EA Sports UFC 2

Anyone who enjoyed EA UFC should give this a shot because they’ve fine-tuned everything that made it great, while those who missed out should give the series a shot here.

Simple enough to pick up, but tricky to really master, UFC2 has a lot going for it and if you are a fan of the sport it’s certainly worth the purchase.

It took a while, but EA put UFC back on the virtual map with an excellent fighting game that gets every detail just right.

As someone who has played almost every MMA game since UFC Undisputed 2009, many of the controls came naturally to me, but UFC 2 features quite the learning curve if you’ve never played a UFC game before. Whether it’s Ultimate Team, knockout physics or improved grappling, EA have made great strides to improve and make UFC 2 the best MMA game on the market so far.

UFC 2 is an great MMA game, providing the most authentic and fun game on the market, adding yet another string to EA Sports’ bow, even if the career mode is a little empty.

Superbly authentic. Like the real thing, stand-up is ace, but the ground game is an acquired taste. [May 2016, p.67]

UFC 2 improves over its predecessor in the ways it needed to. The improved ground game and deeper career mode are the biggest draws, but Knockout mode is a blast to play with a friend, and Ultimate Team offers a unique twist on the popular mode from other sports games. If 2014’s EA Sports UFC was a promise being made, UFC 2 is its deliverance.

EA Canada went to great lengths to listen to their critics from the previous release and have made a bunch of much needed improvements to EA Sports UFC 2.

On an immersive level, the authenticity both in the visuals and atmosphere is astonishing. The fighting itself is intense, but requires patience, skill, and memorization to master. It's a must have for any MMA enthusiast, and one that promises months of full-bodied content in its meaty modes.

There’s a few misses here, but overall I think EA’s done a suitable job with the franchise, and this entry shows continued improvement.

With light improvements on its gameplay mechanics EA Sports UFC 2 is more fun and accessible than its predecessor. With a lot of content, game modes and great presentation, it’s a game that will be enjoyed by the UFC fans and combat game lovers as well.

Aside from the impossible submission mechanic, and the prospect of being matched up online against someone far better than you, EA Sports UFC 2 is a serious sports sim. In all its bloody, knock-down, choke-out, primal glory.

I’m glad the developers decided to introduce some substantial changes, especially that improvements were made where they were really needed. Controls are much more intuitive and the whole grappling system was redesigned. If you’re looking for a realistic fighting game, pick up UFC 2. [05/2016, p.66]

It still isn't perfect as we'd like, but UFC 2 is a model sequel. It's prettier, more accessible and with more content and superior modes. Its a solid entry. TKO. [Issue#269, p.80]

With the use of updated physics, great graphics and a large number of fighters UFC 2 is for us the best MMA game to date.

UFC 2 is better in all aspects than the first game. It is not only an excellent simulation of combat sport liked mostly by MMA fans, but it is also a great promotion. Thanks to the qualities of UFC 2, the count of MMA fans will increase again.

Easy to learn, difficult to master, UFC 2 is undoubtedly the best MMA game around. Sometimes the gameplay is a little unbalanced and the career could have been more energetic, but technically the game is impressive, with a deep and rewarding gameplay, and it always delivers a fun experience.

EA Sports UFC 2 is a perfect example of how to capitalize on a mostly solid start. Even though it could still use additional improvements, the fighting system remains solid, and the tweaks make it more accessible to those who aren't well versed in fighting games.

Changing the biggest disappointments from the last UFC really makes UFC 2 an excellent game. The developments in the fighting systems make the game more balanced and smooth. It is not easy to understand how to use it to the fullest though.

UFC 2 feels like a complete UFC experience with a few good new features. The Ultimate Team and Knockout modes offer many hours of fun. The career mode however, could still use a bit of work.

Great gameplay, wonderful audio and video, but the single player modes are not well-thought-out.

EA Sports takes a positive corner on the MMA market with UFC 2 as it focuses on what makes the sport great: strong mechanics and a lot of training. With strong servers and gameplay mechanics, UFC 2 has what it takes to represent the UFC both offline and online.

EA Sports UFC 2 is a solid game. Overall, it has a better presentation, one that UFC fans and players alike will appreciate. However, those features were also in the first iteration of the franchise. Besides that, this title is more user-friendly thanks to its new HUD.

Offering improvements to Career Mode and introducing new modes like Ultimate Team and Knockout Mode, EA Sports UFC 2 builds upon the already solid gameplay and presentation to bring fans a fun experience for yourself or with friends that are either a fan of UFC or just can’t wait for a new Fight Night game.

Quotation forthcoming.

EA Sports offers its second UFC franchise entry with more game modes, a new, improved physics system and stunning visuals. It is kinda hard to master, which altogether with the small interest for mixed martial arts in certain countries may weigh down this game, but UFC fans will enjoy it for a long a time.

UFC 2 improves everything from last year's UFC, better simulation, more fighters, more game modes, and all the reasons why the UFC series is still the king of the MMA simulation.

After the success of THQ’s UFC Undisputed, EA tried to copy it with MMA – and pretty much failed. Then it bought the license from THQ, but EA’s first UFC wasn’t stellar either. Well, after playing UFC 2 we can say with confidence: the third time is the charm. [Issue#209, p.68]

Like its younger brother, UFC 2 looks to simulate the most complex contact sport on the planet, and in some ways does so with perfect accuracy. The new animation and knockout system looks better than ever, and the career improvements are a welcome sight, but the barebones career mode, consistent bugs, and ever-present AI cheating are a pretty nasty cut that, if unchecked, may stop fans from wanting a round 3 with EA Sports UFC.

An improved iteration of the first UFC simulator from EA Sports. Tons of real UFC champs, game modes and options to choose from, but the game´s still not perfect.

Even a stale interface, a boring Career Mode and some unfortunate choices in terms of the progression can’t detract from UFC 2’s brutal fights. The improved ground game and the introduction of Ultimate Team elevate this sequel above its predecessor.

Two games deep and two systems later, the grappling simply still isn’t as much fun as slugging it out, especially for those who have a more casual interest in MMA. [June 2016, p75]

While the grappling side of the sport still needs to step up, it's a strong MMA game from EA and a vast improvement over the slender first effort from back in 2014. [May 2016, p.89]

At the end of the day, EA Sports UFC 2 does an admirable job of trying to create the complex world of UFC in a video game while still making it fun for the player. It’s not a perfect game by any means but a good game all the same.

EA Sports' UFC 2 has some technical skill, but is missing the heart of the sport.

The game is a deeply unstable work that captures this spirit of unpredictability, sometimes an excruciating slapstick that leaves character models fumbling over each other like marionettes in a stupor, and other times an unusually meticulous simulation of punch and kick timing and countering.