EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

[ManiacMatt1782]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

i think the biggest problem is ai, as of right now they dont strike to set up the takedown, you can just sit on the takedown thats attempted from way out of range. i said before the tools in this game give you a chance to do or defend everything. h2h looks like its gonna be great, and so far the only thing that looks exploitable is your opponents predictability.

[SgtDillznick]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

The newer builds might have a better way of handling takedowns.

If you watch this video from Gamespot, you'll see at the 26:08 mark, Scott Smith stops a takedown by Frank Shamrock and merely shoves him away. One might say that's because Scott Smith doesn't have the special move to knee an opponent out of the takedown... But if you go to the 26:27 mark in the video, you will see Frank Shamrock shoot for a takedown and Scott Smith defend against it with a knee that sends Shamrock crashing to the mat.

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One of my biggest problems with the demo is the tedium and repetitiveness of constantly ending up in the sprawl position because your opponent shoots over and over for a takedown. If what we are seeing in this video is indicative of the final build, then this game just got a lot better.

That video is very interesting.

The one thing that kind of had me perturbed with the demo was the takedown defense. It seemed to me that they needed to add a fourth outcome to the whole takedown equation. There needed to be that stalemate, where you could defend a takedown and shove the offender off of you. It shouldn't always go into a sprawl and brawl situation.

It should be like this:

Press "B" to defend.
Bad timing/no timing = defender gets taken down.
Good timing = stalemate, defender blocks take down, back to standing.
Better timing = sprawl and brawl.
Perfect timing = Big ol' knee to the face.

And obviously, the fighters takedown defense would vary the certain timing windows on the button press.

Look ma, I'm a video game designer!

[Phobia]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Played another 10 or so fights last night. I HONESTLY don't see all the issues you are stating are there biizz. I went in LOOKING for the issues which is something I don't like to do to begin with. But I wanted to see if I could identify what you are saying.

I will run through my thought process while viewing the action.

All fights were on Legend difficulty
My first fight I used Jake Shields vs Miller. I wanted to see how a good ground fighter would fair against a jack of all trades and a excellent choke specialist(Miller choke rating is a 99).

We come out, miller throws a few punches and shoots for the take down. I stuff the take down and quickly throw a high head kick landing flush which stumbles Miller backwards. I charge in and land a 3 punch combo. Jab, straight, hook. Miller then looks to shoot again. I stuff the take down again.

Striking = Looks good to me. It is quick and does what you want to do when you do the correct motion (I use TPC). Striking looks fine to me

I then want to put Miller on his back and do some GnP. I clinch Miller and we get tied up in a battle for position in the clinch. I then land a successful judo throw on Miller and land in half guard. I start landing some knee and strikes to the head at a decent pace but not looking at burning myself out in case the fight goes 4 more rounds.

I notice Miller has a cut over his left eye where the head kick landed. So I start peppering the area with short punches. I was happy at staying in half guard but decided to try and pass to side control. After 3 or 4 unsuccessful attempts and Miller doing a good job defending the pass. I go for a major pass to full mount. Miller then reverses me and he ends up in my half guard.

He starts landing his own ground and pound and I am parrying his strikes looking to wear him down so I can get off the ground. Round 1 ends.

Ground and Pound = Strikes need a little work on the ground. They seem to stop the moment they touch the face. Instead of having the look of the hand driving through the punch some. So the punches then look weak and somewhat unnatural. But I find the damage done by the GnP to be good and balanced.

Round 2 starts and I did not wait. I went straight for the double leg and take Miller down. I then choose to posture up and start raining down heavy blows from Millers full guard. Blood now is all over one side of Millers face, down his shoulder and some on his torso(Blood is done so well).

I then fully posture up and stand up in Millers guard. He is managing to parry a few strikes but still has taking good damage. He then manages to kick me off.

Round 2 is more of the same with a little striking and battling going both ways on the ground.

Skip ahead to round 4. Both of us are getting tired. We are standing toe to toe and Miller is no longer going for the take down. He is looking to strike and keeps chasing me throwing combos. I eat a few shots and manage to deflect a few by blocking. He then works me where my back is against the cage. Thinking he was going to clinch me against the cage I am looking for the defend. But Miller just stands at strike range and starts unloading. I eat some heavy blows and I see my head meter appear and it is really low. I am about to eat the cavas.

I then go into slip mode. I slip 2 of his punches and throw a hook. It lands clean on Millers jaw as he was in the middle of a punch. This completely stuns him. He starts back peddling with his hands up. I rush in and start just unloading. Landing a great combo. Putting Miller to the mat and finishing him on the ground for the TKO.

