UFC 4 Review

While there was no shortage of controversies and drama in the build-up and outcome of UFC 252, fight fans no doubt had an action-pa🎃cked weekend ꦓas the event coincided with the release of EA Sports’ UFC 4. With 🏅its overhauled gameplay system and putting fighters’ destinies truly in the hands of the 💧player, UFC 4 is a step above the previous games, providing satisfying fighting mechanic🐽s along with an in-depth career mode that will keep UFC fans stepping into The Oct𝓰agon for a long time.

Your Fighter, Your Destiny

First and foremost, one of the best features in UFC 4 is its focus on allowing players to control their custom fighters’ destiny. Rather than creating your fighter only to have them locked in at a specific weight class, Universal Create a Fighter allows the fighter to be availa🌃ble in any weight class, with any progress or gear earned throughout their career carrying over as well - which is a welcomed feature, considering there are over 1,600 pieces of gear to potentially earn. 12 different fighting styles are available to choose from, such as boxing, kickboxing, and Jiu-Jitsu, along with your fighter's specific attributes and emotes to truly🎃 make created characters stand out from the crowd. From there, you’ll be able to create your backstory and rise through the ranks of the UFC.

Career mode goes even more in-depth tꩲo allow you to shape y🌞our character’s path in the UFC, evolving them from an amateur fighter to a fighting legend. You’ll be able to accept and decline fights, determine who your fighter’s friends and foes will be, and take on various challenges and sponsorships as you progress your fighter’s career and build their stats through earned Evolution Points. This aspect reminded me heavily of some of the first Smackdown games - back when they wereಌ good (when it was still branded as the WWF). That kind of immersion always makes any career mode more dynamic and 🌳fun, an💮d UFC 4 does a bang-up job.

That said, progressing your fighter isn’t a walk in the park and doesn’t happen overnight. For instance, while you’ll make money, you’ll be paying percentages of your earnings to your training gym. Preparing for fights is also especially involved, requiring players to spend points on things like sparring, watching tape, and training with a partner. That said, preparation is almost as delicat𝔍e a dance as the actual fights are, as overtraining (spending to🐻o many points) can be as detrimental as not training enough. It’s almost like managing a work-life balance, but for elevating the prestige of your fighter.

Everything Is Connected

T🍎he focus on player-created fighters extends to other game modes as well. In addition to career mode, custom fighters are available to use in online and offline matches, allowing you to continue your fighter’s progression while unlocking additional outfits.

Online matches are pretty straightforward, allowing you to take part in random quick fights, taking on oppon🍎ents in Blitz Battles - which are short matches with continually changing rules - as well as the game's ranked World Championships.

In addition to custom rules, UFC 4 also allows you to set the Fight Now rules as Classic♉ or Stand and Bang, the 🐟latter of which disables grappling and groundwork. Knockout rules are exactly as they sound, and are arguably the most satisfying wins in the game (so long as you’re not on the receiving end of that final haymaker). The expansive roster of fighters makes the Fight Now options the ideal mode for UFC fans who want to simulate their dream matchup. Conversely, classic UFC matches can also be set up, allowing fans to recreate their favorite legendary fights in the cage.

A Love Letter To MMA Fans

I was admittedly hesitant to review UFC 4 myself. UFC 3 was a bit of a bear for me to wrap my head around, primarily due to it not feeling as tight and mechanically-sound as I ꩵthought a UFC game should be… or maybe I was 🧸just ter𝐆rible at it. I guess we’ll never know.

However, aside from some general random glitchiness - such as the choppy stuttering that sometimes occurs wheܫn camera angles switch - UFC 4 drew me in and really hasn’t let me go. I love the type of experience that the game’s career mode has to offer, and with so many detailed gameplay mechanics, I feel like I’♏m learning something new every time I jump♒ into the game. For those who love MMA and understand all of its intricacies, you’ll likely come into UFC 4 ahead of the curve. However, UFC 4 also has🌃 plenty to offer to newer fans who are just starting to cut their teeth on the sport. Simply put, UFC 4 is the best MMA game out there right now, and is a 🐼must-own for lovers of The Octagon.