Can UFC 2 improve upon its predecessor?
I confess that I actually haven’t played a UFC game since the THQ days, so this was a first for me to see the franchise under EA Sports. I wasn’t sure what to expect, whether they would make the same kind of game, accidentally make it worse or improve upon the success of the previous titles. Having spent a considerable amount of time with UFC 2, I’ve arrived at my conclusion…
UFC 2 starts off with a great MMA fight scene and you are thrown into the mix mid-fight to learn the basics and ultimately pull off a comeback. Controls are fairly simple, they actually reminded me somewhat of Fight Night Round 3 and 4. There is a level of strategy involved, button-mashing will only get you beaten…you need to reserve what stamina you have for the crucial blows to secure victory.
There is a career mode, but it’s not the most fulfilling. The thing that stands out the most has to be just playing as fighting legends that aren’t even UFC stars, including the likes of Mike Tyson and Bruce Lee. It’s an interesting mix of fighters and UFC is definitely more popular now than ever, especially with iconic fighters like Ronda Rousey appearing on the box art, before losing her undefeated streak.
If there’s one criticism I have about UFC 2, it’s that sometimes fights can end with little warning. I managed to connect a few punches and my opponent just plummeted to the ground, game over. UFC 2 doesn’t hold back on it’s brutality of the MMA sport with plenty of blood stains to go around, while new submissions have been added to mix things up a bit.
Visually, UFC 2 looks damn impressive. It runs at a solid framerate throughout and I noticed no slowdowns, while load times are average. Commentary takes a new approach as apparently commentator Joe Rogan be unlocked as a fighter with the use of a cheat code.
The Verdict
UFC 2 may be the best MMA fighter I have played, even if doesn’t mix things up as much as some might hope. I love being able to pit Mike Tyson against Bruce Lee in the octagon and what’s best is that UFC 2 is easy to pick up and play, which makes it more accessible to newcomers and veterans alike.