UFC Undisputed 2010 is already being billed as the top contender for fighting games for this year. With Brock Lesner as its headliner and over 100 members of the UFC roster playable in the game, it may feature the most unique number of matchups on any fighting game released this year.

And as last year’s titled has shown us, it isn’t about mastering combos like Down-to-Right + Strong Punch like the classic Street Fighter II days and racking up overblown combos. It is about innovative gameplay and strategy both on the players and developers part.

Ever trying to improve on their fighting systems like they did with the SmackDown vs. Raw series, THQ has announced some additional features making their debut in this year’s UFC Undisputed 2010:

• Full upper body and head movement with a new Sway System
• New Posture System that allows for stronger, fight-ending strikes from the ground
• Introduction of Southpaw stance and the ability to change stances during a fight
• Multiple MMA disciplines, including the new additions of Sambo, Karate and Greco-Roman Wrestling
• Variety of new strikes, submissions, transitions and cage positions

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The Apocalypse comes early and one of the horseman, War, is blamed for it. He comes to earth fighting both angel and demon alike in an effort to find out what put the cataclysmic events into effect before they were supposed to come to fruition. It could sound like the plot of a major summer blockbuster, a comic book series from Vertigo or Darkhorse or a video game. It turns out it could be all three.

In a recent interview with VG247, creative director of the recently released Darksiders game for XBox 360 and Playstation 3 Joe Madureira said that “We’ve gotten some interest from Hollywood, we’ve talked about doing a comic series… At least a couple of those things have to happen, I’m sure.”

Darksiders has already been given a special comic book pre-order bonus from Gamestop so it’s not out of the realm of possibility for a series to be in the work, especially since Joe Madureira made himself famous in the comics industry back in the 90s. The recent string of lackluster video game to movie adaptations (like Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li or Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within) might be biggest factor to overcome as time and again Hollywood has shown they don’t really have a full grasp on taking a 10+ hour game story and crunching it down into only 2 while still keeping the essence of what made that game great in the first place.

But with Joe Mads at the helm as creative director, this THQ property might have a chance of making an impact on the big screen. Check back at The Flickcast later this week for more coverage on Darksiders as well as Matt Raub’s exclusive interview with Darksiders creative director Joe Madureira.

XBox 360 – THQ – $59.99
Score: 7.5

THQ brings back its yearly moneymaker WWE SmackDown vs. Raw with a revised visual look to the game and brand new Create-A-Story mode. Since its inception on the Playstation in 2000, SmackDown has been an annual franchise that has continuously worked to improve itself with updated graphics, gameplay, new match types and, most importantly, user customization.

Taking pages from some real life WWE programming in its story mode while keeping as up to date a roster as possible with each iteration, there is an instant appeal for sports entertainment fans to pick up this game and play out the role of their favorite superstar or their own custom creation.

Gameplay:

The gameplay of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 is very similar to the previous years. Players move their wrestler with the left analog stick, use the right stick to lock up in to a grapple and use various combinations to perform specific moves. This isn’t like a standard fighting game where complicated button presses are needed to pull off “special” moves like the complete circle on the DPad needed for Zangief’s piledriver in Street Fighter.

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Do you love Star Wars? Of course you do. Comics? Check. How about the iPhone? Copy that. Well, if you’re actually a fan, reader and avid user of these three things then today is truly your lucky day. Why?

Well, its simple really. Dark Horse Comics, in partnership with Lucasfilm and THQ Wireless, has just announced that they will release Star Wars comics to the iPhone for the first time ever. Excited? You should be. It’s pretty darn cool.

Here’s all the info from the official Dark Horse Comics press release:

In a partnership that will echo through the cosmos, Lucasfilm, THQ Wireless, and Dark Horse Comics will release Star Wars™ comics to the iPhone mobile platform for the first time ever!

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Since comic books have been around, there has always been a demand to tie the medium in for kids. While the original batch of kids have long grown up since picking up their first copy of Spider-Man or Detective Comics, there have to be new and fresh ideas on how to relate to a younger audience. Enter the Marvel Super Hero Squad, an action figure line of Marvel characters that have a younger and more cartoonish look, while staying true to the source material.

The success of the toy line has now spawned a video game for the same age-group, but will still be fun for comic and video game fans of all ages. The 3-D fighter game goes as obscure as Mole Man and Iron Monger and as popular as Captain America and Wolverine with the list of playable characters. THQ’s game is expected to be released in the fall of this year for all next-generation consoles, handheld systems, and the PC.

Check out our exclusive gameplay video taken from the floor of San Diego Comic-Con after the jump.

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In the world of “celebrities” Gary Busy, who used to have a very respectable acting career and still has an Oscar nomination, is now known more for his somewhat eccentric behavior rather than his acting. Still, sometimes that behavior is a plus — especially when he’s plugging a video game which also contains a bit of eccentric behavior. Case in point, this video of Busey doing a promo for THQ’s Saints Row 2 free DLC ‘Unkut Pack.”

In the video, Busey pretty much sticks to what he does best these days and laughs maniacally over and over to help you realize the importance of laughter and the level of fun and excitement you’re going to get from this game once you’ve downloaded the new pack of enhancements and options to clothing, jewelry, tattoos, etc.

But really, my description of what he’s doing can’t do it justice. You just need to watch it for yourself and revel a bit in the crazy. Check out the video after the jump.

Saints Row 2 is available wherever video games are sold. The DLC “Unkut Pack” is available as a free download on Xbox Live and PS3.

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