The Evolution of EA Sports UFC: A Look at the Highly Anticipated EA Sports UFC 5
The EA Sports UFC franchise made its debut in 2014, introducing fans to the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) gaming. The first licensed UFC title was met with some disappointment due to its underwhelming features and the franchise’s struggle to establish itself as a new contender in the gaming world. However, it was still considered a solid first attempt.
Introducing the Frostbite Engine
Over the years, with a release cycle spanning every two years, the EA Sports UFC franchise has evolved significantly. Each subsequent entry has brought meaningful improvements, such as enhanced fighting mechanics, improved animations, expanded game modes, and larger fighter rosters. The latest installment, EA Sports UFC 5, has taken advantage of a three-year development period and features the introduction of EA’s in-house Frostbite Engine, marking a significant milestone for the series.
The developers of EA Sports UFC 5 have witnessed the challenges faced by other sports franchises when transitioning to a new game engine. Glitches and unnatural animations have plagued some titles. However, the advantage of the UFC team is that they do not release their games on an annual basis. Producer Nate McDonald emphasizes the importance of getting the transition to Frostbite right, ensuring a high-quality experience for players. The result is highly detailed character models, improved lighting and shading, enhanced rendering quality, and visually stunning environments and effects.
Fighter Damage: A True-to-Life Experience
EA Vancouver, the studio behind EA Sports UFC 5, is committed to capturing the authenticity and visceral nature of MMA. The game introduces the most authentic damage system to date, featuring real-time cuts, bruising, and swelling that accumulate throughout a fight. The damage is designed to be true-to-life, with realistic details and an emphasis on unedited authenticity. Fighters can experience damage in eight different regions, each progressing through multiple stages. This allows for an astonishing 64,000 different damage combinations. The impact of sustained damage has tangible effects on a fighter’s performance, such as slower stamina recovery, impaired vision, reduced movement, and less effective takedowns. The accumulation of damage may prompt the referee to bring in a doctor for evaluation, potentially leading to a stoppage. This adds an extra layer of strategy to the game, as fighters must strategize around their injuries and opponents may target vulnerable areas to influence a stoppage.
Due to the realistic portrayal of damage, EA Sports UFC 5 has received an “M for Mature” rating, signifying its commitment to delivering an authentic representation of the sport. McDonald explains that the team aimed to create a true-to-sport gameplay experience with realistic damage and fighter likenesses. While the game does not depict overly gratuitous portrayals of injury, it aims to accurately portray the visceral nature of MMA.
Animation Upgrades for Unparalleled Realism
EA Sports UFC 5 excels in delivering stunning visuals, with 60 frames per second performance and enhanced cinematic slow-motion replays. These replays showcase the game’s new animations, which include physics-driven reactions. Strike impacts are accentuated with sweat and blood spray, along with temporary deformations of faces and bodies upon knockout blows. The slow-motion replays offer a closer look at the improved fighter likenesses and damage systems, confirming EA Sports UFC 5 as the best-looking entry in the franchise to date.
Seamless Submissions for Intense Ground Battles
One of the most significant advancements in EA Sports UFC 5 is the improved grappling system. Previous entries in the franchise received criticism for their grappling mechanics, leading to the introduction of a Grapple Assist system in UFC 4. However, UFC 5 takes it a step further with a transition-based grappling system, offering faster and more seamless submissions. The new system removes UI-heavy minigames, allowing for a more immersive experience without obstructing the view. High-level grapplers engage in smooth and well-animated grappling exchanges, creating a fast-paced and dynamic ground game. Producer Raman Bassi explains that the Seamless Submission feature revamps the existing grappling system, providing endless possibilities for submissions and a smoother, more authentic ground game.
Players who prefer the previous grappling system can still utilize the Grapple Assist feature or enable the legacy version, which offers greater control over transitions, sweeps, and submissions. The community’s feedback over the past decade has been taken into consideration, and EA Sports UFC 5 aims to deliver an improved grappling experience.
Career Mode: Immersive and Cinematic
Outside of the Octagon, players can immerse themselves in a revamped Career Mode experience. The game reintroduces Coach Davis from UFC 4, who plays a more significant role in the story beyond the initial stages. Cinematic scenes feature Coach Davis delivering pep talks to created fighters before important fights. The game also introduces an onboarding experience led by former UFC champion Valentina Shevchenko. This training camp provides players with a comprehensive introduction to the game’s mechanics while focusing on striking, grappling, health, damage, and stamina.
Career Mode showcases a more diverse journey to becoming the Greatest of All Time (GOAT). Improved training camps and AI provide a challenging experience, with upgraded sparring challenges and an enhanced grading system. The AI becomes more difficult during high-stakes fights, ensuring engaging gameplay. Players can choose between basic rulesets or the realistic Simulation mode, which incorporates fight clock, stamina, and damage for an authentic championship experience.
EA Sports UFC 5 also introduces Online Career, allowing players to create their fighters and compete in a promotion that pits created fighters against each other. By fighting and earning evolution points, players can invest in the growth of their fighter and even prestige them, akin to other online multiplayer games. The introduction of Online Career encourages players to explore different builds and characters.
Enhanced Integration with Real-world UFC Events
In addition to the extensive gameplay improvements, EA Sports UFC 5 integrates more closely with real-world UFC events. Daily Fight Contracts offer daily challenges against CPU fighters, providing an opportunity to earn rewards such as UFC coins. The contracts become progressively harder throughout the week, testing players’ skills. Players can also predict the outcomes of upcoming UFC cards, earning UFC coins and rewards for correct picks. Alter Egos, unlockable variants of fighters, feature different looks and abilities from iconic eras of their careers. These additions further enhance the immersive and dynamic experience of EA Sports UFC 5.
Final Thoughts and Release Date
While many sports games face criticism for their iterative releases, the development team behind EA Sports UFC 5 has had the opportunity to listen to player feedback and refine the franchise over the years. With the addition of the Frostbite Engine and significant gameplay improvements, EA Sports UFC 5 promises to be a highly anticipated entry into the series. The game is set to release on October 27 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Preorder bonuses include access to bonus fighters, such as Fedor Emelianenko, Muhammad Ali, and Mike Tyson, as well as various Bruce Lee Alter Egos. MMA fans and gaming enthusiasts alike can look forward to an immersive and authentic experience in the world of UFC.