• Join SGO
  • Meet Our Team
  • Review Policy
Friday, March 24, 2023
  • Login
Sports Gamers Online
  • News
  • Features
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Previews
  • Esports
  • Games
PATREON
No Result
View All Result
Sports Gamers Online
  • News
  • Features
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Previews
  • Esports
  • Games
PATREON
No Result
View All Result
Sports Gamers Online
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Features
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Previews
  • Esports
  • Games

Home » Games » Fighting » How EA Sports can fix submissions in UFC 4

EA Sports UFC 4 Submissions

How EA Sports can fix submissions in UFC 4

Michael Straw by Michael Straw
Aug 16, 2022
Reading Time: 4 mins read
2 0
A A
0
2
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterPost on Reddit

Since its launch in early 2018, there’s been nothing more frustrating to players in UFC 3 than the game’s submission system.

Despite attempts to make it easier to understand for players, fans still struggle to not only pull off submissions but escape from them as well. The quadrant system had a chance to work, but it’s clear that a different direction is needed from EA Sports in order to fix a  broken system.

You might also like

FIFA 23 Legacy Edition Free for Nintendo Online Members

Quality of Life Patch Available Now in WWE 2K23

Deep Diving into the Smartest Defense in Madden 23

Though it’s been the same for the last two games, which has brought a sense of familiarity to many, it’s time for a complete overhaul of the submission system. And, to be honest, that’s really the only way EA Sports will be able to fix it: scrapping it and starting from scratch.

Of course, it’s great to talk about what needs to be done, but what would that new submission system actually look like? How can UFC 4 get it right?

Easy to learn, hard to master

Making submissions feel natural in the video game realm has been the most difficult part of development since MMA games entered the mainstream.

To try and get there with UFC 4, the best thing to do at this point is dumping the quadrant minigame altogether. While it can work when done right, I think players are so over it that they just don’t want to give it another chance in a third game.

For the new system, it should be a case of less is more in UFC 4. Rather than having instances where you could potentially go through four or five stages in a submission, it should be no more than two or three.  Though, getting away from the multiple stages altogether is probably a better option.

What UFC 4 needs to do is move away from the submission minigame. Far too often, these breaks take away from the flow of a fight between players. Instead, a system where you have to move the thumbsticks into the correct position before the game locks you into a submission would work better.

With this system, you’d still have control of your fighter which would allow strikes, position changes, and even reversals. All would remain based on joystick movement while in various positions.

As far as advancing towards a submission, moving your thumbsticks in the proper position to transition should be all that’s needed. Again, this isn’t in the form of a mini-game. These are movements that you learn and memorize, not something that’s prompted.

For example, say you want to get someone in an armbar and you have them on the ground, one thing you should have to do is find the perfect movement to get both legs across your opponent’s body. Once done, you’d get a notification of some sort — maybe a quick jolt of vibration in your control — to let you know you’re in the appropriate spot to continue the attempt. From there, you’d again move the sticks to the proper location to lock in the armbar to make your opponent tap out.

UFC 4 escaping shouldn’t be impossible

Making someone tap is all well and good, but that’s just one half of it. What about getting out of an attempt? In UFC 3, it feels like once an AI opponent has you, you’re done. No matter how good you think you are, you’re likely to find yourself being forced to submit.

In UFC 4, the stick positioning system should work both ways. If someone is trying to put you in a Kimura, there should be a position you could find to break out. On top of that, you should be able to try to punch, elbow, knee, or kick your way out. No longer should you be stuck just trying to squirm when someone attempts to submit you.

Finding yourself stuck — or nearly stuck — in the triangle choke? The game should allow you to find your way out with a specific position of the sticks that sees you either attempt to push up and out of it, or, if you are actually locked in, try and stand up and drive a knee into the side of your opponent.

Submissions in UFC 4 should be treated like strikes or anything else in the octagon. Make it rely on your skill and knowledge of the game; not just on something that relies on you to learn how a minigame works.

I know it’s a lot easier said than done, especially as someone with software development experience. However, these developers are the best of the best at what they do, and there’s a reason they’re developing the UFC video games.


What do you want to see from the submission system or gameplay in general from UFC 4? Let us know in the comment section below, and stick with Sports Gamers Online for more on the next EA Sports UFC title.

Tags: EA Sports UFC 3frontpagenewsUFC 4
Share1Tweet1Share
Previous Post

MLB The Show League Playoffs to air on ESPN, ESPN2 and FS1

Next Post

Axis Football 2020 Release Date Announced, Not Coming To PS4

Michael Straw

Michael Straw

Michael Straw is a gamer who just happens to be an experienced journalist. In his near decade-long career, Mike has traveled across the United States to cover some of the biggest events in gaming and sports, including E3, PAX, as well as the NFL and NHL Drafts. His work covering gaming and sports led his content being featured on Fox Sports 1, SI.com and others. He was once the second-ranked player in the world in NHL 09 on Xbox Live, and is a huge pro wrestling junkie.

Recommended For You

FIFA 23 Latest Update Brings A New World Cup Experience
Soccer

FIFA 23 Legacy Edition Free for Nintendo Online Members

Mar 24, 2023
WWE 2K23
Wrestling

Quality of Life Patch Available Now in WWE 2K23

Mar 23, 2023
Next Post
Axis Football 2020

Axis Football 2020 Release Date Announced, Not Coming To PS4

Upcoming Games
March 14 Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC WWE 2K23
March 24 Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch MLB The Show 23
April 7 Xbox Series X|S, PS5 EA Sports PGA Tour
October 13 Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch WRC Generations
March 24 PC Franchise Hockey Manager 9
VIEW ALL GAMES

Recent reviews

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Meet Our Team
  • Join SGO
  • Privacy Policy
  • Review Policy
  • Store
Contact us: [email protected]

© 2014-2022 SGO Entertainment

  • News
  • Features
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Previews
  • Esports
  • Games

© 2014-2022 SGO Entertainment

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In