EA SPORTS UFC 5

Gameplay is smoother, ground combat is better and the real impact system adds a lot. Graphically it is also very strong, so in several ways it is a better game than UFC 4. At the same time, there is relatively little new in the career mode and the roster of fighters is not complete. Finally, the game suffers from occasional poor input registration and a disorientating camera, which together put a bit of a blemish on an essentially fine fighter.

EA Sports UFC 5 is a solid, if not particularly inventive, follow-up in the series. It can be fun, warts and all, but long-time fans will want for more.

EA Sports UFC 5 looks and feels great on the Frostbite engine, but under that new coat of paint is the same old gameplay we've had for the last 3 years.

For hardcore competitive players, the gameplay improvements might be enough to coax them across. As for the regular fans who want the next evolution in UFC games, I'm not so sure they will find enough here to justify the purchase. If you have been away from MMA games for as long as I have, UFC 5 is a fantastic way to jump back in - but UFC 4 might be just as good.

A gritty and tough combat game that is both fun and rewarding. UFC 5 will keep you coming back until you are the champ.

Give this one a wait and see, or a miss entirely if you're unsure because while UFC features some worthwhile improvements, it's continuously swamped by the remnants of its archaic tendencies.

EA Sports UFC 5 doles out impressive blood-soaked Frostbite visuals and a double-dose of M-rated attitude, but don’t let the new swagger sway you. While the action remains satisfying enough, it hasn’t evolved in any significant way, and a lack of compelling content continues to be an issue for the series. UFC 5 may deliver the razzle dazzle, but it needs to work on its fundamentals.

To my chagrin, EA Sports UFC 5 feels like a mega-update to UFC 4 that flexes the muscles of the Frostbite engine and the PS5 for the sake of visuals and not much else. The score I 'm giving the game is out of respect for the slightly tweaked but still intricate fighting system that's flexible enough for people of all skill levels and time availability to enjoy. Also, it really does look fantastic, and would probably be a solid library addition for fans who haven't played any of the previous UFC titles and want a way in. For me, this wasn't the level change I 'd hoped for, and I can only hope there 'll be some newer pieces in the next one.

While it ticks all of the boxes for a decent MMA fighting simulator, UFC 5 fails to improve by any significant margin from its predecessor. It will enable you to play as your favourite fighters in the organisation, but will not likely be a memorable title from 2023.