EA Sports MMA - PS3

A new Mixed Martial Arts game on the video gaming scene is decidedly good news for fans of the genre. EA's take on MMA comes without oodles of licensing but with full-on fight action.

First up to make sure that the various forms of beat-'em-up are played out as fairly as can be possible, legendary ref Big John McCarthy is on the case. He's joined by ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr, while MMA stalwarts Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo are in there calling all the action.

There are a variety of fight modes in play including Total Strike Control in which the player launches attacks using analog controls with everything they have from elbows, fists, knees and kicks.

This can be countered, if the player is fast enough, with the Advance Defence System whereby parrying, slipping, dodging and countering while under attack provide plenty of in-game tactics to master.

The game comes – where applicable – with Rumble, but its rumble that matters as it indicates crucial moments to attack and defend. Keeping a close eye on the stamina bar is also key to winning. Game modes include Submission Battles and Travel the Globe where the gamer must make calls into gyms in Japan, Brazil, Thailand, and the USA in order to gain new skills for the Career mode.

Then you'll get to fight great names such as Fedor Emelianenko, Randy Couture and Dan Henderson, Shinya Aoki and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. If that's not satisfying enough there is also Create a Fighter ( EA's Photo Game Face, if you like) to create your own roster of fighters.

All the fighting action can even be recorded or even broadcast live using EA's online services. more