Great presentation, graphics, and very high replayability. Like Watching a UFC fight but you get to control the action!
After I finally got my game, as I figured with 82 fighters (got two bonus fighters for reserving) and being able to create my own fighter that I would have to set aside plenty of time for this game.
Oddly enough, the first mode I tried was classic fights, usually I hate stuff like that, for instance on most sports games it is franchise mode or nothing for me. But this was like watching a DVD of classic fights, with the lady talking about what happened, the pre-fight interviews from real life footage, then you try to recreate the fight by duplicating the ending, nice challenge and plenty of time there alone.
Exhibition fights are fun just because each fighter has their own styles, strengths, and weaknesses, plenty of matchups to try.
Now on to the mode I am on currently, career mode with my own created player. Currently I am 20-9 (fighting on the 'advanced' difficulty) and made myself, real height and weight, a bit better toned perhaps in the muscle department, but my wife said the face was the closest she has seen me get for making myself on a game (and she hates gaming, so it was hard to even get that much feedback!)
You start off pretty weak but if you work out and plan it out right, you can build one mean fighter that has strengths built around how you like to play and what you want to defend against. My pinnacle moment was knocking out Matt Serra after figuring out not to let him take me down, and using my kickboxing skills, when he moved in for a takedown, one perfectly placed kick and he was lights out.
The sounds, damage to the body and announcing are awesome as well.
Yes, there is a loading time in areas, but nothing you can leave the room to wait for, not as bad as some people who apparently can't wait a couple of seconds try to make it sound. Create a fighter could always be updated and taken even further, but you can do a nice job with this setup.
Bottom line, I certainly hope this becomes an annual game and they just add more features and keep tweaking, but if this is the foundation for the future of this game, this game will stand strong for a long time!