It’s been along time since UFC fans have had the pleasure of playing a video game with their favorite fighters within the virtual octagon. So long, in fact, that THQ had to build the game from the ground up with the help of the developers over at Yuke’s Media Creations, in order to “make up for the mistakes of previous title”. However, one can only wonder what’s so different; what makes this game so good and worth the wait?

When playing through UFC one of the many things you’ll notice is how well UFC 2009 Undisputed translates one of the most complex hand-on-hand combat sports into a enjoyable experience. The game has three fighting positions that can be executed during a fight: on your feet, the clinch, and your ground game. These positions blend together nicely, and depending on which moves you execute, in whatever position, you can execute a number of different combinations.

However, if I were to give you some advice, I’d say to go through the in-depth tutorial. Firstly, because it’s a requirement; but also because you’ll need it. And don’t try the online mode unless you have gone through at least half of the game’s career mode. This is because UFC 2009 Undisputed isn’t a game in where you just pick it up and start playing. Every fighter within this game has their own unique fighting style – Muay Thai, kickboxing, boxing, Brazillain Jui-Jitsu, wrestling, and Judo. You’ll have to learn each fighter’s style before you take anyone one.

Speaking of fighting, UFC 2009 Undisputed’s in-ring combat really puts an emphasis on realism. The title’s hand-to-hand combat has to be the most detailed part of it. Depending on your distance from your opponent, you can perform different strikes. The same goes for the clinch, but there’s a different aspect to it. In addition, to add the realism, the makers of Undisputed digitally recreated actual referees and corner men to add to the experience. But the real star is the amazing commentary from Joe Rogen and Mike Goldberg – the commentators from the actual events.

UFC 2009 Undisputed gives you the ability to create your own Ultimate Fighter – starting from the bottom, fighting your way to the top. But you’ll have to balance your Ultimate Fighter’s scheduling and training throughout your calender in the career mode, because it can ultimately affect your fights in the future. However, there are three major things that you’ll focus on during your time before a match: strength, speed, and cardio. Along with that, you can spar against AI opponents, gaining points to fill up any of your sixteen fighting style bars, which help customize which position your fighter’s really good at.

Graphically, everything looks sound within the octagon. The 80+ fighters look and fight like their reality-based counterparts, and the frame rate stays solid throughout a match. They developers were even nice enough to add damage calculation to the character models, and, when blood flies from one of these injured spots, it will stay on the floor for the whole match.

I have only a few problems with UFC 2009 Undisputed. Firstly is that flash knockouts happen way too often. Being a man that loves to fight tectonically, when a flash knockout happens out of the blue, it angers me and many players like me. Also, the soundtrack could have a lot more sounds featured throughout, because Undead can only rock for so long. Another thing is, they could have added the fighters walking into the virtual octagon much like they do on the televised events.

Closing Statement:

While it’s easy to say that Undisputed has its problems, there’s no denying that it’s a great fighting game. It’s atmospheric, and the characters feel and sound authentic. It seems that THQ have found themselves a yearly title that can hopefully stand the test of time. If you’re a fan of any fighting game, this is something that you should give a try.

Score: A-

That’s right. It seems just weeks after the release of THQ’s hit fighting game UFC 2009 Undisputed, EA has announced a title to counter that.

During the EA Press Conference, Peter Moore revealed that EA has plans to release EA Sports MMA, which is a Mix Martial Arts title coming to the system hear you (360 and PS3).

“With Fight Night Round 4 set to deliver a knockout with industry-leading visuals and genre-defining gameplay later this month, I couldn’t be more excited to announce the expansion of our combat sports strategy with EA Sports MMA coming in 2010,” said EA Sports President Peter Moore.

“Fans have been begging EA Sports to get into the cage, and EA Sports MMA will put them in control of the sport’s unique combat experience while finally, in an immersive interactive experience, capturing the raw intensity that has made mixed martial arts one of the fastest growing sports in the world. We’re ready for the fight.”

No, this isn’t a teaser for a promotion to reveal a “world premier” trailer during a major sport event, it’s an actual trailer that, by god, is more exciting then the end of days  itself – because whats fun about the end of something? And if you didn’t get that, I’m talking about life itself.

Anyway, lets get back on topic. This is the newest trailer for the long awaited video game Heavy Rain and it features two characters from within the universe; a cop, and Mad Jack, the villain from this clip.

After multiple weeks of speculation, we have finally learned that Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals will be sharing the cover of the Madden NFL 2010.

It’s the first time in 21 years that EA has decided on two athletes for the Madden cover. However, Grand Slam Tennis and Fight Night Round 4 -  which are both releasing this year - also feature multiple athletes on their respective covers.

Wait!?!? These are the same two players from the same two teams that were in this year’s Super Bowl. What are the chances?

Midway have not released one in years, but that doesn’t mean that the franchise is dead. After all, German publisher 10tacle Studios did confirmed that it would be continuing the series in partnership with Japanese developer, Aki.

Now, Atari has announced its official plans for the return of Ready 2 Rumble on the Wii. The game is entitled Ready 2 Rumble Revolution and it will feature a list of about 18 “wildly caricatured cartoony boxers” based on celebrities from movies, music, and sports.

As of gameplay, Revolution will make full use of the Wii control system, meaning it’s most likely going to play exactly like every other boxing game that’s been attempted on the Wii, like Wii Boxing.

The developer also promises more realization on elastic and particularly sharp AI. There was also some talk about a long list of game modes, like championship and etc., and the possibility to use of Mii Avatar in the game. There is no doubt that the first trailer should arrive shortly.

The game was just released in the United States a few weeks ago, but European gamers had their copies weeks before and the title has been selling very well since it’s release. That’s why EA has called for celebration because their title, Fifa 09, has hit one million UK sales after enjoying most successful opening week in the series. This achievement means that the FIFA franchise has now sold 10 million units in the UK over the past five years.

“We are delighted with the success of FIFA 09,” said Dan Holman, marketing manager for EA Sports. “We have continued to listen to gamers and football fans and the result has been the fastest-selling FIFA game in franchise history.”

[EA celebrates as FIFA 09 smashes records via MVG]