UFC Tapout Preview
Are you ready for the UFC on the Xbox?
We recently had the opportunity to get our hands on the latest build of Crave Entertainment's soon-to-be-released Ultimate Fighting Championship: Tapout for the Xbox. UFC: Tapout is based on the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a mixed martial arts event that challenges fighters from around the world to go head-to-head, pitting their respective martial arts against all comers within the confines of the Octagon. Developed by Dream Factory, the group best known for its Tobal series of fighting games, UFC: Tapout borrows the same gameplay formula from last year's Dreamcast version of UFC, adds a couple of extra play modes, significantly beefs up the roster, and updates the game with improved graphics.
We've explored the different gameplay modes available, and we've found that the options available in the Dreamcast version have been expanded upon significantly. You can compete in the challenging arcade mode, vie for the championship in the UFC mode, set up a tiered tournament for multiple players, or simply fight a couple of matches in the exhibition mode. The arcade mode is the most challenging of the single-player games--you'll have one chance to take out as many CPU-controlled opponents as possible, unlocking secret fighters along the way. We had a chance to play as some of the secret fighters, and, while some are the usual suspects, there are some pleasant and rather shocking surprises to be found. The UFC mode places you in a multiple-round tournament, where you need to conserve energy, so as not to be too fatigued and beat-up for the final title bout. Completing this play mode adds a small crown icon to the selected character's information in the fighter select screen, so it appears that players may be rewarded for getting to the top with the entire cast. Like most fighting games, UFC: Tapout focuses on multiplayer competition with the tournament and exhibition modes.
If you've played the Dreamcast version of UFC, you know just what to expect from the control and gameplay of UFC: Tapout. Each fighter is controlled using four buttons mapped to right and left punches and kicks. Standing strikes can be used in combinations, with different combinations when you're stepping in or away from the opponent. Two-button combinations are used to perform counters, takedowns, and submissions, as well as to defend yourself from the same. When one fighter successfully takes his opponent down to the mat, strategy kicks in, as the positions the two fighters are in place them on significantly different footing. The player on top, typically in the mount or held in the defender's guard, will attempt to rain blows down on the defender, taking advantage of his leverage, which brings with it the ability to deal out great amounts of damage. The player on the bottom must block the incoming moves or counter by rolling into a reversal of positions. Considering the frequent jockeying for position, and the constant threat of a quick finish, ground fighting is one of the most complex aspects of the fighting system. The gameplay is remarkably deep, allowing for what may seem like multiple-round stalemates at the higher levels of play, while still allowing for the exciting flash knockouts and quick submissions that are the UFC's trademark.
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- GameSpot Score8.6great
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Ultimate Fighting Championship: Tapout Video Review
Gerald Villoria gives you the final word on this unique fighting game for the Xbox.
- Feb 22, 2002
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Related Unions
- Crave
- DreamFactory
- 3D Fighting
- Release: Feb 17, 2002
- ESRB: Teen
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