January 18, 2022
EA Canada

UFC 2

On a technical level EA Sports UFC 2 delivers solid action and a great presentation, but it needs fleshing out now.

80%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, replayability

80% User Score Based on 128 reviews

Platforms

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About UFC 2

UFC 2 is a single player and multiplayer sport game. It was developed by EA Canada and was released on January 18, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

EA SPORTS UFC 2 innovates with stunning character likeness and animation, adds an all new Knockout Physics System and authentic gameplay features, and invites all fighters to step back into the Octagon to experience the thrill of finishing the fight. From the walkout to the knockout, EA SPORTS UFC 2 delivers a deep, authentic, and exciting experience.

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Reviews

80%Audience ScoreBased on 128 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features excellent graphics and realistic gameplay that immerses players in the UFC experience.
Career mode allows players to start from the bottom and develop their fighter, providing a sense of progression and achievement.
The controls, while advanced, offer a rewarding challenge for players willing to invest time in mastering them.

The grappling and submission systems are overly complicated and can feel frustrating, detracting from the overall gameplay experience.
Career mode lacks depth and personality, often feeling repetitive and uninspired after a few fights.
AI opponents can be frustratingly resilient, often absorbing excessive damage without going down, which can lead to unbalanced matches.

gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19% positive mentions, 72% neutral mentions, 9% negative mentions
The gameplay of EA Sports UFC 2 has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its realistic intensity and variety of martial arts moves, while others criticize the mechanics as clunky and not intuitive, particularly in grappling and clinch situations. Although the game introduces new modes and improvements, many feel it still lacks the polish needed to fully capture the essence of MMA, leading to a somewhat predictable and frustrating experience. Overall, while the standing game is enjoyable, the ground mechanics detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- “Excellent game with realistic gameplay that keeps me coming back for more.”
- “I find myself screaming at my TV during certain matches due to the gameplay intensity.”
- “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.”
- “I honestly believe the gameplay devs must have never watched an actual MMA fight in their lives with some of these gameplay mechanics and animations that were blatantly left out.”
- “The ground and clinch game have some of the worst mechanics I have ever seen in a game.”
- “EA Sports UFC 2 certainly has a lot of new additions for fans new and old, but it still hasn't gotten the gameplay right just yet.”
graphics
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83% positive mentions, 13% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, realistic character likenesses, and impressive attention to detail in fighting venues. Many players highlight the authentic knockout physics and lifelike effects, making it one of the best-looking fighting games available. However, while the graphics are praised, some reviewers note that they do not compensate for gameplay issues, particularly in grappling mechanics.
- “Visually, UFC 2 is stunning and is one of the best games graphics-wise that I've played; it really captures the UFC brand.”
- “The graphics are outstanding, and the fighter likeness is uncanny.”
- “The graphics in the game were great; each of the fighting venues looks like their real-life counterparts.”
- “Note to EA Sports: the ideal thing would be to take the roster and graphics of UFC 2 and combine it with the gameplay of UFC 1.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11% positive mentions, 56% neutral mentions, 33% negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with players noting that it feels more like a series of disconnected fights rather than a cohesive narrative. The initial setup is underwhelming, and once players progress, any semblance of a storyline disappears, leaving a desire for more dynamic elements like rivalries or unique situations. Overall, the experience is described as lacking meaningful storytelling, reducing it to mere combat without context.
- “It seems closer to playing as a person who does this as a job rather than becoming an actual piece of the modern UFC story.”
- “Without spoiling what little story this mode has, I will say that the beginning of the mode left a lot to be desired.”
- “Once you make your way into the 'main' part of the career, any story that did exist is now absolutely gone.”
- “I do not need a full-fledged story mode, but a few rivalries here or there would have spiced things up.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75% positive mentions, -50% neutral mentions, 75% negative mentions
The game is noted for its excellent replayability, making it a popular choice for social gatherings and parties. However, some users express disappointment over the limited number of playable fighters, which may affect overall replay value.
- “It has excellent replay value and is one of those games that would be a hit at a house party with friends.”
- “Good replay value.”
- “It adds replay value to the game!”
- “I paid for a game and only some of the fighters are playable?”
- “The lack of diverse gameplay options makes it hard to want to replay.”
- “Once you finish the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from its quirky physics and unintentional bugs, which can lead to amusing moments, though some players find these elements detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the lack of depth in career mode and AI issues contribute to a mix of frustration and unintended comedy.
- “[Career mode is as barebones as possible, AI continues to cheat, still no stoppages due to damage/blood, unintentionally hilarious bugs]”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
The stability of UFC 2 has been criticized for encountering glitches that can freeze matches, particularly during ground sequences, necessitating restarts. Additionally, issues with the grappling system and slow character movements contribute to a frustrating gameplay experience, despite the game's overall technical achievements.
- “There are a few glitches that I have encountered where the fighters were in a ground sequence at the time of the bell, and the match froze. I had to quit and start over.”
- “But the grappling system is terrible; the characters' movements are slow, and the game glitches attacks.”
- “Bruising, buggy, and beautiful, UFC 2 is a technically triumphant fighter, but its combat can easily flounder and frustrate.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33% positive mentions, 34% neutral mentions, 33% negative mentions
The music in the game enhances the overall experience, creating a realistic atmosphere akin to a UFC event, particularly with the walk-in songs. However, some users expressed a desire for a greater variety of intro songs to choose from.
- “Love the realism of the fighters, the walk-in music, and the whole feel of the game is like watching a UFC event.”
- “The only downside of this mode for me was that I wished they had more intro songs for me to choose from.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The game's optimization is praised for its excellent presentation and realistic visuals, particularly notable blood effects. Players experience strong online performance with quick matchmaking, and the introduction of new mechanics and diverse game modes, including a fun knockout mode, enhances overall gameplay options.
- “Excellent presentation with realistic visuals and some of the best blood effects today.”
- “Strong online performance and quick matchmaking.”
- “New mechanics offer greater options than previous games, including more options and game modes, such as the fun knockout mode.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
The monetization in UFC 2 is criticized for its reliance on microtransactions, which, combined with a steep learning curve, detracts from the overall gameplay experience and makes the game difficult to recommend.
- “Microtransactions and the brutal learning curve make UFC 2 hard to play and even harder to recommend.”
- “The game feels like a constant push to spend more money, which ruins the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating that you can't progress without shelling out cash for upgrades and items.”