Released this weeks, EA Sports UFC implements the combination of insanely accurate visuals and deep gameplay mechanics to create the most realistic MMA gaming experience to date. Despite this commitment to a realistic and immersive experience, EA would make the surprising decision to include Bruce Lee as a fully playable character in four of the UFCs weight divisions. The Kung-Fu master was used as an incentive to encourage potential customers to pre-order the game to gain instant access to the fighter. Though Bruce Lees likeness has been used in a plethora of other games, it seems most ridiculous here as EA Sports have clearly put so much effort into creating a realistic product. Lees philosophy to be like water has influenced an entire generation of martial artists, but he never fought an MMA bout in his unfairly short life. The thought of Bruce being introduced by Bruce Buffer under the harsh light beaming down on the Octagon seems somewhat incongruous. The fact that fighters like bantamweight champion T.J Dillashaw, welterweight contender Tyron Woodley and a handful of other actual MMA fighters have been omitted makes Bruce Lees inclusion all the more ridiculous. A previous UFC title handled by THQ UFC Undisputed 2010 would make the equally insane decision to include ex-basketballer Shaquille O'Neal: whoever thought the bulky 7-foot centre could make the heavyweight divisions 265-lbs limit was clearly a very optimistic fellow. ONeal has been involved in another game, Shaq-Fu, though this hardly counts as a cameo.
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.
