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EA Sports UFC 2 Review

EA Sports UFC 2 Review

Get Ready to Sweat

With MMA overpowering boxing as the predominant form of fighting on display, and the UFC becoming the new staple on the Pay-Per-View marquis, it made perfect business sense for publishing giant Electronic Arts to bite the bullet and buy the brand from THQ – an investment they initially dismissed when approached by UFC president Dana White. Their initial product was a spectacle to behold, with a visual prowess that truly showed the potential of our current systems. However, the simulation style of fighting came with its share of gameplay flaws. Now round 2 is here with EA Sports UFC 2 and, well, it still has some flaws. But it does boast a severe increase in content that is sure to please fans of the sport and keep them entertained for a long time.

It takes a discerning eye to mark the visual improvements from its predecessor, so let’s just agree that it looks absolutely gorgeous. Your mind will be easily tricked into believing you are in control of a real life title match, filled with all the pre-fight spectacle as well as the perfect transitions of animations within the fight itself. From Conor McGregor’s beard to up-and-comer Cody Garbrandt’s lavish tattoos, and the authentic personality showcased with each fighter, the attention to detail developer EA Canada put in deserves applause. The realism dissipates, however, when you watch the same entry animations and hear the same fighter introductions. The play-by-play commentary is a solid delivery, but when you hear the same “boom” sound bite at almost every knockout replay, it tends to pull you away and make you realize that you are indeed playing a game filled with scripted action. The lack of detail on the spectators, some of whom are given an odd close-up during the post-fight sequence, also shows a clear separation of care given to the fighters as opposed to the rest of the cast. Still, unless you settle for a singular fighter amongst the hundreds available, there’s enough variety to keep things from getting redundant. And besides, it’s more about the fight, right?

In that case, you’ll be pleased to know that UFC 2 has no shortage of action. You’re immediately sucked into a match before even hitting a menu screen, taking on the role of Robbie Lawler against Rory MacDonald in the final round of the welterweight title fight of UFC 189. This tutorial takes you through the very basics of strikes and blocks against a mild adversary. It is a deceiving ego boost, however, as diving into the Fight Now mode, which takes you straight to the Octagon, will quickly hand fresh players a KO within a minute of Round 1. The game allows you to improve your skills through the Practice Mode and Skill Challenges, but again the pace belies the intensity found during a real match, where the adrenaline soars and the finger muscles tighten against your controller.

Players must quickly understand that this is a simulation fighter, and be prepared to accept the time and energy required to truly master the craft. Button mashing will only get you a victory in the Beginner difficulty class. Making a statement in the harder modes or against proficient human opponents requires patience. This is a game of inches, where knowing the exact distance to throw a rear overhand hook or land a switch leg kick is the difference between setting your opponent up for a takedown or exposing yourself to a similar fate. Keeping a close eye on your stamina bar, blocking, and timing parries just right allows your defense to unleash into a sustained attack. Again though, it’s about timing. There are virtually no tells as to which hook, cross, or roundhouse is coming at you, and which part of the body needs to be blocked. It’s a guessing game at first, trying to discern attack patterns and preemptively counter them. Don’t get too comfortable with your own patterns though, as the dynamic computer AI will pick it apart in mid-match and erect a stalwart defense.

The back and forth punches and kicks keeps the action moving, but a large portion of a match is made up of grapples, a ground game, and submission attempts, and it is here that the format falters. In an attempt to appeal to casual gamers, the close quarters combat is sliced into a quadrant of right-stick options, either to break the grapple or switch to a different type of hold. Attempting a game winning submission is reminiscent of a game of Simon Says, with the defender trying to keep up with the direction the attacker is pushing. It successfully simplifies a set of move options too vast for face buttons, but it also forces you to keep a focus on the selection wheel rather than the more interesting techniques being showcased.

Another casual offering comes with the Knockout Mode, which strips away everything but the punches, kicks, and blocks, and turns a match into a few rounds of quick KOs. There are some modes worth highlighting, though. Live Events is a great venue for true fans of the sport. Keeping on top of upcoming real life events, players can not only play the matches, but pick who will win the actual event, how many rounds it will take, and how victory was achieved, earning in-game rewards for their skills (or luck) in nailing the outcome.

Career Mode allows you to groom a fledgling fighter all the way up to the title fight, but the mode that slams the biggest slab of meat on your plate is by far the Ultimate Team. Here you can create a group of five fighters of varying weight classes and fighting styles and build the entire team into a brutal force. Plenty of savory RPG elements are found here, from daily objectives to purchasing card packs that grant new moves and statistical boosts. Accolades and leaderboards abound, and you can raise your team’s stature by winning matches against ether the AI or human opponents. This is where you will find dedicated players months down the road, still perfecting their Ultimate Team.

Though classified as a simulation, EA Sports UFC 2 is still a fighting game, and thus must contend with flashier and fantastical competition in the genre. However, on an immersive level, the authenticity both in the visuals and atmosphere is astonishing. The fighting itself is intense, but requires patience, skill, and memorization to master. It’s a must have for any MMA enthusiast, and one that promises months of full-bodied content in its meaty modes.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.8 Graphics
The detailing of the fighters is flawless, as are the lighting effects that accompany the spectacle of a premiere event. The supporting cast, however, shows a stark contrast in the attention given to the fighters. 3.5 Control
There is a plethora of moves to decipher, and dedication is required to be labeled a proficient contender. The grappling and ground control scheme draws away from the intensity, however. 4.4 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The crowd ambiance and play-by-play commentary add to the immersion. The menu screens are filled with uncensored hip hop and rock tunes, as well as custom tracks, all appropriate to the culture of the sport. 4.3 Play Value
A few modes are watered down for casual gamers, but others spit out a ten-gallon vat full of content. There’s certainly something for every fan of the genre. 4.2 Overall Rating – Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • Biggest Ever Roster – EA SPORTS UFC 2 offers the deepest ever roster of any fighting simulation. Featuring a mix of MMA’s biggest stars and brightest up-and-comers, step into the Octagon as current and former UFC athletes, MMA legends, and maybe even a couple surprises.
  • UFC Ultimate Team – Create your team of up to five fighters using EA SPORTS UFC 2’s deep customization options. Compete in online or offline competitions to progress your fighters and earn coins that open packs which deliver special items used to sculpt your team into the most explosive in the UFC.
  • Knockout Physics System – A revolutionary new physics-driven hit reaction and knockout system delivers more visceral, more rewarding, and more authentic KOs than ever before. Every knockout is now unique, and finishing the fight has never been more satisfying.
  • Ultimate Fighter Likeness & Animations – A new facial modeling rig, the introduction of hair physics, and improved strike deformation work to make every impact more realistic than ever. Thousands of fighting and signature animations bring personality and a new level of athleticism to MMA’s stars.
  • Online Championships – Step into the online Octagon for an all-new Title Chase. Compete with your favorite fighters against other warriors from around the world. Go on a win streak to earn a title shot in your division and defend the belt as long as you can. With an updated division progression system, as well as an all-new Title Chase and featured fighter system, you’ll have more reason than ever to build your online legacy.

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