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Is EA Sports UFC 2 Doubling Down on Its Strengths and Ignoring Its Weaknesses?

There is an argument to be had that UFC 2 is bringing more than enough to the octagon but still not nearly enough outside of it.

EA's UFC debut was an interesting one. The fighting is fast paced, complex and ruthless. If you miss your window of opportunity, you can expect to have your bell rung and possibly even be knocked out. Having to stay on your toes at all times is what made the experience such a genuine one.

The variance and multitude of different ways to end a fight was the best thing about UFC. UFC 2 seems to be on a mission to continue the trend. With standing and chained submissions, the game's single-largest gameplay flaw (the lack of a need to use submissions), seems to have been addressed.

UFC was arguably already the best looking sports game on the market. Player models are an unprecedented match with their real-life counterparts so much so that it's hard to imagine that UFC 2 can raise the bar much higher. All the same, EA is touting an even more realistic looking game with hair physics and a new facial modeling system being used. If the trailers are any indication, nearly ever character model looks close to identical to their real-life selves. Better yet, the movement seems fluid and natural.

A lack of game modes and overall depth kept UFC from having any kind of elongated lifespan. UFC 2 is adding a few modes that should spark interest, including a "Create an Event" mode that will allow you to customize everything from the venue to the referees.

To nobody's surprise, UFC 2 is also introducing the online juggernaut Ultimate Team to this year's iteration. With a healthy roster of over 250 fighters -- and a create-a-fighter system in place -- it could be interesting enough to hold its own, even if it doesn't necessarily draw anyone new into the game itself.

Unfortunately, there has not been much news in the way of UFC 2's career mode. We know you'll be able to fight as female fighters now, and the process of picking and training for fights seems a bit more guided, but there has generally been little information detailing how this year's mode will be any better than the last version. This is unfortunate, given how bare the career mode was in UFC. While a deeper roster provides a certain degree of depth, roster size alone can't solve the career mode issue. Fans will have to cross their fingers that UFC 2 has some tricks up its sleeve when the game releases.

The series is still young enough that fans don't have to be concerned with a lack of depth just yet. But with a two-year release schedule, and EA's poor track record of handling career modes as of late, there's definitely reason to keep an eye on what EA does with the series. It may become a question of whether or not EA wants to double down on the game's best traits and just treat UFC like a multiplayer-driven fighting game, or invest a bit more and focus on becoming a more expansive title.


EA Sports UFC 2 Videos
Member Comments
# 1 fballturkey @ 03/07/16 11:46 AM
My impression is that no, it's not doing that at all. The biggest weakness in 1, the ground game, was definitely addressed. The second biggest problem for a lot of people was lack of game modes. UT does address this, even if it isn't everyone's cup of tea. I hope people that don't typically like UT modes try it, because it's really nothing like Madden UT and in my opinion is much better. I'd love for them to greatly expand career mode and even put in a universe mode, but UT is going to add a ton of longevity to the game for a lot of people.
 
# 2 sactown_13 @ 03/07/16 12:08 PM
Have you played it?
 
# 3 fballturkey @ 03/07/16 12:52 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by sactown_13
Have you played it?
I've played the beta a lot.
 
# 4 sooperb @ 03/07/16 04:16 PM
What would be cool is if you and say 5 friends were able to start a connected career to climb ranks and evolve together. I have been saying the same thing about NBA2K for years now. In 2k we would just player lock and go at it. Madden is the only sport to do this.

EA has a pretty decent career formula but after around 15 matches the outside of the ring options are just dull and something you just want to get over with to fight your next opponent.
 
# 5 TheDeej @ 03/07/16 05:40 PM
I think they should have a career mode that revolves around a fight manager. I like this idea because it is more sustainable long term. This way you can have multiple fighters with multiple fights and it could run longer. My issue with a single fighter career is it seems so quick. I know that it is realistic but it doesn't last long enough. Having a manager with multiple customizable fighters and the ability to recruit more could solve this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
# 6 sactown_13 @ 03/07/16 08:33 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by fballturkey
I've played the beta a lot.
Havent been keeping up with this game. Didnt realize they had a beta. Did it include ultimate team? What do they do differently?
 
