UFC 4

An engaging but similarly shallow standup combat system and the utter lack of stamina or ground grappling controls that make sense ruin this game. Adding insult to injury. The kickboxers are pretty good.

The addition of Vale Tudo mode (30 minute single round, unrestricted fights) is engaging but you have to kickbox by default to avoid submission from even average fighters. On top of this there's a cool JP-MMA mode with 10 minute rounds which is an interesting experience if you can withstand the takedowns (more on this later). On top of this you have open weight classes and specialized matches in the Fight Now mode. There's definitely some hours of enjoyment and frustration there.

Striking in general is very strange in this game. Tracking is poor but the simulations are varied enough to where certain knockouts do land and deliver in a satisfying way. Lacks the feel of UFC2 and Undisputed 3. Tailored body strikes and body hooks are cool but your body is locked into place while delivering them (in particular body straights) leaving you vulnerable as hell by default. And the AI's proficiency with leg kicks and leg checks outweighs yours causing critical much earlier than they should. As stated before, stunlock and barred from head movement, stand up fighting is the only way to effectively run a career or or play with your buddy on this game.

Wrestling has gotta be one of the worst ever. The submission system which grows around your bar in a big circle, controlled by your leg movements (Lt + Rt) effectively leaving you at a permanent disadvantage. The animations reliance on the meters in wrestling hurts the experience too, leading to unavoidable takedowns and wrestling presets (mostly in the form of a wrestling transition sequence, regardless of if the characterised fighter even uses that in real life) that are infuriating to deal with. For example when in side control it's damn near impossible to strike while also attempting to grapple away leaving you vulnerable to triangles and transitions into guillotines and tailored chokes (Von Flu Choke which has only been done 5 times by 2 fighters in history was landed on me in a middleweight career! Wtf??).

Career mode lacks all depth whatsoever in the training allowing cheese builds and champions that go on for like 45 goddamn matches, many of which are simply series fights with the same fighters. Training is fun, at first but gets repetitive and oddly difficult to upgrade anything beyond boxing and Muy Thai skills. Unrealistic amounts of rematches are granted to opponents too liberally and should be gauged on the intensity of your defeat of them. One thing I do enjoy however is the perk system allowing ridiculous or particularly overpowered CAF (custom fighter) builds. In a star based system where you can upgrade like footwork or head movement, striking and health attributes, it is pretty cool to strategize and beef up your fighters. But that's really the end of it in a repetitive, annoying and unpolished fighting experience from the one-offs to the careers.

Overall this game is entertaining on the surface and some enjoyment can be had, but beneath it is just more proof that since being sold the rights to UFC fighting games they will continue to drop the ball if we continue to support them. The final product is honestly garbage.