EA Sports UFC Review
Game Reviewed: EA Sports UFC
Date Released: June 17th, 2014
Developer: EA Canada
Publisher: EA Sports
Platform: [Reviewed: PlayStation 4], Xbox One
Genre: Fighting
Rated: T for Teen
Fight fans it’s finally to step into the octagon once again with all of your favorites, including a few legendary characters of the sport. It’s been quite some time since gamers had the opportunity to partake in a new MMA title, especially due to the closure of UFC’s previous headquarters THQ.
In honesty, fans of the UFC series were in shock to find out Dana transitioned to EA Sports, the same publisher that released EA Sports MMA which easily second ranked in comparison to UFC Undisputed. However with UFC now in the hands of the EA Canada, key developers behind the Fight Night series, we wonder have EA Sports earn redemption and delivered the “ultimate” masterpiece?
First and foremost to get you prepared for what’s to come you’re introduced to a tutorial, walking you through just about every move possible. Though a tutorial is always beneficial, shoving too much at once made remembering the moves perplexed.
As you step into the octagon with whoever your opponent may be, expect a challenge. The very first thing you’ll notice in EA Sports UFC is how your opponent adapts and switches their game plan. MMAi, similar to Madden NFL’s’ “read and react,” the challenger learns your fighting style and equally identifies moves they’re performing that’s unsuccessful. Therefore it’s critical to learn quickly how to adapt as well or prepare to hit the canvas or submit to a take down.
Each strike is precise and very realistic. As you take on your opponent, you’ll notice detailed body deformation as the player takes damage. Certain strikes are unbelievably lifelike as you visually see the force of the impact as the opponent face jiggles or their skin discolor. In addition, when draining their fatigue level you begin to notice the fighter stagger, breathe heavily or even drop their guard for a brief moment.
The submission system has also been slightly revamped, making the ground game a bit more complex. When taken to the ground an octagon symbol appears
giving you one of four options to attempt to escape the hold. The trick is to stretch out all four parts of the octagon symbol without your opponent figuring out your current progress. If they manage to do so, the submission hold will again be fully applied.
For the first time ever UFC allows you to use women fighters like champion Ronda Rousey in the bantamweight division. If that isn’t enough for you take on the UFC competition as the fastest and most lethal martial artist to ever live; The Dragon, Bruce Lee.
What’s better than being Bruce Lee you may ask? How about playing as you! EA Sports sneaked in the awesome feature known as Game Face, allowing you to play as yourself taking on other fighters in the ranks or build your own legacy in career mode.
When looking to take on the world you can battle friends in online rivalries or climb up the ranks by seasons via Championship mode. In Online Championship you are allowed to fight so many matches per season. As you win enough matches you will earn titles shots as you take on the best layers from around the world.
Overall graphically EA Sports UFC reminds me more of a next-gen Fight Night. While Motion Blur is well used during cinematic scenes and during the fast-paced 
action, you can’t help but also notice body parts often look a bit dull and plastic-like. Not to discredit life-like exertion as when clinching you can see the stretch lines form in your side from twisting your torso.
Also looking at details, I expected a more visual environment than what’s in EA Sports UFC. The atmosphere should be viewed just as important as inside the octagon. With that said, taking a look at the cameraman, photographers and at times the training crew didn’t receive much improvement from UFC Undisputed 3, making the experience only ¾ as good as it could’ve been.
EA Sports UFC delivers a knockout performance. Realism from the mechanics, player motion, opponents increasing A.I. during gameplay and the EA Sports Ignite technology drives the most authentic performance the sport has ever seen.
Gameplay: 4.25/5
Visuals: 4.5/5
Controls: 4.25/5
Audio: 4/5
Replayability: 4/5
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