UFC: Throwdown Preview
We check out the GameCube version of UFC.
At the recently held Ultimate Fighting Championship: Worlds Collide on Pay-Per-View, Crave showed us the latest build of its upcoming no-holds-barred fighting game, UFC: Throwdown for the GameCube. Like the premises in previous Ultimate Fighting games, the one in this game is simple--enter the Octagon, make your opponent tap, or pummel him into submission. We had the opportunity to play the GameCube version of the game, and although it was still in the beta stages of development, we were able to get a good idea of how it was progressing.
The GameCube version of the game looked extremely slick, with smooth, detailed character models and very good fighter likenesses. The game features more realistic blood in the final versions of the game--blood that should actually smear across the mat instead of simply falling in red droplets. Blood is not, however, represented on the character models during a match. Also setting Throwdown apart from Tapout are the more heavily stylized post-fight replays. Motion blur is used to indicate a knockout, while a bright negative-flare effect is used to emphasize submissions.
Much of the suspense and excitement of the real-life Ultimate Fighting Championship events is built up during the flashy fighter entrances. In staying true to this part of the UFC experience, the game places an emphasis on accurate re-creations of the fighter entrance routines, including tale-of-the-tape comparisons, pyrotechnics, and Bruce Buffer's incomparable announcing. The fighter entrances that impressed us so much in the Xbox version of the game have even been improved for the GameCube version. Lighting and shadowing effects are emphasized, and atmospheric fog is implemented to add to the game's resemblance to the production values of the real-world UFC. Different camera angles and perspectives are used for the entrances, giving them a fresh look in comparison with those of the Xbox game.
From a gameplay perspective, UFC: Throwdown on the GameCube plays nearly identically to the previously released Ultimate Fighting Championship games. Four button controls allow for independent control of strikes, specifically right and left punches and kicks. Combinations of buttons let you home in on opponents, either for a tackle or slam of some sort. An alternate button combination lets you execute a countermove, which basically traps an opponent's arm or leg and slams him down with it, hopefully giving you the superior mounted position. There are variations of each move while executing front-, back-, and side steps, giving each fighter a wide assortment of tools to work with. Once the fight has been taken to the ground, fighters continue to beat up their opponent with punches or work toward a submission, which immediately ends a fight. Fighters can frequently reverse positions while on the ground, counter punches, and execute feints. The balanced mix of stand-up and ground fighting is what sets the UFC games apart from other traditional fighting games, and UFC: Throwdown doesn't deviate from what the series has already done.
UFC: Throwdown Quick Links
Summary | Reviews | News | Previews & Features | Images | Videos | Answers | Hints & Cheats | Forum | Check Prices
- GameSpot Score7.2good
Content you might like…
-
Ultimate Fighting Championship: Throwdown Movie 5
Take a look at some brand new direct feed footage of UFC Throwdown for the GameCube.
- May 17, 2002
Users who looked at this article also looked at these content items.
Images
Related Unions
Games you may like…
-
Fight Night Round 2
(GC) -
Ultimate Fighting Championship
(PS) -
Knockout Kings 2003
(GC) -
K-1 Revenge
(PS) -
Black & Bruised
(GC)
Users who looked at content for this game also looked at these games.
See More Similar Games
0 Comments