EA Sports UFC 6 Review Highlights Gameplay Features and Reality Deviation
EA Sports UFC 6 aims to deliver the brutal journey of MMA fighters through wins, losses, KOs, TKOs, and submissions, featuring an extensive roster and curated stories. The game introduces "Flow State," a new feature described as manufactured and gimmicky by the reviewer, which strays significantly from the sport's reality. While the game's career options are noted as more entertaining than previous versions, the reviewer highlights the "Hall of Legends" mode, particularly its interactive museum experiences for fighters like Max Holloway. The review suggests that despite its impressive presentation and focus on fighter narratives, the new gameplay mechanics, especially "Flow State," diverge from the straightforward fighting style known in earlier iterations of the series.
EA Sports UFC 6 is presented as a fighting game designed to convey the challenging experiences of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) athletes. It emphasizes key aspects of the sport, including wins, losses, knockouts (KOs), technical knockouts (TKOs), and submissions. The game features an impressive roster of legendary fighters and incorporates several curated stories intended to immerse players in the violent art of MMA.
A notable aspect highlighted in the review is the game's deviation from the realism of the sport. "Flow State" is introduced as the newest and most significant feature since the series transitioned to the Frostbite engine with UFC 5. This feature is characterized as manufactured and gimmicky, leading to instances where players may forget to activate it during gameplay, preferring to focus on established fighting styles, ground control, and avoiding damage.
Despite reservations about "Flow State," the game's "Hall of Legends" mode is positively noted. The reviewer spent considerable time exploring Max Holloway's interactive museum within this mode, which includes reading biographical details, watching videos, and completing highlight fights. One such highlight covers Holloway's BMF title victory against Justin Gaethje in 2024, allowing players to recreate iconic moments with the help of Holloway's specific Flow Boost.
Anticipation is expressed for similar curated experiences for fighters such as Alex Pereira and Zhang Weili within the "Hall of Legends" mode. The game's career options are also identified as more engaging and less repetitive compared to those in UFC 5. For reference, EA Sports UFC 5 was previously reviewed as the best MMA game at the time, earning a score of 9, praised for its next-gen presentation, refreshed mechanics, and a new damage system.
According to IGN, the game successfully delivers on its aim to tell the stories of fighters' journeys, even as certain features move it further from a realistic simulation of MMA.
