Fight Night Round 4 vs. UFC 2009 Undisputed: The Showdown

Feature Article

Submitted on: 07/08/2009 by Richard Chavez

Boxing became a modern Olympic sport in 1904. The first televised UFC event was in 1993. Their origins can't be argued, but their current popularity certainly can be.

UFC has overshadowed boxing in recent years, creating stars like Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell. Dana White also lured Brock Lesnar into the fold, a fighter who has now become one of the most talked about UFC combatants.

Boxing was once elevated by its heavyweight division, lead by boxers such as Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield. Now boxing relies on its strong welterweight and middleweight divisions. Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Kelly Pavlik are young and exciting fighters, but no one knows if they will be able to sustain the entire sport.

Fans will argue each sport’s entertainment value, equity, relevancy and history until the cows come home. It’s impossible to say which side is correct in almost every sense.

But now at least we have the videogames to judge. UFC 2009 Undisputed was released on May 15 and Fight Night Round 4 on June 25. Let’s get ready to rumble.

Fight Night Round 4 is ready to take on UFC 2009 Undisputed.

Presentation

The soundtracks cater to their audiences, and the menus are easy to navigate. The commentary is well done in both games. UFC does offer more in the way of hyping up the fights while FNR4 has entrances and ring music.

This one is a tie.

10-10

Online

Every game has problems with online quitters -- both of these games fit the bill. However, they both translate to the online arena well enough and neither has serious lag issues. FNR4 offers more non-gameplay-related options, such as Boxer Share and some upcoming DLC. It also has championship belts that you can challenge for (depending on your rank). UFC has the usual leaderboards and a nice scouting report of you and your opponent.

Still, FNR4 takes round 2 because of the more in-depth choices it gives you.

10-9 Fight Night Round 4

Gameplay

Neither game is perfect, but both games do a swell job of representing their respective sports. In this case, the fans will decide which one they like better because they both have very different gameplay styles.

This round is a tie.

10-10

Graphics

FNR4 sports the better player models; UFC has the better faces. The tiebreaker is the ringside graphics. UFC's arenas all look similar, while FNR4 has multiple venues that each have a different look.

Fight Night takes this round.

10-9 Fight Night Round 4

UFC 2009 Undisputed has to pick it up in the late rounds or risk a blowout.

Career Mode

The highlights of each career mode are being in the ring or Octagon. Still, you must spend time training, which is why FNR4 has the advantage. I say that because the training is tough in both games, but you can skip it in FNR4. On top of that, the game doesn't bog you down with useless things like cred. It also offers multiple titles and the ability to move up weight classes. While UFC’s career mode is also solid, there is definite room for improvement.

Fight Night takes another round.

10-9 Fight Night Round 4

Learning Curve

This round goes to the game that does a better job teaching you how to play -- rather than simply choosing the game that is easier to get into. Both games have training modes that teach you the basics (and then some). Teddy Atlas does a good job teaching you the facets of the game in a gym ripped straight from Rocky III. The UFC training arena doesn’t have the same charm, but when you consider all the different fight styles, you realize that there is ton to learn in Undisputed, and the game does a good job teaching you everything you will need to know.

This is a tight one, but I’ll give it to UFC.

10-9 UFC 2009 Undisputed

Depth of Gameplay

There are plenty of tricks to both games. FNR4 is no slouch here, but the nature of MMA gives it a huge advantage.

This is a knockdown round for UFC.

10-8 UFC 2009 Undisputed

Staying Power

This round is all about prognostication. UFC gives you a good amount of options when it comes to creating fighters, but FNR4’s Boxer Share allows you to create just about anybody you want. There is also the Fight Night Round 4 store that promises new boxers.

With a new game probably on the horizon for UFC, and the supposed lack of DLC coming in the future, FNR4 gets a knockdown here.

10-8 Fight Night Round 4

Time for Fight Night fans to shake a bit...this fight is going to be extremely close.

