Undisputed
- October 8, 2024
- Steel City Interactive
- 21h median play time
With over 70 fighters and a rich Career Mode, Undisputed is realistic. Even without a clinch mechanism, the gameplay feels pleasant and smooth. It's a good game and a perfect representation of boxing, but certain game modes can get repetitive.
"Undisputed" is an authentic boxing game that offers a strategic boxing experience with revolutionary footwork mechanics and over 60 individual punches. Create your own fighter and climb the ranks in the true-to-life Career Mode, from amateur tournaments to becoming the Undisputed Champion. The game emphasizes the importance of ring strategy, with mechanics that allow for angle attacks, trap setting, and outsmarting opponents.
Reviews
- gameplay2,322 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Undisputed" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its potential and mechanics while also highlighting significant flaws. While some appreciate the realistic boxing mechanics and fluid movement, others criticize the clunky controls, inconsistent punch mechanics, and issues with stamina management, leading to a frustrating experience, especially in online play. Overall, the game shows promise but requires substantial refinement and balancing to meet player expectations.
“The gameplay is fantastic and if you're into boxing you will love this game.”
“I'm wildly impressed with the mechanics and controls; they obviously worked intensively on technique and body mechanics to bring us what we have wanted for literally a decade.”
“The core gameplay is incredibly solid and the team are onto something special here.”
“Really wanted this to be good as there are no other boxing alternatives on PC aside from emulation, but somehow they made the gameplay feel worse than it did during early access.”
“The overall gameplay feels clunky, and the knockdown mini-game is a mess.”
“Gameplay is pretty shallow and unrealistic while being littered with game-breaking bugs and poor balancing when it comes to stats and stamina/damage.”
- graphics1,310 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Undisputed" have received mixed reviews, with many praising their realism and detail, often describing them as stunning or top-notch. However, some players have noted issues such as graphical downgrades over time, bugs, and a lack of dynamic animations, which detract from the overall experience. While the visuals are generally considered a strong point, they are often overshadowed by gameplay concerns, leading to a sentiment that the game prioritizes graphics over solid mechanics.
“The graphics are really good, the roster is sufficient.”
“Graphically, it’s as if the developers asked, 'what if we made sweat look... majestic?' and by jove, they’ve delivered.”
“The graphics are amazing and the game play is ok.”
“Graphics have seen tremendous downgrade since even the start of early access in some areas and altogether since the initial gameplay walkthroughs.”
“The graphics are horrible; it looks like something out of a mobile app.”
“I was sorely disappointed by the graphics in Undisputed; Fight Night Champion looks practically just as good, and it is a 10+ year old game.”
- stability546 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues that significantly detract from the overall experience. Common complaints include frequent freezes, unresponsive controls, and problematic online play, making matches frustrating and often unplayable. While some players see potential in the game, they agree that it is currently a buggy mess that requires substantial updates and fixes before it can be considered a polished product.
“The graphics look great and it runs great on my RTX 3070 and R75800X combo.”
“Performance-wise, the game runs great.”
“Runs great on my RX 6750 XT Red Devil, 1440p max settings.”
“Game has potential and can reach 8/10 status, but it is plagued with several issues that are riddled with game-breaking freezes, alt-f4 'undefeated' players, and problems that were addressed in early access but still remaining up in release.”
“Overall, Undisputed feels like an incomplete and buggy mess.”
“This game is too buggy, has too many glitches, and the game is just in a horrible state at this point in time.”
- optimization294 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, lag, and crashes, particularly on lower-end systems and the Steam Deck. While some users noted improvements compared to earlier versions, the overall consensus is that the game still requires substantial optimization to achieve stable performance across various hardware configurations. Players are hopeful for future updates to address these issues, as the game's potential is evident but currently hindered by technical shortcomings.
“The performance is absolutely flawless (even in 5k, all maxed | i9 10900x | rtx 4080 | 128gb ram)”
“Once the game is optimized and more fighters, modes, and console release happens, this game will be 10/10.”
“For an early access game, it's a well-optimized game.”
“Even on the lowest setting, the game is choppy and stuttering to a point of being unplayable... spent 6 hours last night trying to fix it.”
“This game is horribly optimized; I can run Cyberpunk, BG3, and Starfield all on max settings at the same time, and my computer will run better.”
“The optimization on this game is worse than knowing my grandpa died and I couldn't go to his funeral; I have to wait 15 years until I can get into a quick fight (not online). I can easily play RDR2 with high graphics, but I can't play this game with low graphics.”