It was a exciting fight and feature all aspects of the game. Everything from ground game, reversals, throws, clinch work, super man punch, spinning back fist, back and forth striking, etc etc.

Shields(me) wins TKO Rd 4

I then go on to lose 4 in a row to Miller on the ground and 1 standing(20 secs into fight). 3 submissions by Miller by choke, 1 by GnP, and 1 by TKO.

So I won, 1 out of 5. Should of been a little more than that but I think Legend needs some tweaking in the submission AI area. The CPU is AMAZING at submissions on legend.

Submissions = CPU on legend is insane good. Little color wheel just stays blue with the CPU staying in the zone basically at will. So it is incredible tough to prevent the sub on legend. As far as the submissions them selves. I LOVE the submission system.

Presentation = Presentation needs some work. It is a bit dry without commentary. The punch sounds are kinda of funky

Graphics = Saying this game looks like a N64 or a Gamecube game is a agenda. The graphics are amazing. They have a little cartoon look to them, but that is a 3d model & texture area of how the players were built and rendered. The look to me looks fantastic.



Compared to Gamecube and N64

Legends of wrestling Gamecube



N64 WCO vs NWO wrestling



EA MMA Demo is a excellent representation of MMA in my opinion. It is far from perfect and I don't walk around with blinders on. I am not fan boy of any genre, developer, or game. I am a honest gamer who wants to enjoy gaming.

EA MMA is FUN as hell and makes a complicated sport easy enough for noobs to the sport and still offers the intricate details for the hardcores for a first time effort.

Will we see EA MMA get better through out the next iterations???? Well of course. The potential for the franchise is through the roof.

EA MMA Demo score = 8

[DaveDQ]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

I know many have commented on the hitting scheme and how it feels unresponsive, but after playing for a good bit last night, I think it's right on target with what they were trying to accomplish with this game. The over all theme is that you should not panic and go into throwing punch after punch or franticly trying to mount or reverse. At first I found myself hitting the stick multiple times and only seeing two punches. Jabs work faster but there's a slight delay in consecutive punches. So I started throwing combinations. Stomach kick, right hook and then head kick. It looks great to me. It's forcing me to think about what I'm going to do, rather than continuously hitting the button to land shots.

Now, the CPU has a defense problem. This makes it extremely easy to land punches. I understand that. I'm hoping this is tied to the demo and not the retail version. I'm not going to abuse it but in the back of my head I know I can jab away with no defense on the CPU end. I'm aware of that.

Right now I think the game is going to be very competitive online. I know for some that's not good enough. It isn't for me either. I had plans for the offline part of this game, but again, the retail version may differ. If you play this game enough though, I think it is obvious the online is going to be a heck of a challenge.

[quik stryk]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Phobia.... Dont know if u remember, but i was in your Undisputed 09 league... I appreciate ur writeups, and know that u just want a good mma game to play as i do...keep up the great, UNBIASED opinions, and i look forward to playing with u again on this game....

[Phobia]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Phobia.... Dont know if u remember, but i was in your Undisputed 09 league... I appreciate ur writeups, and know that u just want a good mma game to play as i do...keep up the great, UNBIASED opinions, and i look forward to playing with u again on this game....

Thanks quick and yea of course I remember. I am far far from biased. I just want a fun MMA game and I think we have that. Is it perfect?? well of course not. But it is a great first effort.

[SA1NT401]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

better than undisputed, and i think undisputed is pretty good

In every single way possible IMHO.....It does have potential issues though, especially for Career mode.

[ManiacMatt1782]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

I made a new thread on this, but I feel the high/low modifier is inthe wrong place. To me with tsc it would feel more natural to string strikes together with high/low on L1 instead of R1. And make R1 the fake button. Especially with hooks since you have do be deliberate with your motion, reaching for R1 is enough to throw you off. L1 is just a better spot because your right thumb can stay with the stick, while not being thrown off by reaching with the finger. And you don't have to be as distinct with the fakes.

[quik stryk]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Phobia....i too think it is a great first effort....My thinking is if the gameplay is only rated as "good"...combine that with all the Online features...overall it will be FANTASTIC!!!....remember me with any league info or Online cards u may run....see ya on the 19th!!!!

[DaveDQ]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

I made a new thread on this, but I feel the high/low modifier is inthe wrong place. To me with tsc it would feel more natural to string strikes together with high/low on L1 instead of R1. And make R1 the fake button. Especially with hooks since you have do be deliberate with your motion, reaching for R1 is enough to throw you off. L1 is just a better spot because your right thumb can stay with the stick, while not being thrown off by reaching with the finger. And you don't have to be as distinct with the fakes.

I agree the high/low is awkward. You almost forget about it.

