:Fighters Uncaged

File:Fighters Uncaged screenshot.jpg

Fighters Uncaged is a single-player-only fighting game controlled using the Kinect, a motion sensing input device. The player controls the protagonist of the game, Simon, through his attempts to win an illegal fighting tournament to help get his father out of trouble with a crime lord. The game features one gamemode called "Fight" which is only accessible after completing the tutorial. Fighters Uncaged is played in an over-the-shoulder perspective, with the opponent being on the opposite side. Simon is able to do a range of different actions, including short and long punches, kicks, blocks, dodges, and headbutts. The player can execute special moves via shouting in the direction of the Kinect, once the corresponding bar is full.{{cite web|url=https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/fighters-uncaged-review|title=Fighters Uncaged Review|first=Jamin|last=Smith|date=November 11, 2010|website=VideoGamer.com|publisher=Resero Network|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170422031331/https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/fighters-uncaged-review|archive-date=April 22, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=April 22, 2017}} Fighting consists of looking for telegraphs in the movements of one's opponents to figure out when to dodge or block attacks, then hitting them while they are vulnerable. In the early stages of Fighters Uncaged, it is made less difficult to read the telegraphs of the opponent, but as the player progresses, they become increasingly imperceptible. The moves Simon can complete depend on where the opponent is at the time, and therefore only certain moves will land hits at particular moments. Fighters Uncaged features different leagues, with higher leagues being reached by having a certain number of points. Points are obtained by defeating the opponent, while having a good score. Good scores are attained by accomplishing counterattacks, exploiting the enemies' weak spots, and correctly completing combos. If a good score is not secured at the end of the fight, no points are rewarded.

Fighters Uncaged was announced by Ubisoft at Gamescom 2010, three months before its official release.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/08/19/gamescom-fighters-uncaged-is-a-kinect-fight-club|title=Gamescom: Fighters Uncaged is a Kinect Fight Club|first=Craig|last=Harris|date=August 19, 2010|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421120049/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/08/19/gamescom-fighters-uncaged-is-a-kinect-fight-club|archive-date=April 21, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=April 21, 2017}} There, people were allowed to preview the game.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fighters-uncaged-hands-on/1100-6273904/|title=Fighters Uncaged Hands-On|first=Giancarlo|last=Varanini|date=August 18, 2010|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421121023/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fighters-uncaged-hands-on/1100-6273904/|archive-date=April 21, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=April 21, 2017}} The game was developed by AMA Studios and published by Ubisoft exclusively for the Xbox 360 Kinect. Because the announcement came suddenly and close to the release date, video game journalists such as Christopher Grant of Engadget and Jamin Smith of VideoGamer.com were not intrigued.{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2010-08-18-ubisoft-announces-fighters-uncaged-for-kinect-why-were-they.html|title=Ubisoft announces Fighters Uncaged for Kinect ... why were they caged in the first place?|first=Christopher|last=Grant|date=August 18, 2010|website=Engadget|publisher=Verizon Media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421120422/https://www.engadget.com/2010/08/18/ubisoft-announces-fighters-uncaged-for-kinect-why-were-they/|archive-date=April 21, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=August 31, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.videogamer.com/previews/fighters-uncaged-hands-on-preview/|title=Fighters Uncaged Hands-on Preview|first=Jamin|last=Smith|date=August 23, 2010|website=VideoGamer.com|publisher=Resero Network|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170421120910/https://www.videogamer.com/previews/fighters-uncaged-hands-on-preview/|archive-date=April 21, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=April 21, 2017}} Grant was unimpressed by the game's announcement, criticizing the concept and its character designs and noted a misspelling in the preview. The game was originally planned to feature a multiplayer mode,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamezone.com/news/ubisoft_announces_fighters_uncaged_for_kinect_for_xbox_360|title=Ubisoft Announces Fighters Uncaged For Kinect for Xbox 360|first=Steven|last=Hopper|date=August 18, 2010|website=GameZone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820132235/http://www.gamezone.com/news/item/ubisoft_announces_fighters_uncaged_for_kinect_for_xbox_360/|archive-date=August 20, 2010|url-status=live|access-date=August 31, 2021}} though this was cut later on in development.