- story210 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The game currently lacks a substantial story mode, which has disappointed many players seeking an immersive experience akin to classic boxing titles like Fight Night Champion. Users express frustration over the absence of narrative depth in career mode, with calls for more engaging content and character development. While some anticipate future updates that may include a story mode, the current state is viewed as overly simplistic and lacking in features.
“I wish the career mode were a little better, with more options to work on your fighter, promotion, and or storyline.”
“I think this game will be the best boxing game if it melts the touching story of lonely training to become a boxing champion and fighting with oneself.”
“Sure, Fight Night Champion's story mode was great fun, but Undisputed's career mode is more in depth.”
“It lacks a proper story mode, which is a big miss for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the world of boxing.”
“No story is kind of a problem.”
“They lied about story mode coming in fall of 2023, it is December almost 2024 and fall has passed, they even took the post about the story mode down. The fighting in the game sucks, it's not really responsive, the stamina still needs work, you run out way too easily, the punches feel weak, and you can't lay a beat down on fighters that have really bad stats like a fighter in real life would.”
- music168 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the limited soundtrack and lack of entrance music for fighters, which detracts from the overall immersion. While some users appreciate the background music and sound effects, others find it repetitive and uninspiring, calling for more variety and the option to import custom tracks. Overall, there is a strong desire for enhancements in the music selection, particularly for walkouts and fighter intros, to better capture the excitement of boxing.
“The game's audio design is top-notch, with realistic crowd reactions, bone-crushing sound effects, and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere of every fight.”
“And let's talk about the music—absolutely incredible!!!”
“Has some great music and awesome venues.”
“The soundtrack is horrible.”
“There's 2 or 3 songs on loop and they get boring really quickly.”
“No music whatsoever, feels as if I am playing in an empty warehouse.”
- monetization72 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to the presence of microtransactions, limited content, and a lack of meaningful updates or improvements. Players express frustration over the game's reliance on paywalls for additional boxers and the perception that the developers prioritize profit over genuine gameplay quality. Overall, the sentiment suggests a widespread belief that the game is more focused on monetization than delivering a polished and balanced experience.
“It feels great to have a career mode that is not influenced by any microtransactions in any shape or form, but this is technically the beta, so I don't know.”
“You can tell the developers actually care about boxing, unlike other developers who are out to make a quick buck off microtransactions.”
“This is Fight Night Round 5 without any of the microtransactions of EA UFC.”
“Overall a very poor product and almost feels like a cash grab.”
“This is a cash grab; they've run out of money and released an unfinished, unbalanced, and terrible mess.”
“What a cash grab... the number of boxers they promised is not even close to what it is right now and still ask us to pay more.”
- atmosphere58 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag, with many praising the immersive arenas, realistic crowd reactions, and impressive audio design that enhance the boxing experience. However, criticisms arise regarding the lack of authenticity in boxer entrances, repetitive commentary, and a feeling of flatness during certain gameplay elements, suggesting that further enhancements are needed to fully capture the excitement of a live boxing event. Overall, while the atmosphere has strong foundations, it requires additional work to reach its full potential.
“The arenas are meticulously crafted, from the atmospheric lighting to the roaring crowd, creating an immersive environment that enhances the overall gaming experience.”
“The game's audio design is top-notch, with realistic crowd reactions, bone-crushing sound effects, and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere of every fight.”
“The character models are the best I've ever seen in a sports game, the sound design and atmosphere in each individual arena is incredible and visually the game is stunning.”
“The clinch is awful, no atmosphere and punches don't tie together very well at all, and when it's a boxing game that's super important.”
“There's not enough action and atmosphere of a boxing event, it all just seems a bit flat, except in-ring commentary, but even that's a bit dodgy; it's like these guys recorded one line and moved onto the next one.”
“The state this game is in currently is just not worth your time; every single match is high ping, punches not connecting, constant wins from disconnects. This game also feels like it has no atmosphere; it feels stale, not sure how to describe it. I was so hyped for this game.”
- humor54 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous glitches and mechanical flaws, such as "phantom" punches and ineffective blocking, which lead to absurd and comical moments during gameplay. Players find the poor AI behavior and exaggerated animations amusing, although this novelty wears off after a few matches. Overall, while the game has potential for funny interactions, many reviewers express frustration with its lack of polish and balance, making the humor feel unintentional and often frustrating.
“This stamina system is hilarious.”
“The game's content feels uninspired and repetitive—the announcers are hilariously bad, with a limited range of awkwardly placed lines.”
