As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that Undisputed has caught my attention like a well-timed jab to the chest. After spending some quality time with this promising boxing sim at PAX West 2024, I’m ready to step into the ring and see if Steel City Interactive can deliver a knockout punch.
In recent times, video games have flourished in depicting mixed martial arts and professional wrestling, but boxing games have been scarce. EA’s Fight Night series once stood as the representative for the art of boxing, but it has been silent since the era of Xbox 360/PlayStation 3. With a lack of enjoyable sim titles that capture the essence of boxing, where can fans turn? Steel City Interactive believes their game, Undisputed, might be the solution. This game has been available on Steam Early Access for over a year and is expected to launch its full version in October. At this year’s PAX West 2024 event, Shacknews got a sneak peek at what it has to offer.
Uncontested is a game that goes above and beyond to mimic the top boxing championships from the past. It collaborates with some of the major brands in the field to create an authentic atmosphere, and it showcases several well-known fighters currently active. Notable entities such as the World Boxing Council and CompuBox lend their brand names and expertise, helping to develop a realistic portrayal of boxing.
The controls offer a responsive and instinctive experience. Each face and shoulder button corresponds to distinct types of punches, allowing for an expanded range of strikes through various button combinations. Just as in boxing, agility and strategy are key; players should blend footwork with strikes when opportunities arise. It’s important to conserve energy at the start, as a depleted fighter may tire later on. Fight recklessly, and you might find yourself taking heavy blows and swelling around your eyes – a disadvantage that makes you an easier target for your opponent. However, using experienced fighters like Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Tyson Fury, or “Showtime” Shawn Porter provides some leeway due to their enhanced stamina and courage stats.
Still, fighting recklessly is not recommended. Those who do find themselves kissing the mat can use a simple interface that utilizes the shoulder triggers to try and get back to their feet. Meter speeds are determined by fighter stats, but they will also move faster the more a fighter is knocked down.
Since its debut on Steam Early Access, Undisputed has been consistently receiving updates. However, the developers at Steel City Interactive are planning a major update for the 1.0 launch that will be the largest yet. This upcoming version of the game is anticipated to feature more than 70 licensed boxers from both present and past times, as well as an option to create a personalized boxer from scratch. The team also aims to recreate the grandeur of significant boxing events by incorporating over 14 real-world venues, commentary provided by the duo Todd Grisham and Johnny Nelson, and ring introductions by the renowned Jimmy Lennon Jr.
The developers are planning to improve the Career Mode feature, which was added in a recent update from February. In this mode, players can create and customize their own male or female boxer character and choose any weight class they prefer. The objective is to build a successful boxing career by training, competing against opponents with similar skill levels, and forming a team of managers, cutmen, and coaches who will all have unique statistics that influence the boxer’s overall performance. However, we didn’t get a chance to test out Career Mode at the show, so we’ll be keeping an eye on its progress as it develops further.
For some time now, “Undisputed” has been under development, and during the event, I was given a brief taste of its gameplay. I’m optimistic that the developers will deliver on the potential they’ve shown so far. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to fully experiment with the various punch combinations or thoroughly evaluate the game’s movement mechanics. I did manage to close in when my opponent was off-balance, but I didn’t utilize any side-step features extensively. However, I was impressed by “Undisputed’s” visual appeal and its effort to create a realistic sporting experience. It remains to be seen if Steel City Interactive can successfully pull it off in the end.
On Friday, October 11th, the game known as “Undisputed” will leave its Early Access phase on Steam. Additionally, this day marks the launch of the game on both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles.
This sneak peek is from a playable demo at the PAX West 2024 exhibition. Keep in mind that the finished version may undergo changes.
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2024-09-01 18:27