Geek Review: UFC 5

There is always that struggle between realism and making things enjoyable when a sport transitions to video games; after all, a game has to be fun to get players to buy in. That is the matchup awaiting EA Vancouver’s UFC 5, and it is a spectacle that sees this mixed martial arts (MMA) slugfest come out on top in most areas, albeit with some niggling issues.

Having taken a four-year break since UFC 4, the sport of MMA has evolved tremendously, so players would expect the same for this new entry. Coming into the octagon, there was trepidation over what the team could have done to make the fighting experience even better, but thanks to a few core pillars, the contrast is stark.

For starters, the use of the Frostbite engine has breathed new life into the video game equivalent of combat for entertainment. MMA superstars have never looked as great as they do in UFC 5, elevating the level of presentation whether they are walking in before or celebrating after a hard-fought win. Animations are top-notch in that aspect, making it distinctly clear that these fighters are bubbling with personality.

Once you are in the octagon, though, things get even better. Whether you are a proponent of stand-up striking, grappling and clinching, or a master of transitions in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) or wrestling, expect to enjoy a sense of fluidity that almost mirrors the real deal. It is all thanks to the new Real Impact System, which brings together everything that makes the combat so much more amazing.

The action on display feels more fluid and dynamic in comparison and brings into focus just why the fighters are so good at what they do as players gain more mastery and control over the various disciplines of MMA. With over 64,000 possible facial injury combinations over eight regions of the face, things will get bloody and ugly up top, while the body and the legs get more visible indicators that can be seen much more clearly during a match.

All the damage systems tie into various mechanics that will affect performance. A broken nose can affect cardio due to difficulty in breathing, cuts can affect vision and weaken the defensive reactions of a fighter, and excessive leg kicks can render mobility a moot point. Do well, and your opponent might even get checked by the doctors for a potential stoppage. It makes for a more strategic affair on both ends, especially for those willing to lean harder into the game.

The improved movement and smoothness also contribute greatly to how natural the grappling and submission systems work. Rather than taking the form of slow-paced minigames that require too much effort for little reward, there is more intuitiveness involved in the controls this time around, thanks to a couple of options available to players. 

For the ground game, players can go simple with Grapple Assist if they don’t see themselves getting to the mat often, or choose the hybrid or legacy approach and gain access to all sorts of transitions, escapes, and submission manoeuvres just by using the analogue sticks and taking advantage of the momentum generated from reading your opponent and counter-attacking. There is plenty of depth involved, but it is also accessible enough for most to get a taste and get hooked, a mighty fine balance for this aspect of MMA.

Catching a competitive contest in UFC 5, full of twists and turns, can hoodwink onlookers into thinking it’s reality, and that’s how good the game can look at times. Individual sweat and blood particles fly upon contact, the body and face take hits as they should, and the enhanced cinematics make for a thrilling reflection of any fight, particularly the match-ending knockout replay, showcasing the stirring conclusion of your hard work at putting your foe down for the count.

With such a strong foundation, many fans will gravitate towards creating a legacy of their own, which is where Career Mode comes into play. This year’s offering is one of the strongest yet, giving us a brief peek behind the curtains of what goes on in the professional sport. Between taking part in fight camp and the proper fight itself, players can partake in a variety of things to simulate that life.

Training in the disciplines of boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and BJJ can gain progress for upgrading specific moves, making it possible for you to specialise in different ways to defeat an opponent. Successfully completing challenges in training also rewards Evolution Points, which can be used to upgrade more general attributes like cut resistance, cardio, punching strength, and more. 

There is also a need to build hype for an upcoming clash through social media or promotional activations. Even if you are not in the limelight yet in the UFC, helping your fighter build a fanbase goes a long way in upping your popularity and making it possible for bigger paydays down the line. 

In any given week, you only have so much time, so planning it well to fit in training, sparring with other competitors to learn moves, taking to social media, or scouting your opponents will be a test. This is especially so when starting out, where probably nothing else matters than winning and climbing the MMA ladder. 

Getting used to the grind is part of the game, but Career Mode in UFC 5 does make it hard sometimes to enjoy the journey. While it is understandable that sparring and matches can lead to injuries that players need to spend money to fix, outside of that, cash has very little use. 

It is one of the barometers for achieving the Greatest of All Time status, and it can be used to pay others to learn their moves, but it never felt like we never had enough or needed to get more. Perhaps having more avenues to spend your cash on meaningful things should be an area for the developers to think about.

Also, when the point of sparring is to focus on moves to upgrade them, it is frustrating to have a partner that can get knocked out quite easily, disabling that particular discipline for a couple of weeks and making it harder for fighters to truly hone their craft. 

Not brutalising your training partner is definitely something to note in real life, but less so when the point is to create the best combatant in all the land with incessant training. And once players are in the big leagues, it won’t take too long for attributes to be maxed out, effectively rendering the hundreds of Evolution Points banked to be nothing more than a sparingly used injury fix.

The mode also tacks on a fitness indicator for players going into each matchup, where too little or too much training can have adverse effects on certain attributes during the fight itself. Again, in theory, it makes plenty of sense to have your character be in peak condition heading to the arena, but the number of sessions required can be further fine-tuned so that other commitments can be pursued and not at the detriment of a mandatory UFC requirement that can lead to fines for not participating in. 

Get past all of that, and you still can have a fulfilling career in UFC 5, and even more so in the new Online Career mode. Being able to test yourself against other human opponents outside of the usual Quick Fight and Ranked Fights modes in a prolonged experience is a delightful venture, helping players to understand where they truly stand in the community. As you fight and learn, growing your character, it has the potential to be much more rewarding than its offline counterpart. 

If that’s not enough, EA has committed to regular updates for the game in the form of Fight Week content, which takes the form of Fight Contracts at this initial stage. A variety of one-off bouts are available with each passing day, complete with various limitations and rules to spice things up, and rewards in-game currency for cosmetic purchases. There are already some interesting scenarios available, and that will only get better once more Fight Week content comes online in the coming days. 

Like an MMA veteran who has taken his or her fair share of beatings over the years, UFC 5 has learned much from its history and comes out swinging for this new entry. Its visuals and presentation are unmatched, and the underlying systems all contribute to a captivating time in the octagon. Career Mode is an excellent adventure that could still do with improvements, while the potential of its online variant points towards even more exciting times ahead. Even in a market where there is a dearth of competition, this is one true champion worth its weight in gold that can take down any opposition with ease.

UFC 5 is available on the PSN Store for S$94.90.