Create-a-Fighter

UFC sports many customization options. FNR4 has that element and Boxer Share. While Boxer Share doesn’t always work right, it’s an interesting avenue to take. Plus, boxing allows for more colorful characters -- you can customize gloves and boots along with your ring shorts.

This round goes to Fight Night.

10-9 Fight Night Round 4

Authenticity

Boxing is shown across many different platforms, while UFC is one distinct organization. Fight Night Round 4 did the best they could with what they have, but UFC 2009’s commentary, pre-fight analysis, referees and ring girls are pulled straight from a UFC PPV.

Give this round to UFC.

10-9 UFC 2009 Undisputed

With every round in the books, it’s time to do the math and announce the winner.

And the winner is…

96-94 Fight Night Round 4

It’s only July and it’s already clear that these two titles will be at the top of their class at the end of the year -- both titles are just that good.

But at the end of the day, it's hard to defeat the reigning champ. Either way, it's a testament to the quality of UFC 2009 Undisputed that the final score was this close. And the great thing about this matchup is that there will certainly be rematches in the future (it's just too much of a money-making matchup for there not to be multiple encounters).

In the meantime, let us congratulate the champ and give Fight Night Round 4 the recognition it deserves.

Member Comments

# 21 Swanison @ 07/14/09 04:53 AM

first of all ufc doesnt have everthing i said. no corner game, no legacy mode, no online world championship, no real physics engine, Ai in fnr4 adapts to how u play and there own style and ufc plays based on there styles but not how you play.

also i never said that ufc didnt have any of those things. i just said it goes deeper into it. EXAMPLES fn has more strategy involved than ufc, Im not saying ufc doesnt have any strategy to win a fight . the ai in ufc was not as good as fn, Im not saying ufc has terrible ai. height, reach doesnt show as much as it does in fn, Im not saying ufc doesnt show any recongnition to height and reach. counter punching is used more in fn than ufc, Im not saying ufc doesnt have counter punching. Fn has authentic arenas, IM not saying ufc doesnt. Fn has sig boxing styles, Im not saying ufc doesnt.

the comment was worded a bit wierd but why would you guys think im saying ufc doesnt have those things when i clearly said it goes deeper in every category and then i listed features of fnr4 that shows why fnr4 is to advanced for ufc undisputed.

Maybe it doesnt go deeper into every category but pretty close to it. wat i should of said is all most every category. categories ufc would win in is presentation but that could be a tie, sig boxer styles but not by much, arenas and stadiums but i call that a tie more than a win, and depth of gameplay which i pretty much already said when i said u will like ufc more than fnr4 if u like mma more than boxing. reason being mma has more to it then boxing.

how could allbthere say that ufc does a better representation of the sport when fnr4 captures ALMOST every aspect to the sport of boxing while ufc does an amazing job but they havent even made a sequel to fix there mistakes and had more gameplay options in the octagon like fn already has.

how could thelasthurtknee say i dont sound like i know wat im talking about when i say fnr4 is better in my opinion bec it goes deeper into the sport of boxing than ufc goes into mma and here are the list of features that make fnr4 more avanced then ufc. i list some cool things about fnr4 that put it over the top. ufc has some of them but i think fnr4 went deeper into them just like i said. and then i say the only reason you would like ufc game more is if you like mma more than boxing which is completely true. i think that sounds like i know wat im saying. Also how would thelasthurtknee say everything u just said ufc also has. obviously ufc does not have everything i said. maybe u should read them again and then tell me ufc has everthing i said. another thing i should add is when did i even say ufc doesnt have any of those. the purpose of the list was to show the superiorness that fn has over ufc, not to show features that fn has that ufc doesnt.

# 22 allBthere @ 07/14/09 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swanison


	how could allbthere say that ufc does a better representation of the sport when fnr4 captures ALMOST every aspect to the sport of boxing while ufc does an amazing job but they havent even made a sequel to fix there mistakes and had more gameplay options in the octagon like fn already has. .

