Punching and kicking is pretty simple to understand when it comes to playing an MMA game, but how will you pull off slick submissions in the upcoming EA Sports UFC? Each product carrying the UFC brand seems to take a different grappling approach, and this next-generation project is no different. Speaking to Sherdog, creative director Brian Hayes detailed exactly how this particular title handles jiu-jitsu.
“We are doing some new things and some different things than fans have seen in the past. Our submission system involves an onscreen mini-game. It’s based on two core principles: One, the person you’re trying to submit is rarely interested in letting you make progress towards your goal of making them tap,” he said. “In real jiu-jitsu they’re looking to move in a way that will alleviate pressure and make it possible to escape. In our game, they have the ability to try and escape by pushing the right stick up, down, left or right. You’ll be able to see where they are trying to escape and how close they are to escaping. You can push your right stick in the same direction to lock them down, but they can instantly move in another direction.
“Two, there’s an element of timing to sinking a submission in deeper. You have to be ready to react when the opening presents itself. Whether it’s sliding a forearm under your opponent’s chin, or tucking your foot behind your knee in a triangle. This comes in the form of an onscreen prompt to flick your left stick up, down, left or right. Every submission has multiple moves that must be executed before it’s locked in 100 percent and each time you advance a move, the defender goes back to square one trying to escape.”
Whether or not this feels natural is yet to be seen, but everything else about the spring product looks sharp. Hopefully, the actual gameplay is up to snuff.
