EA Sports UFC 3 Reviews
EA went back to the gym with UFC 3 to work on many of the weaknesses that had the previous two games struggling to find their footing. A fantastic new striking system and a much-improved career mode lead the charge, but UFC 3 is still hamstrung by a cumbersome ground game, weird collision issues, and the straight-up terrible Ultimate Team Mode. It's still not a knockout, but Round 3 is UFC's best yet.
It definitely looks the part, and the striking is excellent, but stodgy controls and a weak ground game makes this far from the ultimate MMA game.
With an exceptional career mode and improved gameplay on top of its predecessor's already-strong offerings, UFC 3 is the best MMA game ever released
Even with simplified grappling and submission controls carried over from the last edition, EA Sports UFC 3 is probably the least pick-up-and-play game in the sports genre. It takes real dedication, and understanding of one's fighter, to draw out the game's virtues. But they can be found in the anticlimax of a career bout that ends in a fraction of the time spent training for it. For those who can take a staggering punch and remain focused on their game plan, EA Sports UFC 3 is as close as it comes to professional fighting, without the bruises and welts.
UFC 3's overhauled striking is wince-inducingly brilliant, but its cumbersome grappling continues to lag behind.
EA UFC 3 is closer to nailing this whole UFC video game thing than the comparatively thin EA UFC 2, but while this one has plenty of meat on its bones, it lacks connective tissue.
EA Sports has delivered the most complete UFC game ever. This fighting simulator features an amazingly realistic combat gameplay and one of its few flaws is that the Career Mode is a little bit repetitive. Essential for those who love fighting games or enjoy the sport.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
EA UFC 3 is a good representation of the sport franchise, offering a well put together fighting game that represents the different styles and weight classes found in MMA. The action in the octagon mimics reality very well, with a decent career mode helping people to learn the ropes. On the online front, there's a divide between Ultimate Team and standard online divisions with the latter winning out in both accessibility and fairness. If you're a UFC fan in general, then this is a good game to pick up.
EA Sports UFC 3 is the best MMA simulator we have seen. It is not perfect, but its elaborate combat system transmits all the tension of UFC and its technical section makes it look like we were watching fights on TV.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
With a focus on depth and functionality, the EA UFC 3 development team has created the strongest version in their series. A few minor missteps and the reluctance to embrace or include a true-sim component keeps it from GOAT status. However, there's no question it's a titleholder.
The heart of the game is in its fighting and that's as good as it's ever been.
Probably the best MMA game ever done, but it includes a few failures on almost every corner of the game that make this games less excellent and more so-so.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
EA UFC 3 offers a surprisingly deep experience with complex mechanics and many features for both single and multiplayer.
Review in Italian | Read full review
UFC 3 very well may be EA's best release in the series, but it's only by a small margin that they've improved on their previous effort.
It's about as complete an experience as it can be, and MMA fans will love what EA has done with UFC 3.
EA Sports UFC 3 provides a staggering amount of improvements in nearly every area. EA Canada could have played it safe and iterated, but instead they overhauled major systems, addressing almost every complaint I had about its predecessors. Better striking mechanics, movement, and animations are joined by a fantastic career mode, and a whole host of additional attractions. I've still got a few axes to grind on submissions and AI balance, but the rest of the game is an embarrassment of riches.
EA Sports UFC 3 is the best the series has ever looked, sounded or played and, despite a small handful of minor shortcomings, is quite simply the best UFC title to date and a very real contender for the fighting game throne in 2018.
_________________________ “UFC 3 is an EA Sports title that is made to attract more than just a niche, hardcore fan base of MMA enthusiasts and it's all the better for it.
Players looking for a purely single-player experience will be disappointed as the G.O.A.T Career Mode is lacking in several areas. While it may be difficult to become a champion in the Octagon, the fighting in UFC 3 feels satisfying once you get used to all the mechanics. Be prepared to study outside of the game as the tutorials simply do not cut it. UFC 3 is the best game in the series so far, however the developers still have a long way to go before it reaches the heights of the other EA Sports titles.
When two outrageously detailed character models are slugging it out, EA Sports UFC 3 feels sublime. Incredible animations paired with a weighty physics system mean that you feel the thrills and spills of every bout. Unfortunately, the clunky ground game combat fails to hit the same highs, and the campaign – which is a novelty to begin with – loses its lustre after a few rounds. There's still a lot to like here and more than enough content to sink your fists into, but it still feels like there's a bit more refinement required before this series achieves G.O.A.T. status.