UFC: Sudden Impact - PS2

The idea of the Ultimate Fighting Championship was first conceived as the result of a discussion over which fighting style was best. Obviously, no kind of civilised debate was required here - instead, an eight-sided ring was constructed and in it was thrust a bunch of guys from various different schools of martial arts and boxing to settle the dispute on a more physical level. What a great idea - kind of like the Kumite but legal and televised. About 10 years on and, although banned in some countries, the UFC is pretty darn popular and, as a result, has inspired a number of games - Sudden Impact for PS2 is the latest title to give you the chance to take part in the uber-violent fisticuffs for yourself.

As you would expect, the game features a wealth of real life fighters (over 40 in all) to choose from, each one complete with their chosen fighting style, be it Jiu-Jitsu, kick-boxing, karate, or even original inventions such as 'thug-jitsu'. All the usual game modes are of offer, with Arcade mode giving you the chance to battle through as many matches as possible, Championship Road seeing you attempt to win the UFC, and Tournament allowing you to set up your own single or multiplayer competition. Obviously, as well as these there are also the customary Vs. and Training options.

Adding a bit more depth to the proceedings is the game's Story mode. This sees you starting out as a street brawler, discovered by a professional trainer, before embarking on a career as a UFC competitor. To begin with you have the option of creating your own customised character, which is always a great deal of fun when you try and concoct the stupidest looking fighter as you can. As well as appearance, you can also customise your character's fighting style by selecting from various different training challenges that ultimately affect their abilities and move repertoire.
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