Undisputed Beta #3 - Improvements We'd Like to See

The hype levels for Undisputed grow every time we get our hands on it. From the early screens that seemed almost too good to be true to the first time we stepped inside the ring, Undisputed has impressed each time. Nonetheless, the game is not without its faults, and in this article we’ll get into some areas we’d like to see improved upon for Beta #3 (and the looming early access phase).

Improvements We’d Like To See In Undisputed

Knockdowns

Beta #2 introduced flash knockdowns and we were all so grateful for them, especially with the inclusion of heavy hitters such as the likes of Deontay Wilder.

With that being said, the knockdowns still look a little off, particularly the animation speed as fighters hit the canvas. Not all knockdowns are going to see fighters drop to the canvas like a ton of bricks but they could benefit from being a little sped up. Stumbles, wobbly legs, and missteps would also add to the immersion and help recreate the sweet science to its true-to-life replication.

In a scenario like this, the fall by Roy is far too slow and robotic. Benn could have easily gotten in a punch or two — perhaps an upper cut — to Roy (although in real life he’d be at the mercy of the ref) because of how the knockdown plays out in slow motion. A slight wobble is fine but once those legs go the body will follow — and fast.

More Snap On Punches

The sound of a nicely hit iron on the golf course. The crack of a wooden baseball bat on a summer evening. The sweet sound of a swish as the ball makes its way through the cylinder. You close your eyes and tune out the crowds (well not so much in golf) and you can tell where you’re at without needing visuals. The sound from a crisp jab is right up there with any of ’em. Sometimes in Undisputed it feels as if the punches lack that oomph. Don’t get it wrong, fighters with better hand speed ratings are noticeably faster, but in the early rounds I expect a little more speed from punching.

A boxing purist could argue that varying your speeds is a great way to keep your opponent on edge, and I wouldn’t disagree. Timing your opponent is part of what made Money Mayweather great, but as you can see from the above clip, the initial jab to the body by Roy Jones followed up by a 1-2 from Nigel Benn lacked the venom you’d expect 20 seconds into the fight. It’s there at times, which is evidenced by the left shovel hook that lands on Benn, it just needs to be emphasized more in the early rounds.

Easier To Close The Distance When Opponents Are Stunned

One of the more frustrating issues was my inability to close the distance and go in for a the decisive blow. Part unfamiliarity with the controls, part not utilizing footwork commands, but also part being able to absorb a big blow and still move too freely. Balance here is the key, and instances where you stun your opponent should see a decrease in movement by the stunned fighter coupled with an increase in adrenaline that translates into not only throwing punches but also footwork.

Think back to how many fights you’ve seen where a fighter is stunned and the opponent immediately jumps on them and attempts to put them away. Sometimes it works and you can score a knockout and other times you could punch yourself out. Both are real scenarios that you must think about when you’re in this situation.

Training Mode

If there’s one mode I’ve been wanting for quite some time now in soccer games, it’s a good training mode. Unfortunately EA and Konami have let me down, but who’s to say that the team at Steel City Interactive won’t or can’t include this in the beta or full release. The most recent beta release (Beta #2) did include a brief tutorial, which you could revisit at any time, but I’d love to select a fighter and get in the gym and work.

Whether it’s sparring, hitting the heavy bag, mitts, etc. I think it would be a great way to let fans acclimate to the controls without the pressure of fighting another a human. There’s been a steady learning curve when it comes this game, which is a good thing by the way, so being able to get into the lab and hone your skills, learn the different fighters, and work on RS punching would benefit the community greatly. For the purposes of the third beta, it wouldn’t even have to be that detailed. A simple heavy bag (with heavy bag physics) and a coach barking out instructions like Jab-Jab-Cross-Lead Hook (1-1-2-3) would be a lot of fun and practical.

Bottom Line

I’m so ready to shake out the ring rust and get my hands on this game again. Having played it from the first beta, the fundamentals are there, as is the muscle memory, but the fine tuning needs to take place. Even in its most recent state (Beta #2), Undisputed feels like it’s going to be a fantastic boxing game. We’ll have to wait to hear more information about career mode, but as of right now the gameplay, fighter roster, and visuals are ready for at least the undercard of a pay-per-view. Should the modes deliver, we’re looking at a main-event headliner (none of this celebrity boxing stuff).

As always, make sure your PC specs meet the requirements.

Undisputed PC Minimum Specs:

• OS: Windows 7 or 10
• Processor: Intel Core i5-3570K or AMD FX-8310
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 or AMD Radeon RX 470
• DirectX: Version 11
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 40 GB available space
• Sound Card: 100% DirectX 11 compatible sound card

Undisputed Recommended PC Specs:

• OS: Windows 10
• Processor: Intel Core i7-4790 or AMD Ryzen 3 3200G
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 or AMD Radeon R9 Fury
• DirectX: Version 12
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 40 GB available space
• Sound Card: 100% DirectX 11 compatible sound card