It’s been far too long since we’ve had our hands on a boxing game. EA’s Fight Night Champion was the most recent major boxing game release and that was nearly a decade ago. As of late, Steel City Interactive has given fans of the sweet science a glimmer of hope with Undisputed. Given the positivity surrounding the first two betas, the latest version of the game (early access) looks to be as polished as ever, leveraging feedback collected along the way as well as introducing a few new tricks here and there.
So how have things progressed since the last time we had some hands-on time? Well, let’s look at the tale of the tape!
What’s Been Improved Upon
Expanded Roster
We knew coming into this Early Access what the fighter roster would look like, but it’s still incredibly impressive. With nearly 50 fighters to choose from, including both men’s and women’s fighters, there’s never a dull matchup to be had. Just when you think you’ve found the perfect fighter for your style, another one emerges that you like just as much. With a mix of past and present fighters, the variety in both fighters and styles is really a joy to experience.
Even within the same weight class, the differences between fighters are well pronounced, as are their signature styles. From the “Ali Shuffle” to Roy Jones’ signature low-style hands, legends of the past and those working towards legendary status now are well replicated, something that should be the standard across all games featuring professional athletes. I’ve had thrilling fights across all weight divisions and look forward to even more.
Different Styles
“Styles make fights” and Undisputed does a good job at giving you different fight experiences. The different styles (slugger, boxer puncher, counter puncher, etc.) make for different types of fights. Sluggers like Smokin’ Joe Frazier will push forward and try to get you into a brawl as they close the distance, often leaving themselves open. Facing boxing punchers is more calculated as they prefer to pick and choose their moments before unleashing flurries. The different styles are accentuated by the AI, where I spent the majority of my time with this Early Access thus far as online play wasn’t available yet.
Finding a fit for my preferred style (counter puncher) was fun thanks in large part due to the large roster. Typically I fought most of my bouts in the middle divisions, falling in love with Sugar Ray Robinson, Bud Crawford, and Sugar Ray Leonard.
The big boy heavyweights are also well replicated. Sluggers like Deontay Wilder and Eddie Hall are balanced out with more nimble heavyweights like Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, while legends like Joe Louis and Muhammed Ali are a perfect combination of both. When it’s all said and done, the roster lends itself to a lot of unique fighters, ensuring there’s someone there for everyone.
Competitive AI
One of the key differences between this early access version and Beta #2 is the inclusion of AI fights. With four different AI difficulties (Amateur, Intermediate, Pro, Undisputed), we finally get a chance to see what fights against non-human players will feel like. All signs point towards a good and fair fight from the AI with varying levels of success depending on the difficulty level.
For this early access, I’ve tried them all and find myself switching between Pro and Intermediate. I don’t mind this at all considering the game is still new and I’m finding my way inside the ring, especially with some of the new fighters we have at our disposal. I’m nearly 20-30 fights in and I haven’t seen any glaring advantages from the AI that make me feel like I’m up against an insurmountable challenge.
New Fight Features Added
With every release, Undisputed has implemented new fight features. Flash knockdowns and loose footwork are just a few of the additions we’ve already seen but there are some nice new additions in this early access build. Clinching is one of the new fight features that has been added, and the functionality has made it a nice risk/reward strategy. Find yourself dazed and you can hit R3 to grab your opponent at close range while gaining your composure, but beware this move comes at a cost, namely stamina takes a little hit. Be careful though, once you break the clinch it’s fair game so get those hands ready.
Fouls are another newcomer to Undisputed, and while they aren’t point deductions yet, it’s just a matter of time before they are introduced. Punches after the bell, low blows, and even headbutts (L3) are available now so it’s nice to see Steel City Interactive address the details of the sweet science.
Even rope physics are a thing:
Lastly, being able to switch stances (orthodox to southpaw or vice versa) via pressing right on the D-pad is a nice little addition and way to throw your opponent off track. There’s no penalty in terms of knocks to your stamina, just the risk that comes with switching to a new stance and having the buttons reverse — therefore throwing off your muscle memory.
Bottom Line
Each time I have played Undisputed, I have come away impressed. It’s not just how much Steel City Interactive has accomplished, it’s the general progress between the different versions. Each new iteration feels more polished than the previous version. Whether that’s the action inside the ring or the graphics, fight backdrops, or even the incredible roster, Undisputed feels like the boxing game we have waited quite some time for — and frankly deserve. Whether or not modes such as career mode are well designed remains to be seen, but one thing that’s for certain is that Undisputed is coming for that belt.