# 7 derekwade111 @ 03/07/16 08:48 PM
Realistically anyone who wasn't involved with the beta won't notice how much was done to make this game better, I haven't been able to touch ufc 1 since playing the beta because it's that much more advanced and makes ufc 1 look like it was built for an older generation of consoles

Sent from my HTC Desire 510 using Tapatalk
 
# 8 fballturkey @ 03/08/16 12:22 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by sactown_13
Havent been keeping up with this game. Didnt realize they had a beta. Did it include ultimate team? What do they do differently?
The beta did have ultimate team.

The way it works is that you create your team of 5 (I think) fighters. You decide which one you want to be using, so you can just use one all the time or use different ones in different weight classes. You fight the CPU or against people online and depending on how you do you get coins that you can buy packs with. The packs have stat increases, moves, and some other things that you can apply to your fighter. Some of those are weight class specific which is why you probably want to have a fighter in each one.

It has a couple things that aren't great, chief among them being an energy management system that adds absolutely nothing to the game. It's not game breaking though, and they took steps at the end of the beta to completely neuter it so I have no idea why they would leave it in.

Overall it's the best UT mode I've played, and I hate most others, and a close second to Diamond Dynasty from MLB The Show for best online mode I've played period.
 
# 9 BSchwartz07 @ 03/08/16 10:26 AM
Can't say I'm surprised. EA gave up on any sort of career mode in Madden, and the franchise mode has actually taken steps backward in the last 10 years. They are 100% focused on Ultimate team modes that can earn extra money for them.

On a side note, how cool would a franchise mode be in UFC? You could run a new gym or take over an existing one, fight with and train the fighters in the gym. You could sign new up and coming fighters or existing big names.... EA will never do it, but it could be fun.
 
# 10 aholbert32 @ 03/08/16 11:06 AM
Career mode is improved in a lot of ways but not so significantly that it outshines modes like Ultimate Team or Event Mode.
 
# 11 Money99 @ 03/08/16 01:39 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheDeej
I think they should have a career mode that revolves around a fight manager. I like this idea because it is more sustainable long term. This way you can have multiple fighters with multiple fights and it could run longer. My issue with a single fighter career is it seems so quick. I know that it is realistic but it doesn't last long enough. Having a manager with multiple customizable fighters and the ability to recruit more could solve this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Well said. It's quick and incredibly repetitive.
How many combat games have we all played which follow the same formula; train, distribute points, fight, repeat?
It's been that way for 30+ years now!

A Managers Mode is long overdo.
There are so many variances that could be touched on which would breath new life into the genre and keep gamers captivated for years.
- running a gym, including paying the bills for utilities, trainers, dietitian and equipment.
- putting together local cards to help pay the bills while improving fighters
- working with various promotions in helping your fighters climb the ladder.
- as your gym improves and gains a reputation for churning out world class contenders, more and more top amateur and pro fighters will want to be part of your gym.
*conversely, if you do a poor job managing fighters, the pickings will become slim.

I'd also love to see a mode where some of the fighters attributes are static and can't be improved on.
You can't make a pillow-handed fighter into a KO artist. You're either born with power, or you're not. Same as having a good chin.
Where you can improve is with stamina, learning new disciplines, etc. But certain skills should be written in stone.

Being able to turn a fighter with low static ratings into a world contender or even champ, would be a major task and accomplishment.
It would also help boost your gym's rep and make free agent fighters take note.
It would also keep the game fresh and interesting throughout it's lifespan.
 
# 12 TheDeej @ 03/08/16 02:55 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Money99
Well said. It's quick and incredibly repetitive.
How many combat games have we all played which follow the same formula; train, distribute points, fight, repeat?
It's been that way for 30+ years now!

A Managers Mode is long overdo.
There are so many variances that could be touched on which would breath new life into the genre and keep gamers captivated for years.
- running a gym, including paying the bills for utilities, trainers, dietitian and equipment.
- putting together local cards to help pay the bills while improving fighters
- working with various promotions in helping your fighters climb the ladder.
- as your gym improves and gains a reputation for churning out world class contenders, more and more top amateur and pro fighters will want to be part of your gym.
*conversely, if you do a poor job managing fighters, the pickings will become slim.

I'd also love to see a mode where some of the fighters attributes are static and can't be improved on.
You can't make a pillow-handed fighter into a KO artist. You're either born with power, or you're not. Same as having a good chin.
Where you can improve is with stamina, learning new disciplines, etc. But certain skills should be written in stone.

