STACK #191 Sep 2020

GAMING REVIEWS

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UFC 4

GENRE: SPORT

PLATFORM: PS4, XBOX ONE

MULTIPLAYER: YES

Button mashers need not apply – UFC 4 is willing to beat you to a pulp if you don’t time your combos correctly. On the surface, UFC 4 is an exceptionally good-looking experience

of what it’s like to step into a confined space with some of the most fearsome fighters on the planet. Beyond the basic

experience is an expansive fighting sim with strong RPG elements that will provide fans of combat sports with more than enough reason to put in “just one more” fight. Bright lights, big action and more slow- motion replays of bone-crunching hits than you can poke a medical insurance premium at are the order of the day, with showstopping visuals. Bruises and cuts form on the fighters as the rounds go on, while blood and sweat look like they could exist inside a Rocky film. Combat flows. It’s not fast, but what it

ON THE JOB TRAINING Choosing your fighting style only makes a difference at the beginning of your career. The idea is that your fighter will become more effective at things you like doing, and you’ll learn new moves through training with other fighters.

lacks in speed it makes up for in finesse and tactics. UFC 4 wants you to study your opponent, work out their strengths and weaknesses and then crush them with targeted attacks. You can customise your fighter by assigning specific attacks to various button combinations, which makes for an excellent training/learning experience as you try things on for size until you find the combination of attacks that works best for you. The career mode in UFC 4 is deep. You manage your fighter’s fight contracts, social media presence, hype your fights, build connections within the UFC fighter ranks and train, train, train, all before you even set foot in the arena. UFC 4 is a full-on simulation of a professional MMA fighting career and, for anyone interested in combat sports, it’s a must-have experience. DN

PAPER MARIO: THE ORIGAMI KING

GENRE: ACTION RPG

PLATFORM: SWITCH

MULTIPLAYER: NO

Mario and Luigi are feeling flat. Perhaps a trip to Toad Town for an origami festival will cheer them up? Not likely, as things aren’t quite right… This sixth Paper Mario turns the papery love up to 11, with most worlds in which our favourite tradie frolics the product of wire, glue and, of course, paper. “Frolics” probably isn’t the most apt

word however, for Mario has some serious Princess Peach saving to do – some things never change. Devious self-declared ruler King Olly has hijacked Bowser’s minions to serve as

calling upon classic Mario moves, tunes, characters and vibes to lend some welcome familiarity. Mario also has a new superpower – 1000-Fold Arms.

“folded soldiers”, turned Peach into origami, spirited her castle away AND bound it in colourful streamers. He’s one evil dude! King Olly is SO evil that even Bowser has sided with Mario, who also has inside help from Olly’s non-evil sister, Olivia. Mario trundles about solving puzzles both fair and sometimes slightly foul, while repairing holes in the world with confetti. These overworld sections are an absolute delight,

Available in specific locations, these are big, stretchy arms operated via motion controls, to reach out and, usually, tear something. The result may be game progression, unleashing a baddie or freeing one of innumerable imprisoned Toads. In his travels, Mario also bumps into various foes itching to fight. He’s happy to oblige, which means entering a Wave Battle. These take place in a puzzle-based ring of concentric circles, in which several foes line up to face your centralised plumber bloke. There’s a point where a dialogue box declares, “Sure seems like a lot of weird stuff happening”. It sums up the delightful Paper Mario: The Origami King perfectly. AF

SO MANY TOADS! A very cool feature of Paper Mario: The Origami King is that the more of the little mushy peeps that you free in your travels, the more who’ll be cheering you on from the stands in Wave Battles.

20 SEPTEMBER 2020

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