The game was released in November 2010, and was one of the twelve games released on day one of the Kinect's launch.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kinect-launching-with-17-titles-in-nov/1100-6282217/|title=Kinect launching with 17 titles in Nov.|first=Tor|last=Thorsen|date=October 18, 2010|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421115523/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kinect-launching-with-17-titles-in-nov/1100-6282217/|archive-date=April 21, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=April 21, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisoft-throws-down-with-fighters-uncaged/1100-6273847/|title=Ubisoft throws down with Fighters Uncaged|first=Brendan|last=Sinclair|date=August 18, 2010|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421121254/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisoft-throws-down-with-fighters-uncaged/1100-6273847/|archive-date=April 21, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=April 21, 2017}} In December, Ultimate Fighting Championship's parent company Zuffa filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft based on the usage of the phrase "ULTIMATE FIGHTING", a term which Zuffa had trademarked, on the back of the game's box.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/ufc-suing-ubisoft-for-misleading-use-of-the-phrase-ultimate-fighter/|title=UFC suing Ubisoft for misleading use of the phrase 'Ultimate Fighter'|first=Matt|last=Bradford|date=December 10, 2010|website=GamesRadar+|publisher=Future plc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421113736/https://www.gamesradar.com/ufc-suing-ubisoft-for-misleading-use-of-the-phrase-ultimate-fighter/|archive-date=April 21, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=April 21, 2017}} Zuffa claimed that the "use of the ULTIMATE FIGHTING name and mark is identical or confusingly similar to the use of the UFC marks, including the ULTIMATE FIGHTING name".{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ufc-parent-sues-ubisoft/1100-6285399/|title=UFC parent sues Ubisoft|first=Tor|last=Thorsen|date=December 14, 2010|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421114002/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ufc-parent-sues-ubisoft/1100-6285399/|archive-date=April 21, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=April 21, 2017}} Zuffa wanted Ubisoft to be prevented from using the term in the future as well as having all uses of it destroyed,{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/ufc-sues-ubisoft-over-two-words-on-the-back-of-a-bad-ga-5711835|title=UFC Sues Ubisoft Over Two Words On The Back Of A Bad Game|first=Owen S.|last=Good|date=December 10, 2010|website=Kotaku|publisher=G/O Media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421112724/http://kotaku.com/5711835/ufc-sues-ubisoft-over-two-words-on-the-back-of-a-bad-game|archive-date=April 21, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=August 31, 2021}} and sought all of Ubisoft's profits off the game, along with triple the normal fees for trademark violation. Zuffa also wanted Ubisoft to pay for their attorneys, exemplary damages and compensatory damages. Ubisoft did not publicly comment on the issue.

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 32/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/fighters-uncaged/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360|title=Fighters Uncaged for Xbox 360 Reviews|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421115355/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/fighters-uncaged|archive-date=April 21, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=April 21, 2017}}

| Edge = 3/10{{cite magazine|title=Fighters Uncaged|author=Edge staff|magazine=Edge|publisher=Future plc|issue=222|date=Christmas 2010|page=98}}

| EuroG = 2/10{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-11-04-fighters-uncaged-review|title=Fighters Uncaged|first=Ellie|last=Gibson|date=November 4, 2010|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422030048/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-11-04-fighters-uncaged-review|archive-date=April 22, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=April 22, 2017}}

| Fam = (X360) 27/40{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=19565&redirect=no|title=ファイターズ アンケージ [Xbox 360]|language=ja|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Enterbrain|access-date=August 31, 2021|archive-date=August 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831182537/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=19565&redirect=no|url-status=live}}
24/40

| GI = 4.5/10{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/fighters_uncaged/b/xbox360/archive/2010/11/04/review.aspx|title=Fighters Uncaged|first=Annette|last=Gonzalez|date=November 4, 2010|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=GameStop|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107055929/https://www.gameinformer.com/games/fighters_uncaged/b/xbox360/archive/2010/11/04/review.aspx|archive-date=November 7, 2010|url-status=live|access-date=August 31, 2021}}

| GameRev = D{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/49066-fighter-uncaged-review|title=Fighters Uncaged Review|first=Daniel R.|last=Bischoff|date=November 9, 2010|website=GameRevolution|publisher=CraveOnline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906212244/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/fighter-uncaged|archive-date=September 6, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=September 1, 2021}}

| GSpot = 2/10{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fighters-uncaged-review/1900-6283925/|title=Fighters Uncaged Review|first=Mark|last=Walton|date=November 12, 2010|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=April 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421121250/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fighters-uncaged-review/1900-6283925/|archive-date=April 21, 2017|url-status=live}}

| GT = 4.4/10{{cite web|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/it01q7/fighters-uncaged-review|title=Fighters Uncaged|date=November 19, 2010|website=GameTrailers|publisher=Viacom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518090026/http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/it01q7/fighters-uncaged-review|archive-date=May 18, 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=September 1, 2021}}

