EA SPORTS UFC 4

EA UFC 4 takes a few steps forward with the changes in the fighting game but takes some back as well with the career mode which was bait and switched once again and barely has any significant upgrades.

UFC 4 is the best MMA-game to date, but that's partially because of a lack of competition from other developers. As is to be expected from a game that's part of a series, EA doesn't invent the wheel but improves gradually on its own formula. The evolution points, career mode, clinch possibilities and some other new features are nice, but is it enough to justify its price tag? We doubt it.

EA Sports UFC 4 is obviously made by people with a true love and respect for MMA, but it’s also pretty clear they didn’t have a ton of resources to work with. The action is better than ever, but the flash and depth you expect from an EA Sports title is MIA. This year’s UFC game comes out of its corner hot and provides a few exciting moments, but doesn’t quite have what it takes to go the distance.

A decent improvement over its predecessor, with a bulky career mode and enjoyable multiplayer. The controls are still hit-and-miss, though. Overall, still not enough to lift this fighting game out of the mists of mediocrity.

UFC 4 is a game that looks like no other inside the octagon, but that has problems in giving us something else that lives up to that, falling short in game modes as well as blurring a sport that to this day continues to fight for legitimacy.

The gameplay of UFC 4 is stellar and rewarding, but once the novelty begins to wear off, there’s not much more to keep players invested.

UFC 4 brings some great new ideas to created fighters, online play, and clinch gameplay, but can't live up to its full potential with the end product.

Everything is about the same as it was in UFC 3, but with some minor changes. Outdated graphics and animation may push new players away. UFC 4 is a game for fans, and they can add another point to the final score.

EA Sports UFC 4 offers intense combat despite complicated controls. Indeed: just like its predecessor. Part four plays it way too safe.

A competent and crunching MMA sequel that brings key improvements to the Octagon but stumbles when the action moves to the ground.

EA Sports UFC 4 is a fun albeit bland fighting game. For something in a biennial release cycle, we would have hoped to have seen more evolution to the formula than what we’ve gotten...There’s a lot to like with EA Sports UFC 4 as it’s still an entertaining fighter, but it just doesn’t go beyond what we’ve come to expect from it.