I say that because I don't think fn4 captures every aspect of the sport (or does it well). I've already commented on how I think the counter system is garbage. It's nothing like real boxing and has almost entirely ruined the game for me. FN has really wonky animations and they have an extremely odd speed to them. It's like you're stuck in mud. Other things you mentioned I think are pretty even - physics..in ufc you kick body, it deforms slightly during impact, and it has visible damage over time. The legacy modes at first I though FN was way better, but it's actually only slightly better...and i think it speaks volumes that I've started my 5th career in UFC and have yet finish my 1st FN one since I have no desire to put the disc back in.

The UFC really nailed the hard hitting action and made it nice and intense. I think there are less in-game mistakes than FN. They could add some dodging maybe automated when pressing block by really crafty defensive guys, but it's pretty good the way it is. They could also use more variety in animations - but they're already better imo than FN.

FN4 imo is HUGELY overrated by the media. The actual boxing to me is just so out of whack, ...and the decision to put the counter mechanic in the game has almost single handedly ruined it for me. The punches are slow and lethargic, and noone seems to hit very hard or at least seem like they are.

# 23 Swanison @ 07/16/09 04:54 AM

you made some very good points and i actually agree with you on most points. i agrre totally that it overated by the media the reason its overated is because fnr3 was the first "next gen graphics" that were really good and fnr4 is the sequel. i really dont care for graphics as much as gameplay but thats not wat others say. I also agree that the counter system is also way out of control. why is getting hit 10 times then getting one perfectly time block "slowmotion" jab more powerful than blocking all the shots "no slowmotion" then haymaker uppercut. Just bec he timed it perfectly doesnt mean his jab should be more powerful then haymaker.

why i think fn is better is bec of the strategic style of going inside and out upstairs downstairs and depending on what boxer u are is how u should play and if u dont one punch will knock u out. i like the idea of the counter system which purpose was to try to make each punch count bec if u didnt youd get countered for a big loss but i agree that that they went overboard on how much power it is.things that ii dont think is real to boxing is the cheapshots bec in real boxing u dont just real ur head back for a headbut the sameway everytime. the way they do it is while ur about to punch someone they lead first with there head to put a little extra into it. it shouldnt be like they have in fn bec online someone connected 6 times before there was a point deduction which obviously the ref would see that blaintant of a headbut. the cornergame is good but not really realistic. how is it that because i stun an opponent i get the oppurtunity to have more health then he does. how is it that if i used all my points on stamina by the 10 round i would have full stamina. if you box 9 rounds u wouldnt have full stamina no matter what. those to me are miner issues and u wont even notice it unless u think about it. i think the animations are fine and they are real bec of the physic engine. they may look wierd at times but everygame has that. u may feel stuck in the mud definetley against aggressive players but wat i like about this game is that every strategy can be beaten unlike some other games where theres one that u master and cant be stopped.

in games i usually dont care for the presentation and extra game modes if the gameplay isnt top notch. but since i think fnr4 is top notch online world championship, legacy mode, and real to life boxing presentation makes it that much beter.

i would rather play ufc than fight night bec to me it is more fun to play mma then boxing but since this is the first game and has no experience its not going to have all top game modes that makes it replayable. its also not going to have some key feautures of mma in the game only the main ones. i think its to simple on the ground and not enough transition areas to be in. its to easy to get a submission goin bec in real life you battle forever to get a top knotch position to even get a submission locked on. u shouldnt just be able to press a button from the bottom and try to submit him without any work. also it seems the only way to get a guy off of u is kick him off which is the same everytime. only sometimes to slide underneath. also there is not enough blood on the players and mats at all. you should be able to dodge your head from punches or kicks. why is there no ref warnings or point deductions. there is alot of little things missing from the game that hopefully will be in ufc undisputed 2010 such as more game modes and gameplay options and controls with even more realistic ai. there is still a lot missing in the game that you dont notice bec theres so much in the octagon already.that i dont see it it representing mma more than fn represents boxing

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