UFC Undisputed 1 so I know nothing about the previous entries that were released on the original XBOX years back.

Graphics

What can I say? Details were paid major attention this year. While most of the animations and engine are still based on the first Undisputed game. THQ managed to build upon that from the past couple of year. UFC 2010 seemed to just add more fighters and features. This entry really added polish to the fighters and the overall environment. You can notice all of the minor details in the crowd,ring girls, referees, and the atmosphere. The cuts and bruises can look painfully, though I've never had an extremely bloody fight, I guess a FIGHTING game still has to be presentable for children.

Sound

Commentary in this runs pretty damn smoothly. Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan of course, provide the bulk of commentary in the octagon. However, if you decide to switch over to Pride you are blessed with Bas Rutten's analysis with every take down or punch you throw. You can't really ask for much more at this point as far as commentary goes. The crowd can be irritating at times, it seems like they can't make up their mind on who to chant for. One minute they will be cheering for you, the next you will hear chants of the opponent kicking your ass.

Features

You really can't ask for much more at this point. I'm not a fan of buying online “extras” that should be included in any video game, however, I do it on occasions, but this game has pretty much everything you need to have some fun with your friends or by yourself. You’ll find that you spend most of your time in “Exhibition” mode going back and forth through the Pride and UFC rosters to see how devastating a fight you can create. If you chose to stray away from the basics, there is Title Mode,Event Mode, and Tournament, which give you something else to do if you ever get bored. Like I said the career mode is satisfying, but can be tedious when you spend a majority of your time training, instead of beating down an opponent, so it's more of a simulation like the past games. What else can you expect out of a realistic game though?

Gameplay

I touched on this one of my previous blogs. THQ added amateur and pro controls, so you really get to chose how you would like to play the game. I keep trying to find myself trying to finish cool new ways to finish opponents by letting them up after I've clearly rocked them and If you've ever played any of the previous titles you pretty much know what the expect when your on top of your opponent pummeling them. Herb Dean, or whichever referee you chose will interrupt, sometimes that can be annoying when your in an awesome fight, but it's fairly realistic. Choosing a referee doesn't really change much of the outcome from what I've noticed. That would be a nice addition.

Working on the ground can be challenging,especially figure out how to block transitions and keep your opponent down. You can you a simple flick of the R stick to transition forward and do some interesting scenarios. You now have the ability to maneuver submissions. Say, if your Royce Gracie and you have your opponent in a arm bar, you can easily press a button and whip him into something else to make it look fancier. Speaking of submissions, there's a whole new system to making your opponent tap,which is hard to accomplish, but more fun. It looks like they tore a page out of EA's book. It's not necessarily the same, but it's a similar concept. Pretty much, you just have to find the same spot of rotation on the R Joystick that your opponent is using and try your best to replicate his pattern. EA used a similar method by basically finding a sweet spot on the joystick to escape. It's fun, but challenging.

Online

I have had a chance to tinker around the game online. Like most games, you will need an pass to gain access to all of the online features. You can play exhibitions in Pride or the octagon against random opponents or play with friends. You also have the ability to start you own fight camp and recruit any members you'd like to do so. As far as connectivity goes, it all depends. A majority of the matches I played online ran fairly smooth. Now when comparing the game to it's offline game play, it still needs plenty of work. It's not nearly as smooth as if you were playing a friend in your room ,but it can still be an enjoyable experience with your online buddies. I wouldn't pick it up alone just for the online capabilities.

So in the end,is this game worth buying? Definitely if your a fan. Yes if your a fan of fighting games. Probably, if your not a fan.

8.8 out of 10.

That's a rap on this review. I'll post another blog soon. Maybe tomorrow, before the event. Or afterward. Who knows. Until then, Have a GREAT weekend!