UFC: Tapout 2 (Xbox, 2003)

I love this game! For anyone who is interested, likes, or loves the mixed martial arts world, this is the game to play! The controls are easy, the movements are realistic, and the overall fighting is awesome! You can create your own fighter and and improve him over sparring sessions and tournaments, but be wise about it, you only get 5 tournaments and a certain number of sparring sessions to do so. You can unlock some of the legends of UFC and already have some available. Some of these legends are: BJ Penn, Tito Ortiz, Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell, and more. The styles of fighting are authentic to the ones used in the real UFC.
The stand-up techniques stay true to the real-world techniques used in each style. The only draw-back is you can't fight at different angles, just in front of each other, but despite this slight draw-back, the possibilities are endless! Combos are innovative and are reminiscent of the real fighters, and there are clinch and takedown maneuvers that can be very effective once you figure out the already simple fighting mechanics of the game.
The ground techniques are where the game truly shines. UFC: Tapout 2 features grappling with every style in the game, but the best arts for grappling are obviously the grappling arts: Brazilian Jiu Jutsu, Jiu Jutsu, Wrestling, Pro Wrestling, Submissions Fighting, Sumo, etc. The Jiu Jutsu and Submission arts are very effective from any position in sinking in some sick submission moves, and I've even learned a few from playing the game. You have a vast array of arm bars, chokes, leg submissions, joint locks, and more. The takedowns are just like they would be in the respective styles.
For takedowns and gaining an advantage on the ground, the wrestling styles are awesome. They can end the fight very fast, and have the best takedowns, some of which wouldn't work all the time as they do in the game, which kinda shows which styles this game favors, but the wrestling styles are good for gaining positions of advantage on the ground, and takedowns and takedown defense are the best in wrestling styles.
The other predominantly stand-up styes are still good in taking down opponents who are good at stand-up, and using their hitting skills to ground-and-pound your way to victory. You also still have some submissions and counters that you can use to get an advantage on even the best grapplers, but escaping to the feet usually ends up in getting take down again.
The ground fighting has the top and bottom guard, top and bottom mount, top and bottom side-mount, and top and bottom back mount. Each position has its advantages and weaknesses, and you can use them to gain control.
The other downside to this game is that there is no way to use the cage itself to cage-fight like in UFC, such as cage clinching, using the head for head-control, cage-takedowns, cage-submissions, etc. When taking down an opponent with the cage behind him, you just take him down, and the two of you slide to make room for the takedown's success, or you're countered by the opponent and lose or get sprawled on.
Other than this drawback, the game makes for an awesome, entertaining, and innovative way to experience the world of Mixed Martial Arts, and can be a useful tool for fighter who want to learn some moves that they may not have learned, or can be used to look for different ways/angles to use the moves they already know in a match.

It was nice to play some of the ufc characters that are now so popular. The career building mode was a big dissapointment. Once you finally get your fighter built up enough to be competitive....its over and your not allowed to play them any more. For basic head to head smash mouth...it works but if your looking to build a dynasty with a custom fighter I would look else where.

The game is decent. I really dont like the "feel" of the game the controls are basic at best. I would like to see more of the buttons used to control the fighters and I would like to see other camera angles and maybe some blood and more submition possabilitys.

Pro's- 1) Many of the UFC's top guys (at the time are here)
2) Create a fighter is cool w/ ability to pick from different styles
3) Has a cool fighter profile feature

Con's- 1) Graphics are so-so
2) Controls are a little confusing & differ from fighter 2 fighter
3) Little things like constant uploading of created fighter are a
little redundant
4) Too many fighters to unlock
5) The game looked like it was a little "rushed" to get out into the
game market.

Had the game for about three days and have already finished it with a littl help from my 13 year old son. It has good graphics and decent gameplay, could have been done better though. I would not recommend it to anyone, even UFC fans.

‹(•¿•)›(¯`'·¸¤ø¸¸ I hope this helps someone ¸¸ø¤.·''´¯)‹(•¿•)›