EA Sports UFC 5 Reviews
If EA Sports UFC came out every year, I wouldn’t feel as pessimistic about UFC 5, but after a three-year wait, this is only a serviceable attempt at best; you will only have as much fun as the people you match up with want to. Too many legacy issues are glued onto this game, and it’s such a shame that EA Vancouver doesn’t have any desire to do anything other than this odd half-live service deal with outfits.
UFC 5 is a good game, but the move to a new engine isn't as revolutionary as it has been in the past for other EA franchises. Sure, it looks and sounds better, but I could never escape the feeling that I was just playing a nicer-looking UFC 4. If you have that game you don't need to buy this one, you'll enjoy your time all the same.
EA Sports UFC 5 is the only game in town when it comes to the MMA genre, so it can be tough for fans of the series to ignore it, especially for those who are into the online ranked mode. But stagnation can be the death of a franchise. The overhauled graphics and new cut system are enough of an upgrade to satisfy some fans, but if you’re someone who enjoys the single-player modes, you’ll have pretty much the same experience by playing UFC 4 or even UFC 3 instead.
EA Sports UFC 5 doles out impressive blood-soaked Frostbite visuals and a double-dose of M-rated attitude, but don’t let the new swagger sway you. While the action remains satisfying enough, it hasn’t evolved in any significant way, and a lack of compelling content continues to be an issue for the series. UFC 5 may deliver the razzle dazzle, but it needs to work on its fundamentals.
For hardcore competitive players, the gameplay improvements might be enough to coax them across. As for the regular fans who want the next evolution in UFC games, I'm not so sure they will find enough here to justify the purchase. If you have been away from MMA games for as long as I have, UFC 5 is a fantastic way to jump back in - but UFC 4 might be just as good.
It’s not a game that’s going to change the mind of everyone who’s ever had a problem with the franchise over the years, but UFC 5 is still a good game worth picking up for any MMA fan.
EA Sports UFC 5 is a solid, if not particularly inventive, follow-up in the series. It can be fun, warts and all, but long-time fans will want for more.
A gritty and tough combat game that is both fun and rewarding. UFC 5 will keep you coming back until you are the champ.
UFC 5 is an exceptional fighting game that delivers a thrilling and authentic representation of mixed martial arts. Its brutal combat, deep gameplay mechanics, and enhanced presentation make it a must-play for MMA enthusiasts and hardcore fighting game fans. However, those seeking a more accessible and fast-paced experience might find the game's slower pace and technical demands challenging. Ultimately, the decision to purchase UFC 5 hinges on whether the game's realistic and strategic approach aligns with your preferences and gaming style.
Review in Persian | Read full review
The license doesn't suffer the same fate as some of the publisher's sports games, and this allows the developers to make some real changes. This is the case for EA Sports UFC 5, which benefits from the use of the Frosbite engine and brings a number of visual novelties while fine-tuning its gameplay. Realism is the order of the day, with an injury system that affects our fights and longevity in career mode. Nevertheless, the title remains relatively inaccessible to new players, while the content itself remains rather weak. If you're not a fan of career mode, online battles become very repetitive. It's clear, however, that the franchise is heading in the right direction.
Review in French | Read full review
UFC 5 is fun to play, looks great, has a ton of fighters, though the career mode is a glorified tutorial. If you love the sport this seems like the best one yet, and should be well worth checking out.
Although not perfect, EA SPORTS UFC 5 is perhaps the best MMA combat game to date. The new combat additions, the numerous combat modes and the career mode, which despite being the same as the previous one, has not gotten any worse. Only a few minimal technical issues and the number of fighters present in the game remain to be improved, which will probably be added throughout the life of this title.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
UFC 5 is a production that verges, at least in its genre of belonging, on perfection. Were it not for an easily "breakable" combat system as soon as one learns all its nuances, the new iteration of EA's series would show the side of very few smears.
Review in Italian | Read full review
There is a lot to do in EA SPORTS UFC 5, ranging from a highly rewarding and fast-paced Career Mode to a clever Fight Week mode. Moreover, the inclusion of Alter Egos and icons like Muhammad Ali and Fedor Emelianenko is the cherry on top of an already stacked fighter roster, and the soundtrack is absolutely amazing. Aside from some awkward cutscenes and a couple of bugs, Electronic Arts has truly created a great MMA fighting game that requires players to strategize for each match differently, making every fight feel fresh and more intense than the last.
EA Sports UFC 5 successfully grapples with the challenge of enhancing an already dominant franchise in the MMA gaming world.
While I do wish there were a few more single-player modes, such as a mode reliving epic fights or Octagon moments, the core gameplay in EA Sports UFC 5 is as good as ever.
There’s no doubting that EA Sports UFC 5 is the best representation of the sport yet, with stellar visuals and realistic animations now powered by the Frostbite Engine. There are some brilliant new features here, too, the most impactful being the gruesome injury system. For some though, the changes from UFC 4 might not quite be enough to convince them that it’s worthy of a purchase. That is of course unless they’re won over by the idea of an actual online career mode. EA Sports UFC 5 isn’t a reinvention of the series for the current-generation of consoles, but it at least has some advancements that make it somewhat compelling.
Generally speaking, UFC 5 manages to establish itself on the scene, presenting several improvements both in terms of graphics and gameplay.
Review in Italian | Read full review
After a fairly great entry in UFC 4, EA Sports returns with another stellar entry in its fighting series. The addition of a deeper impact system, changes to the submission system, and new striking mechanics make UFC 5 not only more fun to play, but just as thrilling as its predecessors have been.
EA Sports UFC 5 fulfills its premise and sets a new standard for the franchise through a huge leap in overall immersion and the debut of the game-changing Real Impact System. But the lack of attention given to other areas may underwhelm those who were hoping for something more.