Much like watching a UFC PPV, playing an online game so far during the debut on the next generation of systems can be very hit and miss. No matter the genre, some games have outperformed expectations, while others have left its customer base wondering if they’ll ever get it right. With the ushering in of these new systems, the expectations for a smooth online experience has never been higher, or more important than now. So how does EA Sports UFC stand up against these lofty hopes and expectations?

The first and most important aspect of any online portion of a game is the stability and strength of connectivity of said title, and I am very happy to report that EA’s UFC title has played flawlessly for me. In multiple attempts with different users the game has loaded properly, never frozen, and shown zero response issues, for me at least. These are all very good signs, and I would have to assume that if the online servers can handle the initial crush of the first two to three days, than the title should hold up well over the course of its time in gamers' consoles.

So the game works properly online, but is it worth your time?

In my humble opinion, the answer is most definitely a yes. I consider myself largely an offline gamer, but found the online portion of UFC wildly addictive, and as soon as one match was over, I was ready to step into the octagon immediately again. One must also consider the opponent they are facing, and for me I chose to play the people on my friends list that I have gamed with for years. So if you decide to venture out into the world of randoms, your experiences will almost certainly differ.

Speaking of playing random opponents, it simply may not be your thing, and EA has you covered here in a bit of a unique way. Instead of just following the typical trend of giving the user the option to challenge an opponent from off of their friends list, which is available also, UFC offers a “Rivals” mode. In this mode any user can add a someone from their friends list and start a short season. You will face that opponent multiple times and in each match one will accrue points for a win, loss, or draw. The goal is to get to eight total points and be declared the winner of the season challenge against that online opponent.

The game also offers a “Championship mode” This mode is handled much like the rivals mode, but instead of grabbing a friend, and trying to accumulate eight points on your way to seasonal victory, you are now pitted again random opponents and have to “fight” your way to the top. Championship mode allows you to pick the weight classes you want to fight in, and you can pick all of them, or just one, the choice is yours. There are a total of 10 fights to be had, but that’s assuming you do not get eliminated along the way. If you do, a new tournament will be available after the timer of the current tournament runs its course.

It’s obvious the game could have offered a deeper card in regards to online content, but that doesn’t mean that the online experience is a barren wasteland of nothingness. Yes, I would have liked to see a tournament mode with friends, a league mode, and a co-op career mode would have been just the bee’s knees, but you know what they say? There’s always next year. Still, there is enough to keep one occupied and enjoying the experience for quite some time.

As we mentioned previously, the game offers some very cool and unique ways to have fun online. The overall experience for me was top notch, and felt every bit as good as playing offline. Your mileage may vary obviously, but I think there is enough here for the average fan to have fun with.

I recommend you join in on the online community here at OS to guarantee good opponents and avoid the headaches you will encounter with random opponents.

What has been your experience so far?