As a UFC Champion – I think I can legally claim that now – an effective strategy, the ability to shift on the fly, and a reformation of thought when you suffer a loss is the key to coming back and dominating in the Octagon. Well, it seems that EA Sports took this same approach to UFC 4, creating a phenomenal fighting-title, and of the best sports games you can buy.

UFC 4 builds upon the spirit of UFC 3, and while I was somewhat disappointed by the previous installment, this time around I was positively impressed with the improvements that had been made to the control schemes and overall gameplay. Bouts in the octagon were intense, strategic, and while some might deter from the more “simulation” aspect of learning how to effective throw punches, combos, and roundhouse kicks that would make Bruce Lee blush, personally, it elevated the experience to something rather addictive.



This shift in controls and gameplay, from an arcade-esque experience to one that requires a little bit of thought, not only made the experience that much more fun, but rewarding as well. UFC 4 features a combat system that requires you to use strike modifiers, as well as learning how to block blows, dodge incoming strikes, and counter your opponent to create truly incredible offensive maneuvers, offers a truly satisfying gameplay loop (I punched the air quite a few times after a difficult fight). In fact, this might be the only "downside" for UFC 4, as it does not offer an easy casual experience, and does take some time to get accustomed to - but also not too long that you will be bored by the time you actually get the hang of things.

...while I was somewhat disappointed by the previous installment, this time around I was positively impressed with the improvements...

The attention paid to the different methods of fighting, mainly split between “standing” and “groundwork” ups the ante quite a bit, as you need to learn how to adapt to someone who is not only proficient in punching and kicking you between every corner of the octagon, but also in taking you the mat and working you over. Learning how to effectively deny transitions, counter them, and turn a disadvantage into a submission gives more substance to an otherwise simple concept – which is winning. Though, if you fancy rather facing your opponent and beating the daylights out of them, then you need to work at quickly hammering your rival to push for the KO. Best of all, however, is that you can combine any number of these disciplines to create your own powerhouse fighter, setting UFC 4 apart from a traditional fighting game.



The pursuit for an enhanced experience is also taken through to the progression system, where you need to inject “Evolution Points” into your fighter, enhancing your cardio for stamina, being able to take more blows, or to perfect fundamental training before you get to the flashy move sets for the roaring fight-night. At first, it was a little daunting, as you are presented with a host of menus, that seemingly need the internal navigation compass of a pirate to move through, but after a couple of minutes of simply reading through, you get the hang of it rather easily.

The career mode as a whole offers a rather balanced experience, that attempts to accurately recreate the experience a genuine new fighter would endure. An example of this: at the start, you contend in the amateur fighting league, called the World Fighting Alliance, or WFA. This acts as a sort of tutorial section, where you're guided through how to identify your opponent's fighting style, then adapt – I felt kicking their head was always effective. After this, you are brought into the more traditional UFC ecosystem, where you need to prove yourself. However, you can only progress if you rack up the W’s in the ring, so if you take a longer time to get there, your experience will shift from other players who got there a little quicker.



One of the most welcomed improvements was that the in-game counterparts of real-life fighters brought similar personalities (quite close to accurate) into the octagon with them, where more aggressive fighters in our dimension, are more aggressive in the digital landscape. This small addition really amplifies the experience, especially to those who are already familiar with UFC, and makes each person you face feel unique, compared to reskinned clones of each other – and it also amplifies the necessity for you to adapt to each fight, since some standing fighters will be more defensive and calmer, which can be a downfall if you are over-aggressive. This all culminates in you not only needing to identify the fighting style, but the personality as well, to shift your strategy and come out with the W.

One of the most welcomed improvements was that the in-game counterparts of real-life fighters brought similar personalities (quite close to accurate) into the octagon with them...

This is also where the revamped Training Camp system brings a breath of fresh air to the constant barrage of fists, feet, and fighting. Here, you will spar with a partner to increase your fitness for the fight, watch training videos of your opponents to see what you are going up against, or to engage on social media, learn new moves, and hype up your fight. The last of those, Fight Hype, is a cool way to bring a larger audience to your bout, which in turn gives you more followers, and, of course, brings in the clout. This can have a dramatic impact on the rate at which your career moves forward.



Online play was incredibly fun as well, with a number of games modes available, but a memorable one in UFC 4 was Blitz Battles – a sort of 64-player tournament where you are tasked with battling in matches such as one-minute-fights. If you don’t make it through, you simply leave, and join another match, which definitely engages with the “battle royale” type of game modes.

Overall, UFC 4 takes a huge leap for EA Sports, and is really one of the best sport games you can play at the moment. The evolution of the formula from UFC 3, shifting it more to an arcade-y “simulation” experience makes the fighting that much more satisfying. The overhauled career mode is excellent too; there is just something about UFC 4 that is positively addictive and that we cannot recommend enough.



*Review code provided by EA