" Bruce 'I coined a phrase, aren't I clever' Buffer is a hidden character. 'Nuff said. "

      Title: UFC Tapout by Crave

      Format: Xbox Fighter

      Reviewing Monkey: Mojo Jojo

      The Hype: Pick a fighter, pick a style, and pound another mortal into oblivion. Ultimate Fighting Championship is the new combat sport of choice for the armchair streetfighter and this game puts you right in the action.

      What This Monkey Thought...

      Graphics: Of course, the most important graphics in any fighting game is the fighters- and in that Tapout doesn't disappoint…much. The textures are smooth, the movement is fluid, and the action is fun to watch. That being said though, I find it hard to believe that with a focus of 2 guys and a ring you can't up the polygon count, increase the detail, and fix the rather unfortunate clipping that exists all through this game. And when you expand your view to the crowd it becomes down right laughable when you compare it to what we know the 'Box is capable of. Not a great showing for a game that should be at least half about the graphics. 3 out of 5

      Sound: Crunch, bash, and grunt, lots of each and some extra stomping thrown in for good measure. Although why you can't have some trash talking thrown in for good measure is beyond me. The samples are also very repetitive and I'd've loved some variations in the sounds of bone crunching. 3 out of 5

      Playability: Crave bills UFC as a strategy fighter with immense depth and combos. The reality, at least around my house, is that UFC devolves into little more than a button masher. Though there are some fantastic combos and elaborate counters you can do- honestly we found that a bit of luck and some random buttons will do the job just as well. Also present is the "simple attack syndrome" in which pressing the right simple attack button over and over can become an incredibly difficult to stop series. It's the same basic control scheme as the earlier UFCs, and is definitely weak and in serious need of an overhaul. 2 out of 5

      Multiplayer and Replayability: Multiplayer is there (as you'd expect) but really doesn't offer much to keep you interested. Player to player is button mashing, the arcade style single play is just fight after fight, and at 50+ victories in a row per quarter dropped you'll get bored way before you get your moneys worth. 2 out of 5

      Story/Dramatics: Well, there's no story, which personally drives me nuts, but I understand most fighting games are that way. What really drives me nuts, though- and I thought this was a good place to mention it, is the "create a fighter". Yes, it has one…and that's good. What's bad is that creating your fighter is a cookie cutter endeavor that takes a whole…Are you ready for this…6 minutes. Start to finish. Jump in; pick your shorts, and start fighting. And while that wouldn't be bad if your fighter progressed or got more options as you go, but really the 5 choices you make are all you'll ever get and mean almost nothing as far as difference of play later on. 1 out of 5

      The Verdict:

Just like all the UFC games to come before it, Tapout gets knocked flat 3 seconds into the first round. It's not a good game and really offers nothing for your money.

      The Good: Kinda pretty.

      The Bad: Not pretty enough to justify the boring and uninspired game play.

      The Overall Ugly: Bruce "I coined a phrase, aren't I clever" Buffer is a hidden character. 'Nuff said.

      What it's Worth: Rental- just so you'll know better than to buy it.