“My nephew saw me playing and thought it was an older game; I let him know it was new, and he died laughing.”
- emotional40 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game highlight a mix of frustration and disappointment, primarily due to gameplay mechanics that feel unresponsive and disconnected, leading to a sense of rage among players. Many express hope for future improvements, particularly in the game's presentation and emotional storytelling, but current issues with graphics and multiplayer stability detract from the overall experience. Overall, players find themselves on an emotional roller coaster, oscillating between enjoyment and frustration, ultimately feeling that the game is not yet worth the investment.
“It’s a good game but this is heartbreaking.”
“Overall, just wait for the full release when more fighters are added, career mode, create a fighter, etc... at its current state it's an emotional roller coaster if I'm honest.”
“Yet another heartbreaking disappointment.”
- grinding38 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 63 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, often requiring excessive repetition to progress. While some appreciate the depth and challenge it brings, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to a sense of boredom and frustration. Overall, players suggest that improvements are needed to make the grinding experience more engaging and less monotonous.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“One long, tedious grind.”
“It's just boring and feels like you're wasting time renegotiating contracts and grinding for cash to go to gyms.”
“The game is completely unbalanced, the game's knockdown system is horrible, the scoring system is terrible and it's a game that after 5 matches is boring and tedious.”
“This game is some of the most annoying tedious bullshit I have ever touched; all it takes is for someone to hold the left stick in one direction away from you and you cannot touch them. If the devs don't fix this, it's gonna die.”
- replayability28 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is significantly enhanced by the introduction of a career mode, which, despite its initial simplicity, adds long-term value and enjoyment. However, many players feel that the overall replayability is limited due to a lack of diverse fighters, arenas, and game modes, suggesting that improvements in these areas are necessary for a more engaging experience. While the matchmaking system contributes positively to competitive play, the game still requires optimization and additional content to fully realize its replay potential.
“The matchmaking system ensures fair and competitive bouts, contributing to the game's longevity and replayability.”
“This versatility adds depth and replayability to the gameplay.”
“Career mode is a great addition that makes the game more playable in the long term and more worth buying.”
“It's a good game, but not very replayable without a career mode.”
“There's not a lot of replayability with the few weight classes that are available and the fighters that are there to select.”
“I would not currently recommend this game, though hopefully with some updates it becomes more playable.”
- character development4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its detailed designs and accurate representation of each boxer's unique fighting style. However, players feel that the overall mechanics, particularly movement, require significant reworking, suggesting that the game feels unfinished and may need extensive updates to reach its potential.
“The developers put a lot of detail into the character designs, and staying accurate to each boxer's distinct fight style.”
“You can wobble someone and they can go toe to toe with you again and be perfectly fine. Everything other than the movement and character designs needs a rework or a significant update. This game should be in beta testing; it isn't finished by a mile. Give it 5 years and I still doubt it would be good.”
“The developers put a lot of detail into the character designs, but the character development feels lacking and doesn't contribute to a meaningful gameplay experience.”
“The character development is shallow, making it hard to connect with the fighters on a personal level, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
Critic Reviews
Undisputed Review
Undisputed doesn’t pull its punches, and it’s a tidy first attempt. While the game lacks the polish of a true champion, there’s the meat of something special here. Career mode has all the elements of a great, but it’s a bit dry in its current guise and could use a little more spectacle and variety. Meanwhile, the actual core boxing feels fantastic, but repetitive commentary and a lack of in-ring drama let it down. This is a release that’s not quite ready to contend for a belt yet, but it’s not a million miles off.
70%Undisputed Review – Managing the Fight
Undisputed delivers impressive graphical detail and an extensive fighter roster that will satisfy boxing fans. The moment to moment boxing mechanics feel fun while leaning into the sim territory with the game's sixty different punches. While the modes within Undisputed don't warrant the asking price of $59.99, the character options, fighting mechanics, and deep roster are enough to satisfy fans of the genre.
70%Undisputed Review – Heart of a fighter
I enjoyed my time with Undisputed. It features a wealth of licensed boxers but also allows you to create your own and take on a career. The Career mode is detailed enough to be exciting but could have used a few tweaks such as letting us hit the gym to practise our moves before the scheduled matches. Without that ability, this title does feel a little empty. Especially given that it has been in Early Access on PC for a while now. That said though, the presentation, overall, is excellent; the characters look great, and battle arenas cover everything from gyms to full-on television with commentators calling the shots as we fight in the ring. Undisputed is an admirable piece of work, but just needed a little more than in-ring action to make it the king of the hill.
70%