Preview by: Mitch Dyer

The problem sports games have is that sports never change. As a result, annualized games based on them suffer from the same stigma: It’s the same thing every year. Hardcore fans, however, always find nitty gritty details to gripe about, and no matter how realistic the representation is, there’s always that little extra we want out of the next game. UFC Undisputed 2010 is apparently aiming to satisfy that desire by replacing and rebuilding last year’s original ideas. In some cases, Undisputed 2010 streamlines the process. In others, it’s complicating things. In both cases, the changes contribute to achieving a crucial goal: Authenticity.

How you accept that authenticity depends on how into the Ultimate Fighting Championship you are. Those with technical knowledge will no doubt notice the myriad combat improvements, helped along by the reworked positions and enhanced animations, as well as the addition of entirely new moves for each fighter. One of the biggest question marks in UFC 2009 Undisputed was the lack of cage interaction. Rather than grinding and grappling against the walls of the octagon, fighters would simply fall past it, getting right down to the ground game. In UFC Undisputed 2010 (and yes, that is a slight name change you’re seeing this year) you’ll meet your opponent halfway between striking and wrestling if you step too close to the cage. Pinning an opponent to the edge adds a new dynamic to each match because it opens up plenty of familiar opportunities, but from a new angle – do you pull your opponent up into a clinch to deal big damage? Do you pull them to the ground afterward? Can you transform a bad situation into an advantageous one? Depending on your skills, it’ll throw a wrench in your gears or pave the way for a quick win.

The new counter system works has a similar effect on your success. In fighting, bobbing and weaving out of the way of punches is essential to, you know, not getting your clock cleaned. I felt like a pro by swaying to evade attacks, but coming out of each duck or dodge with a counter strike to daze or KO my opponent is what really feels good about the new system. It fits snugly within the existing combat, too, so it isn’t awkward when interrupting a flurry of kicks and punches to lean backward or tuck to the side. This is mostly due to the fighting’s new feel – it’s familiar, that’s for sure, but it almost feels like it’s been rebuilt. Combos flow far more fluidly than 2009’s rigid pre-set strikes, which benefits from the expanded roster of attacks. Where last year stuck you with a meager couple of power punches, you can pull backward or push forward during a modified strike to use different special attacks.

Which of these you add to your stable during career mode depends on where you choose to train. Undisputed 2010 simplifies camps during your campaign, granting access to any camp at any time during your calendar free time. If you don’t have a match, you can drop into the training facility of your choice and complete a challenge to unlock a new ability. This is far simpler than waiting for invites to roll in like last year. However, that’s about where the simplifying of the career stops.