Warzone Gamer: Head2Head - UFC 2009 Undisputed Demo

The UFC demo is now out on the Xbox360 marketplace and PlayStation network as a free download, each weighing in at around 560mb. This enabled us to place both versions inside our Head2Head ring to battle it out and to see which version would become the UFC octagon champion.

This playable demo of UFC 2009 was released onto Xbox Live and PlayStation Network on April 23, 2009, and featured a tutorial and exhibition match up between Mauricio Rua and Chuck Lidell . Immediately you will notice how realistic each character model resembles the real fighter. The MOCAP technology they utilize are also some of the best the industries has to offer. Anyone who watches Chuck Liddell and Mauricio Rua battle can easily recognize the insane level of details each character brings to the octagon. Every movement of the character make causes the fighters to sweat and fatigue very realistically. This dynamic sweat and fatigue feature only adds to the games realism, but this is nothing when compared to the awesome instant-replay video that follows shortly after the fight which allows you to watch the entire knock out of that well placed power punch. For example the instant replay of the knockout is replayed in slow motion, frame by frame showing you what happens to unfortunate recipient faces right before they become one with the floor. Truly this is an epic feature which can only be fully appreciated in real-time.

Both version of the game handled the instant replay, dynamic sweat and fatigue features nearly identical, but one version had a more polished overall look when we examined them side by side. The Xbox360 had a higher level of fidelity with these effects, using more anti aliasing, sharper textures and the added self shadowing only found in the Xbox360 version. While the PS3 did have all the same effects of Xbox360, except the self shadowing, it was just more polished on the Xbox360 build. For example the sweat on the characters face and bodies were much pronounced making these effects easier on the eyes. Please refer to the rollover images to clearly see the differences between sweat effects.

Not all was perfect on the Xbox360 version, while most of the effects did render better on the 360 build, the PS3 version won some rounds of its own. One area the PS3 shined was with the draw distance. This may come across as ridiculous considering the game takes place inside a fix arena, but there were definitely rendering issues throughout the arena on the Xbox360. For starters as soon as the match begins the PS3 version clearly shows four camera men that are positioned around the arena. The camera man that should be directly in front of the camera when the match begins is completely missing on the Xbox360. Only if you manipulate the camera by turning it 180 degrees around facing the camera man from inside the ring pointing outward will finally render him. Also there’s metal grates that surround the entire circumference of the ring that are much easier seen on the PS3 version. The PS3 version filtered moiré patterns much better, leaving a sharper and more recognizable image.

Lastly, this demo left me very excited for the full release by having matched or even beat the realism that the Fight Night franchise brings to the ring. Even though both games looked and played very close to one another, the Xbox360 brought more of a polished look and feel to this UFC brawl. Considering what happened with the comparison between WWE Legends of WrestleMania, THQ development process with the PS3 has exponentially increased for the better and has proven that the PS3 is easier contender.