The month of June has been fairly light for high-profile games, but one such title was EA Sports UFC for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, which launched on June 17. Now that reviewers have entered the virtual Octagon and tried their hand at the the MMA brawler, it’s time to find out: is it a champ?

The $60 game, which is powered by EA’s Ignite engine and is available only on current-generation consoles, currently has a Metacritic score of 73 for Xbox One and 71 on PlayStation 4. To help you get up to speed with what the critics are saying, we’ve rounded up some reviews and posted excerpts below.

For more on the critical reception to EA Sports UFC, be sure to read GameSpot sister site Metacritic’s full coverage.

GameSpot — 5/10

“The graphical foundation is in place, but there are too many flawed combat systems to call this a strong debut for what’s sure to be an annualized series. EA Sports UFC manages to make only certain aspects of MMA both fun and functional, forcing most fights to play out in a familiar, brawling fashion. Even if you do enjoy swinging for the fences, there’s just not enough content here to justify the full retail price. It might look the part of a world champion, but EA Sports UFC will need a great deal of fine-tuning before it’s up to snuff.” [Full review]

IGN — 6.8/10

“EA Sports UFC looks the part to a tee, and its exhaustive list of moves and techniques represent the complex nature of the sport well. But knowing that each second could be your fighter’s last is what gives weight and drama to mixed martial arts, and without that, these bouts fall flat. I love the amount of respect the developers clearly have for every aspect of the sport, but reverence and attention to detail alone can’t stand in for a missing sense of danger and excitement.” [Full review]

AusGamers — 4.7/10

“EA Sports UFC is form over function. It’s all show, no go, a pretty fighter without the know-how to back it up in the octagon. The Ignite engine successfully delivers a game which makes casual observers double-take as they attempt to work out if they’re watching the real thing or not, but anyone with the controller in their hand will know something is wrong. Like so many early releases in a console’s life cycle it’s a showcase title–get it if you want to justify your console purchase to your significant other or if you want to punch-on with your mates without the legal repercussions, but fair warning–dig at all and you’ll realize just how shallow the game really is.” [Full review]

Game Informer — 8/10

“EA Sports UFC isn’t the easiest fighter to learn–it’s a complex beast that rewards dedicated warriors who are driven to succeed. Each match plays out like a chess match where combatants feel out their opponents’ strategies and exploit openings. EA’s attention to detail might feel unnatural to fighting fans weaned on titles like Street Fighter and Smash Bros., but UFC’s methodical pacing will knock out MMA enthusiasts.” [Full review]

EGM — 9/10

“The best representation of the action that happens inside the Octagon yet. While it’s not simple, the control scheme is still easy enough to learn that it takes the experience to an entirely new level as you break your opponents down standing up, in the clinch, or on the mat. With outstanding next-gen visuals, EA Sports UFC is good enough to carry around a championship belt.” [Full review]

Shacknews — 7/10

“EA Sports UFC may not be as fully fleshed out as UFC Undisputed 3 was, but it’s a splendid starting point for what could be a powerhouse franchise for the team. The gameplay dials most of the right numbers, even with the simplified ground game, and the presentation nails the sport’s authenticity, right down to that painful tap-out. It’ll obviously get places in a few years, but for now, it’s got just the right amount of appeal to knock fans out.” [Full review]

VideoGamer — 6/10

“UFC is simply OK when it should have been great. Considering how long it’s been in development, and the breadth of content at EA’s disposal, I can’t help but be disappointed by what’s on offer.” [Full review]

Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
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