Sports titles are among the hardest games to cover as a media outlet. They sometimes don’t deliver enough changes to warrant another purchase, while others do. In the case of UFC 6, it’s been a few years, and it plays well.
Since EA’s takeover of the UFC licence, the series has felt quite different, but it’s consistently improved enough to fill the void left by my favourite MMA game, UFC Undisputed 3, a title that’s easily in the upper echelon of sports video games.
UFC 6, by and large, does a commendable job at filling the void. In the last week, I’ve spent time playing through career mode and various other modes, and I’m happy to say I’m gelling with this game more than I expected, thanks to the work done by EA Vancouver.
Entering The Flow State in UFC 6
Let’s get one thing clear: this isn’t a total makeover of the previous game but a smart upgrade. The big word this year is ‘evolution,’ which, yes, is most certainly shaping up to be the most advanced fighter out there. The new mode, The Legacy, is pretty much a prologue to Career Mode, which stars Chris Carter, and it serves as a transitional piece into the proper Career Mode. It’s not the most offensive mode I’ve ever played, but it’s fine. You can create your own fighter or stick with Carter to see his story through.
Think of it like FIFA’s The Journey mode, which starred Alex Hunter as he began his career as a soccer player, and you were tasked with taking him to the top of the ranks. The DNA is hard to miss when you sit down and play through the opening, but it mostly works; it just leaves me wanting a more interesting fighter in the lead role. You have your coach alongside you, a former friend of Carter’s father, who serves as a mentor figure and wishes to see your character fulfill his legacy.
On top of that, you have rivals as you work your way up the UFC rankings, culminating in Career Mode. This year features far more choices, which are necessary on your path to the big league. You’re still fighting opponents, improving your strikes through sparring, and then completing several promotional events as per your contract. It’s still the same as career mode as before, but it has moments where it is undeniably fun to see your character advance.
A major addition to UFC 6 is Flow States, which nicely complements the already refined Frostbite engine powering the game. Let’s start with the engine powering the experience, which is EA’s secret weapon for several of its franchises. Here, it’s been revised to feature incredible lifelike models of many fighters you’ll meet in-game. And while it might sound cliché, UFC 6 fighters feel unique and different enough from each other that it doesn’t feel like you’re playing the same character variants.
When activated via a meter, you might notice that elbow and knee attacks deal more damage, or that ground-and-pound consumes less stamina. These effects rarely last more than 20 seconds, but it’s enough to be able to turn the tide in a pinch. Not only do they look real, but they also react and fight more naturally, which is huge.
I believe the only downside to adding Flow States is that they are so far and away the most unrealistic thing about the game. As a game, it’s pretty life as you need to manage your stamina, focus on finding an opening on your opponent and then work towards knocking them out, making them tap, or running the clock down.
The Hall of Legends marks a new entry point for the series, introducing a mode that lets players experience the UFC in a new way. Essentially acting like an interactive museum, the Hall of Legends lets you use your character to explore rooms focusing on several fighters at specific times in their lives. Each hall has four themed rooms, with each room focusing on a chapter of that fighter’s life, with all the details shown to you.
As you move from room to room, you’ll unlock documentary footage, artifacts, and many other details related to the celebrated fighter’s career. EA Sports says they relied on extensive internal research, drawing on cultural experts to ensure every environment feels authentic and respectful. It’s pretty cool to visit this mode when you wish to step away from the ring, and it does a great job of introducing some legends of the sport.
While I do find it mostly fun circling the octagon, the menus are a complete letdown. I can only say that they’re decoupled from the rest of the experience and exceedingly unoptimized, with frequent lag.
Verdict
EA Sports UFC 6 is a great entry to the series with improvements across the board, including Flow States, a fun career prologue, and stellar presentation. The menus, though, are a drag and add an unnecessary layer of frustration. However, the character models, crowds, arenas, and everything between them are highly detailed and deliver some of the most realistic fights I’ve ever played through.
[The publisher provided a copy of the game for review purposes.]
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
