So you wanna be a fighter? EA Sports UFC has the go-to destination for gaming fight fans in recent years. But the debate over whether the franchise has been worth its position is far from settled. As we grapple with the good, the bad, and the crazy sides of the game, we’ll determine whether UFC 4 is a knockout or a dud. 

10. Combat

Bruce Lee in UFC 4

There’s a lot to love about UFC 4’s gameplay. It follows on from UFC 3 in moving away from the classic UFC games’ robotic style to a much more fluid fighting experience & adds a more responsive controls system. It doesn’t mark a major shift from UFC 3 but does present an upgrade. 

The animations when throwing shots, getting hit & grappling all make for a smoother fight experience. The controls are way more responsive which is very freeing as you can flow better & it’s far easier to execute what you want to do,  making jiu-jitsu transitions much more bearable. 

Whilst it could be argued that the arcadey fun factor focus that UFC 2 had is lost, the franchise has evolved into a more modern version of itself. The submission mini-game mechanic is definitely a downside as it greatly favours the attacker, replicating a WWE 2K style of system which needs a change going forward.

Does the gameplay make UFC 4 worth it?: Yes

9.  Realism

A head kick is thrown 

UFC 4 is overall a decently realistic game. From reasons stated above such as fluid animations all the way to what the ‘meta’ of the game is, it definitely rewards those with fight styles that mirror real-life approaches to MMA. 

Fighters directly replicate a very decent variety of the movements, reactions & features that you’d see in real life. Prime Conor McGregor feels like Conor McGregor with the karate bounce, Khabib is a relentless mauler when used right etc. This isn’t perfect across a 240+ roster but more often than not, they get it right. 

The game is also more challenging but rewarding. You need to be more deliberate in your attacks and strategic to compete at a high level, you can’t spam the same moves over and over without getting picked apart by experienced players. 

Although stamina is definitely something you have to manage well, it’s still quite unrealistic as you can definitely spam your fair share of big shots such as overhands without feeling the tax of it. 

Does UFC 4’s realism make it worth it?: Yes

8. Graphics 

A zoom-in cutscene of Jon Jones's face

There are graphical improvements in some areas such as more realistic fighter models and stunning environments, but this doesn’t come without drawbacks. 

UFC 4 is finally a true 60fps whereas UFC 1/2/3 were all 30fps on the backend. The shadows were downgraded but most of the geometry is pretty similar. This leads to smoother gameplay but at a sacrifice to what were actually better graphics on UFC 3. Many believe the graphics are worse than some UFC titles dating even further back, and I don’t even think I disagree at times.  

Cutscenes are hit & miss, with some looking modern as they should and others looking very dated, including some poor & repetitive crowd animations. 

The main issue is without any doubt face animations. They look stiff & unnatural where the characters' expressions don't match what they're saying or doing, and their faces can look frozen in place, especially in close-up shots. 

It isn’t all bad, a lot of the new environments such as The Kumite, The Backyard and Action Avenue really capture the old lore of martial arts, the origins of underground fighting, and the essence of humble beginnings in MMA.  

Do the graphics make UFC 4 worth it?: No

7. Career Mode

UFC 4's career mode reveal

After the disappointment of UFC 3’s career mode, UFC 4’s career mode is an upgrade… a very slight one. 

The option to train & learn from fighters of your choice is a more personal addition, and the aim of becoming the G.O.A.T through ticking off objectives in your contract is a goal that makes the first playthrough feel really important. 

Fighter interactions/rivalries are centred around social media & are barely worth a mention, with the tame insults traded, and a lack of even one interesting response to choose from that sounds like it might come from a real human. A far cry from the press conferences & outside of the cage direction we hoped the franchise was going in after seeing Conor & Nate going at each other on stage in those UFC 3 trailers years back. 

There are some fun small additions here, but it feels like the bare minimum & EA’s lack of imagination with the potential of this mode has gone on for way too long & they should be held to a higher standard. 

Does the UFC 4 career mode make it worth it?: No

6. Online World Championships

UFC's online world championships shows how many title defences you've racked up whilst champ

The multiplayer staple of UFC online world championships delivers on what you’d hope for in a UFC multiplayer experience. Competitive & testing gameplay is prioritised with the fun factor intact and the goal to rise up the ranked divisions to be amongst the elite.

There’s a necessary skill gap which makes it rewarding to play. The best players in the world are incredibly skilled and strategic. A player can have the most wacky created fighter & spam spin kicks but more often than not it doesn’t benefit them like it used to. 

Matchmaking is never gonna be perfect but is a step up when compared to the standards of a lot of other EA Sports games. Whether you're a casual fan looking to have some fun or a hardcore player the divisions map out pretty well & you’ll find your level you can compete at without getting matched up unfairly too often. 

Does online world championships in UFC 4 make it worth it?: Yes

5. Other Game Modes

Blitz battles is among few other options outside of career mode and online champs

Blitz Battles, custom events & tournaments offer a variety of different ways to enjoy the game and they definitely up the fun factor. 

