Undisputed – review

“Undisputed” is the first boxing game since “Fight Night Champion,” an incredible 13 years later. It was created by the Steel City Interactive team, and you can really see that the game was made by people who live for boxing. They approached the creation of the game very thoroughly, first announcing it back in November 2020. They released various previews and teasers, conducted a PC-only test phase, and even changed the name from “eSports Boxing Club” to the current “Undisputed,” regularly updating fans on the game's development.

During development, new fighters were announced for the roster, creating the impression that we have a real winner among games. When you first start the game, you are greeted by a guide that the game immediately advises you to go through. Real trainer Dave Coldwell meets you in a virtual gym and takes you through intense training, teaching you everything – from a simple punch to avoiding and dodging opponent's strikes. If you decide to play, I recommend not skipping the guide – it will save you a lot of time in the long run.

Steel City describes “Undisputed” as “the most authentic boxing experience to date,” and it's hard not to agree. You are immediately blown away by the visuals: the fighters look almost identical to real life, and the ring, arenas, and gyms are also impressively faithfully depicted. Visually, the game is a true masterpiece.

Technical precision and high realism

However, that high level of reality is not always an advantage. The game is technically very precise, to the point that it sometimes feels like it lacks enough fluidity. There are more than 60 different punches to learn, which can make it difficult to feel complete control. But, the range of possibilities is impressive, and the style and technique of punches depend on the fighter you choose.

There are over 70 authentic fighters available, from different weight versions of Canelo Alvarez to the legend Muhammad Ali. Although some famous names like Anthony Joshua and Naoya Inoue are missing, the choice of fighters is rich enough that you always have an option of who you want to be. Of course, you can also create your own fighter for “Career Mode.” The customization options are extensive, almost like in “The Sims” – you can change everything from eyebrow shapes to tattoos and the gloves your fighter will wear.

Career mode and online issues

In “Career Mode,” you start as a young boxer with natural talent, but you mostly manage your own career. You choose a trainer, manager, and a “cut man” who will help you on the way to success and, hopefully, one day when you become undefeated. You can almost spend as much time in menus negotiating contracts, training, and changing teams as in the ring itself. I consider this a positive because they really put time and effort into developing a realistic experience.

The online mode is where the game moves a bit away from perfection; as with other games on the internet, bugs are present, but with “Undisputed,” they are sometimes too obvious. For example, a punch is sometimes thrown a second after you press the button, and that small delay in an online fight can definitely affect the rhythm. There is also an unusual bug where the trainer sometimes stands between the fighters in the ring, making it impossible for you to see what is actually happening – I noticed this problem only in the online mode.

Final thoughts on the return of boxing

Steel City announced that they will continue to support “Undisputed” after launch with the usual bug fixes and new content, like most games. However, with “Undisputed,” it feels as if they almost admitted that the game was released before it was completely ready. Some additional things might disappoint hardcore boxing fans; for example, the lack of the ability to hold an opponent when you are hurt, as they removed this option because, in their words, it “did not meet the quality standard.”

Also, during online fights or ranked matches, there are no replays or instant captures, which is a major drawback when it comes to wanting to show off your moves. Although the game is not perfect and lacks the fluidity and excitement that the classic “Fight Night” series had, “Undisputed” is a return to boxing games that will make many fans happy.