What are your first impressions of EA Sports UFC?

Glenn Wigmore: After clocking some decent time with EA Sports UFC, I can safely that there is a lot to be positive about. The career mode, while a bit shaky at first, has some entertaining moments so far, and the online play totally works. I've had some very entertaining brawls and competitive fights online already, and I think it's pretty telling that of the five fights I've had, none have been knockouts. The fact that decisions and submissions are actually possible now is a great sign, as it means that not every fight is going to be a crazy knockout stoppage.

That said, it's super fun to have some back-and-forth fights with people, and the users who've mastered some of the ground and clinch game have forced me to use all of the game's systems. I still feel that the controls and the timing windows for transitions aren't quite as simplified as they could've been, and there are just flat out too many high-level kicks and techniques being thrown by all fighters. The heavyweights will gas much quicker than lighter guys, which is great to see, but it will be welcome if future games find a way of limiting the amount of absurd strikes you currently see in a round of EA Sports UFC. The impact on the strikes isn't where I'd like it either.

Still, so far I've found enough positives to make me want to play more of the game, namely the decent career offering and fun online play. There's depth in the ground and clinch games if you look for it, and you'd be well served to hone those skills in the challenge mode before heading online.

Robert Kollars: I would so be lying if I said I was a huge UFC fan, but from what I can gather so far, that’s probably a good thing. Even as a fringe fan I understand that EA’s UFC is made for the masses, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, unless you were one of the guys hoping for a straight simulation. There are simulation elements to it, but probably not enough to make a hardcore fan of the sport happy with their purchase.

That being said, I am having a lot of fun with the title, and for me personally, that’s enough. The game has some fun modes, as it offers online and offline exhibition, career, and rivals(against people on your friends list), but it seems a few more could have been included to add longevity. The graphics are nice, the movement is pretty fluid, but I do wish the game play was a bit slower, and more methodical.

Ben Vollmer: I've only gotten a few hours in with EA Sports UFC, but what I have played has me really excited for the franchise's future.

Let's be honest, EA wasn't going to hit the nail on the head their first go-around. What they needed was a solid foundation to build off of for the future, and to be able to deliver a game that at the very least can be fun to play. I haven't gotten into career much, but I've now played multiple matches against the CPU, other friends offline, and one or two matches online. The thing they all had in common? I had a blast. There's something so gratifying about going five rounds, with neither side landing a decisive blow, only to finally sneak that one punch in there that ends everything. UFC is a game of cat and mouse when it's at its best, and I think that EA Sports UFC really captures that.

All the same, there is a lot still to work on. But the fact that the game can be so much fun with quite a few flaws speaks to how high the ceiling is for EA's new IP.