UFC: Sudden Impact is the new game of the UFC, following the reasonable reception its predecessor Throwdown received and features quite an extensive roster. While some favourites such as Tank Abbott or Randy Coulture may be missing most of the rest of the major UFC fighters are well represented across all the weight divisions. Fans will be pleased to see recent titleholders such as Vitor Belfort and BJ Penn as well as others like Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock included.

Controls for the game are fairly simple with either the d-pad or the left analogue stick used for movement, and the four buttons on the right used for all other moves. Single button presses are used for single kicks and punches while combinations of the buttons are used for takedowns and submission moves. The buttons can also be reconfigured, with players having the choice to use the shoulder buttons as well as being able to programme in certain combos to a button.

The simplicity of the controls unfortunately translates into a rather simple fighting engine, with little depth or room for experimentation available. Also hampering the gameplay is the sluggishness of the controls. Good fighting games need good response from the engine it uses and this is quite a problem for Sudden Impact. There is a bit of difference in response between the weight classes, but even the lightweight fighters seem unresponsive. This does artificially increase the difficulty of Sudden Impact, and can lead to some frustrating bouts.

Several modes are available in Sudden Impact. Arcade, Championship, and Tournament modes are all fairly basic modes with a range of fighters to beat to win the mode and unlock certain bonuses. One of the more promising modes in the game is the Story Mode. In it players can create their own UFC fighter, training him as either a specialist in one fighting style or a across a mix of styles, and trying to become the Ultimate Fighting Champion. While this sounds promising the execution leaves a lot to be desired. After choosing from a small number of fighter models players progress through quite a badly written, unintentionally funny storyline while they train their fighter. Training lasts for three years, with fighters able to learn up to three different styles in that time.

Training consists of a choice between either learning a new move or practicing an existing move. However the training system is too rigid, forcing players to spend more time looking at menus and loading screens rather than actual practice. A more flexible training system where proper practice is allowed, such as the one Gameplanet saw in Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution, would have suited the Story Mode well and made it a more worthwhile training ground. Graphically Sudden Impact seems rather mediocre, especially when compared to other fighters available on the Playstation 2. The character models are chunky and quite simplistic although the interaction between the fighters, especially when grappling seems to be quite good. There is little to distinguish the arenas either with stock-standard 2D crowds and quite a plain looking ring. Ring entrances could have been beefed up to something approaching the real UFC entrances, but these too are rather bland

The soundtrack of Sudden Impact is generally a hard and heavy one, and features a lot of the acts that have been used for UFC events and promotions. Bands such as Scars of Life and Stemm are ones generally only heard through the UFC and, while being something of an acquired taste, lend the game an increased feeling of authenticity. The mood they create is an angry one well suited to this style of fighting.

For better or for worse the UFC often comes off looking like the poor cousin of professional wrestling, and in particular the WWE. While many fans may prefer the more realistic fighting and unpredictability of the UFC that can change in a videogame where the results aren't predetermined. Sudden Impact doesn't compare well to the polish and the variety of the Smackdown series and certainly can't match it in terms of playability and fun.