Blitz battles is one of the most unique features a UFC game has come up with in years, with the shorter rounds & unpredictable ruleset changes making them both quick & a great option for those who have less time but want a very competitive edge.

Tournaments are enhanced in UFC 4 & can be played in a variety of formats, including double-elimination, round-robin, and swiss which is so much less limiting than the single-elimination formats previously.

Ultimate team being left out for the first time ever in an EA UFC game isn’t a great miss. With its heavy reliance on microtransactions & the mode not suiting a UFC game in general, it leaves room for a more creative mode as custom events attempt to fill that void in a very different way in the chance to bring your UFC vision to life.

Do the other UFC 4 game modes make it worth it?: Maybe

4. Roster

Brock Lesnar is among many cool new additions to the UFC 4 roster 

The UFC 4 roster is one of the most stacked and impressive in the history of the franchise. It’s 330+ strong, filled with current-era fighters,  legends, and multiple versions of fighters including icons, big-name boxers & video game characters from EA’s Fight Night franchise. 

Dip into any era of fighting, from the days of Chuck Liddell to Kimbo Slice or martial arts pioneers such as Bruce Lee. There’s variety for everyone & you can make your dream fights happen or go online with different versions of your favourites. 

Speaking of dream fights, if you’ve ever wondered how boxing megastars like Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury would do in the octagon, now's your chance to swap the 10oz to the 4oz gloves & test that virtually. 

Does the UFC 4 roster make it worth it?: Yes

3. Customisability

Old UFC merch is among many customisation options in UFC 4

UFC really gets it when it comes to customisation. More in the game than they do in real life 

The 1600 gear pieces in UFC 4 offer players an incredible variety of options to create a personalised fighter that represents their style. It ranges from cosmetics to fight wear with iconic & nostalgic pieces such as previous fighter merch or Pride FC merch. It even goes as far as including designer pieces and ancient martial arts outfits. 

It could definitely be improved though by taking a leap out of WWE 2K’s book again & adding its own community creations page as the possibilities for the fight roster, arenas & gear would then truly be unlimited. Aside from that, I’d like to see more tattoos and nicknames added to the game and more options with the cities you can choose from as your fighter's birthplace. 

Does the customisability make UFC 4 worth it: Yes

2. Updates

 This prime icons package is among many UFC 4 content updates to improve the game

Updates in UFC 4 are really a tale of two sides, one being content & one being gameplay. 

New content has kept the game fresh, with fighter updates including the likes of Kevin Holland, Illia Topuria & Tom Aspinall. Daniel Cormier being hired to oversee their ratings has ensured we’ve generally got accurate portrayals of the level that most of these additions should be at. 

Legacy updates have kept the hype high more than anything, fan favourites like a prime ‘Mystic Mac’ 2014 Conor McGregor or Brock Lesnar being amongst the coolest additions this has brought. ‘Icons’  has also brought what I feel the best features of Ultimate Team are for a UFC game back into the fray, without having to add the actual mode. 

Gameplay updates have been regular, but it feels like every time one thing gets fixed, more bugs arise. There are consistent glitches which have yet to be patched, including invisible fighter glitches where the opponent disappears, leading to the game being memed. 

Do the updates make UFC 4 worth it?: Yes

1. Comparison to UFC Undisputed 3 

Prime Anderson Silva on the cover of UFC Undisputed 3 in his heyday

It’s only fair to compare UFC 4 to what it delivers compared to its predecessors. Yuke’s/THQ UFC Undisputed 3 is the gold standard of MMA games & puts UFC 4 to shame in many ways. 

UFC 4 lacks the immersive and true-to-life presentation that UFC Undisputed 3 had. This is pretty unacceptable considering how well it’d fit career mode specifically. They could easily have Joe Rogan, Jon Anik or DC preview fights or a card. Instead, this aspect is completely neglected & fight intros are non-existent.

Referees in UFC Undisputed 3 jump in to stop the action when they need to which mirrors an actual fight, but in every EA Sports UFC title including UFC 4, they wait until the fighter is completely unconscious every single time before stepping in. . 

Realistic blood & cuts also give the nod to UFC Undisputed 3 as not only do they look far clearer, but if you target a certain injury it’ll be visibly worse and you can even force a doctor's stoppage - which doesn’t again exist in UFC 4. 

Most prevalent of all is the far superior flash knockouts in UFC Undisputed 3. They’re far more realistic & common when you pick a perfect shot, whereas in UFC 4 you often have to hurt your opponent at least 5 times before you can get a knockout which can become incredibly tedious. 

Is UFC 4 worth it when compared to UFC Undisputed 3?: Absolutely not

Decision

Overall, UFC 4 is a solid MMA game. Is it perfect? Far from it. It misses the mark on the graphics & the career mode is still quite underwhelming. Especially when you compare it to old legendary titles from a decade prior. However, it’s a realistic modern & smooth gameplay experience and the best you’ll find out there right now until someone takes its spot. 

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