EA UFC – does this game tap out?

EA UFC arrives in SA for the PS4 on 20 June 2014. There is an Xbox One version available, but most of us will have to wait until September to have a go on the Microsoft console.

The demo of the MMA fighter played a lot smoother and looked a lot better than previous iterations of the game, but did this carry over into the fully-fledged version of the title? Let’s found out.

The PS4 version of UFC was sitting on an average score of 70 on Metacritic at the time of publication, while the Xbox One version raked in an aggregated 77.

Here are what some of the international critics had to say.

Eurogamer – 7/10 (Xbox One)

EA Sports UFC is a game capable of brilliance. It’s let down by some curious design decisions, signs of a team perhaps too interested in capturing non-essential moves seen on YouTube rather than nailing the essence of the sport.

But when it flows against human competition, it offers beautiful destruction and glorious drama. Landing a picture-perfect head kick in the final minute of the fifth round of a title fight? Well, it doesn’t get much better. And if that’s not worth a fistbump, I don’t know what is.

GamesRadar – 3.5/5 (PS4)

EA Sports UFC has plenty of talent; it’s looks amazing and plays fantastically when you’re staging fights with friends. However, when you decide to go it alone, the gaps in AI skill and the dearth of additional content becomes problematic.

The next time EA accompanies UFC to the ring, we could see a championship effort. This time, unfortunately, it settles for being pretty good.

DualShockers – 9/10 (PS4)

All in all EA Sports UFC is a great fighting game that embodies the strategy and fighting prowess needed to be an ultimate fighter. The game does a great job making each punch, kick, takedown and submission feel as real as it gets without having to step into a real Octagon.

This is a must have for any MMA or UFC fan and a must try for anyone who really wants to learn the sport and understand what it is all about.

VideoGamer – 6/10 (PS4)

EA Sports UFC is simply ok when it should have been great. Considering how long it’s been in development, and the breadth of content at EA’s disposal, I can’t help but be disappointed by what’s on offer.

EA UFC

Game Revolution – 4/5 (PS4)

The once tenuous relationship between EA and UFC now seems to be a natural match that is sure to flourish the longer EA Canada works out the kinks. As Bruce Lee, one of the DLC characters for the game, would say: “Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.” Nothing could be truer for the future of EA Sports UFC.

Gaming Trend – 7.5/10 (PS4)

In the end, EA Sports UFC is still a winner, but by split decision. Some of the omissions like cut and leg stoppages, and the odd bug here and there, make for a debut that is certainly better than EA Sports MMA. Here’s the hitch though – somehow despite itself the game is ridiculously fun.

Although very ambitious, this title still could have used a little more time in the gym. I look forward to the sequel though – the second fight is almost always better than the first.