[SA1NT401]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

The A.I. in this game is poor.
Playing all fights on legend, and still winning 85% of the time, all by TKO/KO.
It's far too easy to land strikes, just keep punching and the CPU backs away(and blocks) but I keep connecting because my fighter just auto-step/slides in to punch the opponent. And this isn't good especially since I'm consistently beating Overeem with Lasley's "dominant" striking. Mount is also easy to attain and then win from, the CPU just lays there and takes punches until knocked out.

Anim8or stated that this game would be a simulation(or) a simulator, I think he may have been a little disingenuous, I typically have an 80% connection percentage(or higher) while using Lashley on Legend.

This game is very simplistic, in Undisputed you can choose exactly how you want to transition and where your punches land while on the ground, which isn't the case for EA MMA, though to be fair Undisputed isn't that good either.
Also their's quite a few bugs which I expect will have been ironed out before production.

With that being said perhaps the game will be fun with friends, though I do expect online to turn cheesy.

A couple positives: Submissions are done pretty well, this is the only part of the game that is challenging for me, well the chokes anyways.
Graphics, one thing that EA does well is graphics and they're outstanding in this game.

EA MMA reminds me alot of another EA game, Def Jam Icon, graphics looked great but the game was severely lacking in depth.


Memo to EA: gamers aren't totally idiotic, they can enjoy a game with some complexity and even some difficulty. Stop making games for the lowest common denominator.
Or at least have an option within the game, Arcade or Simulation, Supersmash Bros or MMA game.\jk


Questions for a dev:

1. I know the game won't magically become realistic at retail, though will the A.I. be any smarter, or challenging?
2. Asked this question over a week ago(no response), will there be any sliders?

side note: lets see if I get any accusations of having an agenda, to hate EA or something or another.

Agree 100%...BUT....This is an older build from july. So there is hope the AI is cranked up. I believe that since its a demo, they dont want the difficulty to be too brutal as that may turn away some. CPU AI in regards to blocking might have been tweaked. I hope it is, cuz i too can destroy Overeem on LEGEND within the 1st minute or so of the 1st round reguarly, often having him not even connect with a punch.

But the potential is definitely there.....I cant wait til the retail ships. I have HIGH hopes.

But i will say this....If i play 15-20 online matches that would be surprising. Im not an ONLINE guy aside from random head to head matches with friends. I dont have patience for online antics overall. This is the main rezason i am concerned a bit about the AI. If its BAD....Then the game will be a waste for me.

[Phobia]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Phobia....i too think it is a great first effort....My thinking is if the gameplay is only rated as "good"...combine that with all the Online features...overall it will be FANTASTIC!!!....remember me with any league info or Online cards u may run....see ya on the 19th!!!!

Hit up the online sub forum man. I will be running a EA MMA league without a doubt

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

I said it before, I will say it again, what control scheme you use will greatly effect the feel of the game.

With Total Strike Control the game seems overly simplified with pressing a button to deny, do take downs and transitions. Takes little to no effort. And the shoulder buttons do feel to be in the wrong spot.

Classic controls, which I prefer to use, seems 10 times better. You seem to have a little bit more aim with your strikes when it comes to what part of the body you want to hit. I can do leg kicks a hell of a lot more better with classic controls then I can with total strike control. Same thing goes for punches to the body.

I also am able to do a whole lot more variety of kicks much better with classic controls. Total control striking, pretty much the only kicks I were able to pull off on a regular basis was just little side kicks to the side of the body or a kick to the face.

With the classic controls I was abe to pull of front kicks, side kicks, leg kicks, round house kicks, even a spinning back kick at will, when I actually wanted to do the kick.

Same thing on the ground, classic controls, passing is just like the UFC games, you use the RS. Depending on the direction you use, you can either pass to the right, pass to the left, pass a little or go for broke and do a major pass.

Same thing goes for the clinch. Classic controls I am able to do a hell of a lot more different throws and takes downs then the normal plain double leg take down with total strike control. I was able to do double leg, single leg, hip toss, spinning wizard toss, side slam, few different kinds of leg trip takedowns.

The demo just does a weak job of explaining all the moves in the game. Just from experimenting on my own, I am finding a hell of a lot of moves one can do. Also learned not every fighter can do the same type of throws and takedowns either.

[jugganott]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Yeah, you do have to do a great deal of experimenting to find out different moves.

Last night I got in there and exercised my FNR4 skills and started landing some great combos. I can string together jab + Cross + Hook + Hook to the body consistently.

[TheShizNo1]

Re: EA Sports MMA Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Ok, my opinion is changing...I'm starting to like it more and more. The controls are goona take a lot adjustments. How do you parry?