EA Sports UFC 5 represents a decisive leap forward in the MMA gaming genre, offering a seamless and exciting recreation of the sport. The transition to Frostbite was positive, especially in the animations and the links that connect them. It's better than UFC 4 and headed in the right direction; no more arcade stuff, go full simulation.
Release Date and Platforms
UFC 5 was announced in September 2023 and was released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S on October 27, 2023.
- Platform: PS5
- Initial Release Date: Oct 27, 2023
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
Key Features and Gameplay
Generally speaking, UFC 5 shows various improvements both in terms of graphics and gameplay. The gameplay is smooth and the combat system quite solid, albeit with its difficulties. UFC 5 is a very good fighting game with a lot of depth to it, and will provide plenty of entertainment for UFC fans.
Here are some of the standout features:
- Authentic Damage System: Cuts, bruising, and swelling accumulate based on the damage you inflict, affecting character attributes. There are over 64,000 possible combinations of facial damage rendered in detail.
- Doctor's Checks and Stoppages: Significant injuries can lead to the ref pausing the action for a ringside doctor to inspect the damage.
- Seamless Submissions: A revamped grappling system brings faster animations and removes mini-games for a smoother, more authentic ground game.
- New Strikes and Hit Reactions: All-new animations for ground and pound elbows, spinning attacks, and various other punches, kicks, knees, and elbows.
- Cinematic K.O. Replays: Captures fight-ending finishes in all their punishing glory.
The new damage system makes adjusting your strategy mid-fight more involved with plenty of risk-versus-reward decisions, making both offline and online modes all the more enjoyable and replayable.
EA Sports UFC 5 Review
Game Modes and Updates
Updates include fresh Fight Week content, features, and challenges that are updated monthly around real-world UFC events. It’s the stakes, technique, drama and pure reality of the moment. Online Career mode brings skill-based matchmaking, division progression, and title chases across four divisions.
The game features a career mode, which sees the return of Coach Davis introduced in UFC 4. The goal of the player is to become the "G.O.A.T" (which stands for "greatest of all time"). Career Mode is made even better with quality of life improvements.
Editions and Bonus Content
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.
There are several editions available, each offering unique content:
Standard Edition:
- Base Game
- 5x Origins Alter Egos (Conor McGregor - 2013, Israel Adesanya - 2017, Alexander Volkanovski - 2011, Valentina Shevchenko - 2014, Leon Edwards - 2015)
- Origins Vanity Bundle (22 Items)
- Mike Tyson
- 5x Online Career Mode XP Boosts
Deluxe Edition:
- Base Game
- 5x Origins Alter Egos (Conor McGregor - 2013, Israel Adesanya - 2017, Alexander Volkanovski - 2011, Valentina Shevchenko - 2014, Leon Edwards - 2015)
- Origins Vanity Bundle (22 Items)
- Mike Tyson
- 5x Online Career Mode XP Boosts
- Alter Egos: Origins (Israel Adesanya, Alexander Volkanovski, Valentina Shevchenko, Conor McGregor, Leon Edwards)
- Fedor Emelianenko
- Muhammad Ali
- UFC Legends (Kevin Randleman, Jens Pulver)
- Alter Egos: Prime (Tony Ferguson, Nate Diaz, Donald Cerrone, Cody Garbrandt, Eddie Alvarez)
- Alter Egos: PRIDE (Shogun Rua, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, Nick Diaz, Alistair Overeem)
Ultimate Edition:
- Base Game
- 5x Origins Alter Egos (Conor McGregor - 2013, Israel Adesanya - 2017, Alexander Volkanovski - 2011, Valentina Shevchenko - 2014, Leon Edwards - 2015)
- Origins Vanity Bundle (22 Items)
- Mike Tyson
- 5x Online Career Mode XP Boosts
- Alter Egos: Origins (Israel Adesanya, Alexander Volkanovski, Valentina Shevchenko, Conor McGregor, Leon Edwards)
- Fedor Emelianenko
- Muhammad Ali
- UFC Legends (Kevin Randleman, Jens Pulver)
- Alter Egos: Prime (Tony Ferguson, Nate Diaz, Donald Cerrone, Cody Garbrandt, Eddie Alvarez)
- Alter Egos: PRIDE (Shogun Rua, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, Nick Diaz, Alistair Overeem)
Reception
UFC 5 is a decisive leap forward compared to the past as well as a game that takes the discipline it tries to simulate into very high regard. UFC 5 is a very good fighting game with a lot of depth to it, and will provide plenty of entertainment for UFC fans.
Metacritic scores:
| Platform | Score |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | 78/100 |
| Xbox Series X | 74/100 |