- Tested on PS5
- Code transmitted by the publisher
- We spent 20 hours in the cage.
- Homeshots.
Electronic Arts and Sport is a relationship that has lasted for several decades. And as in any long relationship, maintaining the flame is necessary in order not to degrade it. Regardless of the discipline, EA ceased to rely on its achievements over the course of the licences. This year, three years after the last opus, EA Sports UFC 6 comes with much better ambitions. Obviously, the studio came back with a clear strategy and laudable intentions.
A New Challenger
EA had to evolve by improving its satisfactory but proven formula. A formula that turns round as much as that of a EA Sports FC (successor FIFA). With CFU 6A new ambition is emerging. The MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), and more specifically its UFC league, has taken an important place in the sports entertainment landscape in recent years. Violent, but no less technical, the MMA is a discipline that enjoys a sulphurous reputation that goes beyond the inside of the cage. This can easily be attributed to differences in the behaviour of combatants during press conferences and weighings where insults rain, in particular.
The egos first confront psychologically, before meeting in the octagon where there will be only a physical confrontation. A narrative is built around the fighters, while the quest for buzz is advocated. For these and other reasons, the MMA becomes the face of the USA. The improbable UFC event hosted at the White House by Dana White and the U.S. President attests to this. Hatted to celebrate Donald Trump's birthday, the evening also served an imperialist propaganda expected. A demonstration of soft power which will be described as embarrassing, as a ringuard too, recalling the parodic adverts of a Starship Troopers or the immature whims of political figuresIdiocracy.
The vision of America with questionable moral values. And these men alone in the cage (no woman invited on the combat card), who face adversity, end up being the personification. At this party it was the USA that won. A triumph symbolized by Justin Gaethje's victory against the favourite Ilia Topuria. A high-quality fight that succeeded the victory of French Cyril Gane managed to stop Alex Pereira, the face of the jacketCFU 6. A victory that did not fail to throw a cold on the event. A memorable performance for Gane that allowed herself to enter a Guadeloupe music in homage to a culture, to a nation forged in adversity and slavery, as the combatant specifies on his social networks.
Best of the best
The publisher could not hope better as advertising before the launch ofEA Sports UFC 6, despite the defeat of Pereira, present on the jacket. After three years of waiting, the return does good. Because so little has changed, this new opus affirms by his mastery and the degree of realism achieved. Electronic Arts shows that they've been able to listen to the fans, even if you shouldn't be in a hurry. How does this translate into a game? By an ever more powerful graphics engine already. If you put aside the K.O.s whose animations convoke the valley of strangeness, the work on faces and animations remains exemplary. Efforts are also felt on the atmosphere, even if one is entitled to hope more.
The most significant change in the cage is gameplay. If the previous part suffered from a certain heaviness and lack of speed, fluidity in the blows carried, it is now ancient history. Overall, CFU 6 is more dynamic, more punchy and it asserts itself as the most satisfying episode controller in hand. Fighting increases in tension and intense. The same applies to smoother ground transitions, although a little complex to grasp for a neophyte. Fortunately, various comfort options exist so as not to penalize everyone. On the other hand, EA has gone wrong implementing the new Flow State mechanics.
The aim was to transcribe into play the so particular sensations of this state of flow (a sort of trans or ultra-instinct to say it simply), that one reaches only a certain level of mastery of his art and/or discipline in the real world. Unfortunately, in the practice of the game it is a failure. Whether visually or in the changes that affect gameplay, it breaks with the realism of the license. It's simple, we restricted our use of mechanics during our sessions so as not to spoil pleasure. It is currently impossible to deactivate it, which forces it to be subjected to by opponents. When it comes to I.A., it is acceptable. For online clashes, one can question its relevance.
The realism inherent in the licence, despite the Flow State, also serves the ambitions of the Hall of Fame mode. In this fashion, we take advantage of a similar museum visit to discover the great moments of the career of three great MMA names: Weili Zhang, Alex Pereira and Max Holloway. Whether it is Pereira and its indigenous origins – the Pataxo tribe –, Hawaii's culture and folklore to honor Max Holloway, or Weili Zhang's China and Taoist values that enliven, the fighters' philosophy is perfectly depicted. We enjoy exciting archive videos. EA succeeded in convening the singularity of the MMA, at the same time as it invites to relive the milestones of the career of these talented fighters. The videos immerse in the heart of the action before transitioning on the game to let us control the fight.
MMA-cracy
In addition to the success of the Hall of Fame mode, the pleasure of playing at UFC 6 also spreads through Heritage mode. In the latter one follows the career of a fictional protagonist. We take part in ascent in MMA, from the small club to the failing pipes until the signing of its contract at UFC. The story unfolds the usual plot for a sports work, mixing rivalry and the quest for legitimacy. A salutary narrative effort for the license, which is not without recalling the attempt begun in Fight Night Champions. The characters are sufficiently endearing to involve us. The real regret lies in the phases of the hall between two battles.
Sparring with a teammate and bag strikes amuse for a while, then redundancy is felt. It feels even more because of the lack of variety in the activities allowed. This is detrimental to the basic career mode, in which you play with the fighter of your choice, including the one created by us. Indeed, in view of the efforts made on the above mentioned modes, launching his career only brings with it a new title of the Heritage mode, the narrative less. Repeatability makes sense from a discipline point of view to acquire and muscle memory to develop. However, in the long term, the playful aspect is lost in favour of boredom or indifference. This translates into the irrepressible desire to simulate sessions rather than play them.
Besides that, the soft distills these small doses of dopamines here and there. Every achievement, every fight played brings back useful experience to get more or less useful cosmetics. Players who want to unlock everything will have to spend several tens of hours. Yet, the most time-consuming part ofCFU 6 is definitely the Gym. A kind of hub (without the physical presence of our character) in which staff and fighters are recruited to advance in level and unlock outfits, etc. We weren't excited about the proposal, but maybe she'll talk more to other players' profiles. Finally, for competitors in the soul the online does not disappoint. CFU 6 offers several modes including the sacro-sanitary career and, for lovers of stretching and foot-poing, it is possible to fight without sequences on the ground.
EA has been able to listen to each other and to question each other. The studio was able to produce this new episode with a clear and effective strategy. A strategy that convinces, despite the mistake made in implementing the Flow State mechanics. The idea makes sense, but it completely breaks the immersion. The harm is all the more problematic as the game is working hard to get ever closer to the realism and sensations of the MMA. In the end, UFC 6 is saved thanks to its dynamic and striking gameplay, as well as its Heritage and Hall of Fame modes. A game that includes the essence of the discipline and applies to share it.
For
- Always more beautiful, ever more fluid
- The Raster Consequential
- The solo and online content
- Narrative ambitions
- Dynamic and powerful fighting
- The Hall of Fame mode
Against
- Flow State mechanics
- The animations during the K.O. do stains
- Some Hitbox troubles to fix
Thanks for all this recontextualization with the White House event. It's a perfect timing!
I am the orange agent and I approve this test!!
Thanks for the feedback!
Excellent Dylan test. Bravo!