UFC: Throwdown

Although I had complaints, the game overall is pretty good. It’s especially fun when you have two players; perhaps a sibling and you keep beating them. If you’re a die-hard UFC fan then you should definitely rent it for now until Pride comes out for the PS2.

UFC: Throwdown is a representation of a brutal sport. With over 20 real-life fighters fans of the sport will be in heaven. Fighting fans should also get some enjoyment out of the realism. Unfortunately there may not be enough variety in the game modes for some and the graphics are merely passable. This game is respectable rather then brilliant.

UFC: Throwdown plays nearly identically to previous games in the series--most notably UFC: Tapout for the Xbox and the original Ultimate Fighting Championship for the Dreamcast. While the control, animation, and graphics are solid, those who have already picked up a game in this series may not find enough in the new career mode to warrant picking up another extremely similar game. However, if you haven't played any of the UFC games before, or if you've been waiting for the series to come to the PlayStation 2, then Throwdown makes a fine introduction.

A tossed bag of good, great, and not so, UFC Throwdown can make for some intense gaming sessions. Lacking the variety and improvements that we originally hoped we'd find in a sequel, the strange resonance of "I've done this before" steals a couple of much-valued points from the overall score.

I've really only followed UFC loosely over the years, so I'm definitely not your die-hard UFC fan. But, thanks to Throwdown's deep Career mode I was hooked on the game for a while, and found it quite enjoyable to evolve my created character. Squaring off against another human opponent with my created tough guy was also very entertaining. You just get a better sense of satisfaction if you're winning with something you've worked hard to create. That said, though, Throwdown has its limits. Unless you're an avid fan of UFC, the game will have a tough time holding your attention. In addition to this, if you're a hardcore fan who's already owned several UFC titles, there may not be enough new features to warrant a purchase.

You'll like the first few hours with the game. You'll probably want to do a lot in the Career mode, but all of this just happens for so long. After leveling up to the max, unlocking a few fighters in the Championship mode, and a few matches in Arcade, there just really isn't anything that will make you want to keep playing. The actual fighting is fun and with another human player with you, it gets better, but once again the game lasts for only a short while.

Take a good game, revamp it's current gameplay modes, add nothing new but downgrade the graphics, and the result is UFC Throwdown. Those players who have already experienced the first game in the series will know what to expect here, but should be pleasantly surprised with the improvements in the career mode. Fans of the real life UFC should be pleased with the roster of fighters available as well as the various martial arts styles that can be experienced. Overall though, UFC Throwdown is an above-average title which still has a major amount of room for improvement.

All told, Throwdown looks and feels like it was rushed in development. If you want a great UFC experience, watch the event on pay-per-view?you?ll save money and still have enough cash to play Throwdown as a rental, which is certainly how it?s best enjoyed.

If you've never had the chance to experience a real-deal martial arts video game, you'll definitely want to check out UFC Throwdown. Its simple controls and variety of styles will easily impress the newcomers. The rest of the vets might enter the ring for a fight or two, but this tournament isn't worth coming out of retirement.