Being able to turn a fighter with low static ratings into a world contender or even champ, would be a major task and accomplishment.
It would also help boost your gym's rep and make free agent fighters take note.
It would also keep the game fresh and interesting throughout it's lifespan.

Great ideas man!

I truly think this is the direction they need to go to keep a career mode fresh and engaging in a fighting game.

I am kind of inspired by XCOM and the way it gets you to care about your soldiers.

I would love to name fighters after friends or family. Have a place to go back and look at fighters of the past and re-live their accomplishments or lack there of.

It doesn't even have to be a manager mode as much as like you said a gym where many fighters come and go. Having the financial options would be nice for people who like that as well. The more options the better.

One fighters career is just so short. Especially when you only fight 2 or 3 fights a year. Then boom you are done and have to start from scratch with no investment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
# 13 fishingtime @ 03/08/16 03:08 PM
Here are a couple tidbits from Brian Hayes:

Training Camp is the only thing that affects Attributes (fighter ratings) in Career.

https://twitter.com/TheBrizzo/status/700357393306095616

u earn Ev Points after each fight in Career that u can use to upgrade or unlock new Moves or Perks...

https://twitter.com/TheBrizzo/status/700357103022510080

Not much, but better than nothing.
 
# 14 fballturkey @ 03/08/16 05:40 PM
I don't get on twitter so I appreciate people posting info from the Devs on there on here.
 
# 15 TheDeej @ 03/08/16 05:42 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by fishingtime
Here are a couple tidbits from Brian Hayes:

Training Camp is the only thing that affects Attributes (fighter ratings) in Career.

https://twitter.com/TheBrizzo/status/700357393306095616

u earn Ev Points after each fight in Career that u can use to upgrade or unlock new Moves or Perks...

https://twitter.com/TheBrizzo/status/700357103022510080

Not much, but better than nothing.

Thank you for sharing! I hadn't seen these yet


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
# 16 aholbert32 @ 03/08/16 05:48 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by drinklime
are you going to repost everything they post on twitter here? because i dont come here to read pages of tweets

I warned SwedishTouch and Fishingtime already. Don't bring that stuff here. Next time you will be banned.
 
# 17 ImTellinTim @ 03/08/16 05:50 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by drinklime
are you going to repost everything they post on twitter here? because i dont come here to read pages of tweets
If you don't have anything to add to this discussion...DO NOT POST. This will be your only warning. I found your and fishingtime's little feud on reddit, and it will NOT be brought here. In any way, shape, or form. So knock it off now.
 
# 18 sportsfan8812 @ 03/09/16 12:44 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ImTellinTim
If you don't have anything to add to this discussion...DO NOT POST. This will be your only warning. I found your and fishingtime's little feud on reddit, and it will NOT be brought here. In any way, shape, or form. So knock it off now.
If this gets me banned for not contributing to the convo than so be it but apparently they have taken it to the point of calling fishingtime at home to harass him? That's ****ing ridiculous. Leave the guy alone. Ban drinklime and everyone he's associated with on these forums.
 
# 19 ImTellinTim @ 03/09/16 01:26 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by sportsfan8812
If this gets me banned for not contributing to the convo than so be it but apparently they have taken it to the point of calling fishingtime at home to harass him? That's ****ing ridiculous. Leave the guy alone. Ban drinklime and everyone he's associated with on these forums.
This isn't something that we can deal with here. If someone's being allegedly harassed at home, they should contact the proper authorities. We don't care to hear about this crap at OS. Discuss the game to your heart's content. If people start going at each other personally in threads or PMs, that is something we will deal with. Everyone's been warned, and this is the last time things from the past or other sites will be talked about on these forums.

Also, I am editing your post. Let the language filter do it's thing. Don't use characters yourself to bypass it. This is in the TOS.
 
# 20 sportsfan8812 @ 03/09/16 03:19 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ImTellinTim
This isn't something that we can deal with here. If someone's being allegedly harassed at home, they should contact the proper authorities. We don't care to hear about this crap at OS. Discuss the game to your heart's content. If people start going at each other personally in threads or PMs, that is something we will deal with. Everyone's been warned, and this is the last time things from the past or other sites will be talked about on these forums.

Also, I am editing your post. Let the language filter do it's thing. Don't use characters yourself to bypass it. This is in the TOS.
Right on. Understood. Thank you sir
 

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