Reviewed: August 26, 2002
Reviewed by: Aaron Daigle

Publisher
Crave Entertainment

Developer
Crave Entertainment

Released: June 6, 2002
Genre: Fighting
Players: 2
ESRB: Teen

7
7
4
8
6.5

Supported Features:

  • Analog Control
  • Digital Control
  • Vibration
  • Memory Card

    		•
    I love it when a game surprises me as was the case with Crave Entertainment’s newest release, UFC Throwdown. Based on the long-running mixed martial arts tournament, Throwdown boasts deep gameplay, an extensive roster of fighters, and some good-looking visuals to boot. The series last appeared on the Sega Dreamcast and was well received by the gaming press. Despite the definite trend of improvement in the UFC titles I wasn’t quite ready for how good Throwdown is.

    Check out these features:

    • Over 25 actual UFC fighters including current UFC Champions like Tito Ortiz and exclusive newcomers such as Ricco Rodriguez.
    • A brand new ultra-extensive Career Mode where you can create and train your fighter as he battles his way through grueling tournaments and ultimately to the UFC main event.
    • Compete in all new weight classes such as Light Heavyweight and Welterweight.
    • Ground-and-pound in a variety of arenas from the training room to a sold out UFC Championship arena.
    • 8-Player Tournament Mode lets you set up single elimination winner-takes-all matches where it's put up or shut up.
    • Increased variations in Create-a-Fighter Mode, including customization of the face, body, skin color, clothes, hairstyle, etc.
    • The most realistic, jaw-dropping fighter entrances ever.
    Throwdown’s fighting system is a blend of a boxing or wrestling title, which is fine because that’s basically what mixed martial arts is. Your character’s status is displayed through the health and stamina bars. The health bar is permanently reduced when your character takes damage like, oh say, a knee in the groin. When administering said knee to the groin your opponent’s Stamina Bar drops but it gradually regenerates when they pause in their assault.

    While it’s tempting to beat your opponent down as quickly as possible, this course of action rapidly depletes your stamina bar giving your opponent the opportunity to send you to the canvas with the weakest jabs. The lower your stamina bar is when you take a hit, the more health you lose, figuring out the balance between offence and vulnerability is the key to winning a match.

    Not that it hurts to learn some of the game’s complex moves. Weather your fighter is a brawler a bower or a wrestler he has a wide variety of attacks to choose from. Each of the four face buttons controls one of your fighter’s limbs in a system that is intuitive and easy to use. When trying to perform combos or match ending submission moves, it is best to stay away from the controller’s shoulder buttons, as they must be clicked to register the button press, this throws off your timing to a degree and can be very frustrating.

    There are several gameplay modes available to choose from; Arcade, where you fight till you lose, Champion ship mode is where you pick a weight class and work your way up the ladder till you win the belt, Tournament mode allows up to eight players to play for the title, the fighter who wins three matches is the victor. Career mode allows you to create and train your own fighter and bring him up the ranks. You can also use your fighter in other game modes.

    While the visuals aren't on par with DOA 3 or Resident Evil, UFC Throwdown looks good. The fighters boast well detailed and animated models. There are none of the clipping issues the plagued previous installments in the series; in fact, the only issues involve the game’s somewhat vacant looking backgrounds. They just don’t seem to fit with the huge crowds the UFC events draw.

    Throwdown’s audio is clearly the weakest point in the game. There seemed to be a glitch that surfaced occasionally with the voices of the officials and the fighter’s voices and lines don’t really come off sounding right. Without a doubt though, the single worst feature in the game is the sound of the crowd. The just come off as inarticulate and repetitive and before long, astonishingly annoying.

    Due to the extremely deep gameplay, the extensive move list and the multiplayer options, it will be quite awhile before players can claim to have experienced all this title has to offer. Both UFC fans and fighting gamers should consider picking up Throwdown.

    With its numerous options and gameplay modes, UFC Throwdown excels at keeping the action fresh bout after bout. Despite the crummy audio, and the sometimes lackluster visuals, Throwdown is a solid game packed with value and easily worth a rental at the very least.