| GameZone = 2.5/10{{cite web|url=https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/fighters_uncaged/|title=Fighters Uncaged Review|first=Dakota|last=Grabowski|date=January 4, 2011|website=GameZone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107131400/http://xbox.gamezone.com/reviews/item/fighters_uncaged/|archive-date=January 7, 2011|url-status=live|access-date=September 1, 2021}}

| IGN = 3/10{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/09/fighters-uncaged-review|title=Fighters Uncaged Review|first=Jack|last=DeVries|date=November 9, 2010|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421114927/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/09/fighters-uncaged-review|archive-date=April 21, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=April 21, 2017}}

| OXM = 6/10{{cite magazine|url=http://www.oxmonline.com/article/reviews/xbox-360/a-f/fighters-uncaged|title=Fighters Uncaged|first=Kevin W.|last=Smith|date=November 4, 2010|magazine=Official Xbox Magazine|publisher=Future US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107153559/http://www.oxmonline.com/article/reviews/xbox-360/a-f/fighters-uncaged|archive-date=November 7, 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=September 1, 2021}}

| TELE = 1/10{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/8141408/Fighters-Uncaged-review.html|title=Fighters Uncaged review|first=Tom|last=Hoggins|date=November 18, 2010|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422031408/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/8141408/Fighters-Uncaged-review.html|archive-date=April 22, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=April 22, 2017}}

| rev1 = Metro

| rev1Score = 1/10{{cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2010/11/11/games-review-fighters-uncaged-578058/|title=Games review – Fighters Uncaged|last=Jenkins|first=David|date=November 11, 2010|newspaper=Metro|publisher=DMG Media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115201109/http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/games/846921-games-review-fighters-uncaged|archive-date=November 15, 2010|url-status=live|access-date=August 31, 2021}}

}}

The game received "unfavorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. In Japan, where the game was ported and published by Microsoft Game Studios on May 26, 2011, Famitsu gave it a score of 24 out of 40, while Famitsu X360 gave it a score of three sevens and one six for a total of 27 out of 40.

The tutorial was criticized by reviewers for different reasons. Tom Hoggins of The Daily Telegraph described the tutorial as being "mind-numbing". David Jenkins of Metro wrote that the tutorial was the most notable part of the game, though ultimately nonessential. He wrote that because of its length it may have been an "attempt to protect [the player] from the awful reality of the real game". Ellie Gibson of Eurogamer described it as being "the most boring tutorial sequence in the history of the world". Jamin Smith of VideoGamer.com criticized the tutorial for "insisting on explaining each and every move in the game before forcing you to repeat it three times".

Critics believed that the motion control system in Fighters Uncaged did not work and that the fighting mechanic was poorly made. Mark Walton of GameSpot wrote that he found it to be "immensely frustrating", saying that the controls were "simply broken". Smith compared the combat to that of the luck in rock, paper, scissors, noting that "90% of the time" the attack will be avoided or blocked, while for the other 10%, the character "just stands there like a lemon, refusing to acknowledge the command". Jack DeVries thought that when in a fight, the moves become a "series of desperate flails" in an attempt for the game to notice the player's actions.

The visuals were disliked by reviewers, with Smith saying the game was "plagued with bizarre design choices and lacklustre visuals" and attributed this to the rush of the development. Walton wrote that the game was a good example for how to not make fighting games for the Kinect, continuing on to say that the presentation was sub-par. Gibson believed that "everything about this game is incorrect". She said that her enthusiasm for the game diminished with the intro movie, and criticized the "static images of ugly men with stupid names rolling across the screen". DeVries described the game as being rushed, hence the static and unflattering visuals.

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• The Fight: Lights Out
• Fighter Within, the game's successor{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-08-19-ubisoft-leaks-next-gen-successor-to-fighters-uncaged|title=Ubisoft leaks next-gen successor to Fighters Uncaged|first=Tom|last=Phillips|date=September 20, 2013|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606111616/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-08-19-ubisoft-leaks-next-gen-successor-to-fighters-uncaged|archive-date=June 6, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=June 6, 2017}}

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{{reflist}}

• {{moby game|id=/xbox360/fighters-uncaged}}

Category:2010 video games

Category:Fighting games

Category:Ubisoft games

Category:Xbox 360 games

Category:Kinect games

Category:Xbox 360-only games

Category:Single-player video games

Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom