UFC Top 20 Best Throws, Takedowns, Submissions & Reversals (SEGA Dreamcast Version)
17Ultimate Fighting Championship is the first ever UFC game, released for SEGA Dreamcast by Anchor Inc., and Sony PlayStation (PS1) by Opus Corp in 2000. A separate Gameboy Color version was also made.
What makes UFC stand out from other fighting games is the extensive ground fighting system, which involves transitioning between different positions such as mount and guard. Each position confers strategic advantages and disadvantages to the player.
On first impressions the game can appear limited and boring, as it seems that all of the characters share the same grappling moves e.g. the basic double leg takedown. However, on closer inspection, more advanced techniques can be uncovered. There is a decent selection of throws, takedowns, submissions from standing and reversals / counter attacks available. Many of the more interesting moves are performed with a front or back step, which requires the player to press a direction towards or away from their opponent, before inputting the throw command.
The game also has a complex reversal system, which requires the player to input different commands based on the type of attack being used against them. Successful reversals either result in a submission attempt, or a change in position (which can make things better or worse for the defender). While the game is lenient with the timing of counter attacks, the real challenge comes from anticipating or interpreting the behaviour of your opponent quickly enough.
Due to the cool-looking reversal chains used in UFC, the game is comparable to SEGA's Toy Fighter (Arcade), or Opus Corp's Fighter's Destiny (N64). In fact, the PS1 version of UFC was made by the same developers as Fighter's Destiny which could explain the technical style of gameplay.
It is possible to purchase new moves for fighters in the "Career" mode using Skill Points, but they can only be applied to a separate clone of a character and not the default fighters. This is unfortunate, as it would have been more enjoyable to progress through the game whilst upgrading your character.
While this game was marketed as having realistic mixed martial arts fighting techniques, the game still contains fun and flashy fighting moves which can be unlocked with new character types. For example, you can play as a Lucha Libre style pro wrestler, who has a German suplex and a giant swing as ground techniques. My favourite character is the generic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) fighter, who has a Seoi Nage style shoulder throw and a helicopter armbar. You can also play as the referee John McCarthy, announcer Bruce Buffer, a card girl, and the UFC logo character Ulti-Man.
However, the character creation process is highly limited. You can only choose from pre-determined movesets and appearances. It would have been far more interesting to customise the look and moves of your new fighters in detail. Another thing I would change about the game is to provide a variety of environments such as different ring types, instead of the same octagon cage for every match.
Overall, this is a fun and challenging fighting game, best suited to those with an understanding of mixed martial arts strategies and the positional hierarchy. It is worth the relatively steep learning curve to experience the unique and realistic gameplay.