EA’s UFC gaming franchise is back this year after two years in development and UFC 4 is bringing with it some significant changes to separate itself from its predecessors. With the exception of some improvements to the lighting and better character models, this new game looks very similar to UFC 3 in terms of its visuals.

RELATED: EA’s UFC 4 5 Best Things About The Game (& The 5 Worst)

It would be very easy for gamers to look at this new entry and dismiss it as another typical sports game update. However, long time fans of the series will quickly find out that UFC 4 is quite a different experience to its predecessors. With several new arenas, fighting modes and the removal of a staple feature let’s take a look at ten things you should know before buying UFC 4.

10 The Submission System Is Different

One of the biggest deal-breakers with past UFC games developed by EA Sports was the submission system. While most players enjoyed the striking system in the game there were more than a few that found the mechanics from previous games too complicated and fiddly.

Furthermore, newcomers going up against anyone that is well-versed in the previous game’s submission system will make for a very one-sided fight. Thankfully, EA has addressed this system by making it more accessible and in line with some of the WWE 2K wrestling games.

9 Over 200 Fighters To Choose From

EA’s UFC 4 has the largest roster of fighters ever seen in a mixed martial arts game. At the moment there are 238 confirmed fighters for players to get to grips with. This will not only add a ton of replay value but will give players a more balanced experience.

Even the highest-rated fighters in the game will have weaknesses that can be exploited by someone with a different skill set. Experimentation is the key to success in UFC 4 and there enough in the game to play around with.

8 The New Rating System

There’s a new rating system in place for fighters in this year’s game. This time fighters are given a value out five stars overall. As well as the overall star rating, the combatants will also have a star rating for their moves, health, ground game, and stand-up.

RELATED: 5 Best UFC Games Ever (& The 5 Worst)

The biggest downside to this system is that feels less specific when it comes to a fighter’s true strengths and weaknesses. However, having a system like this in place will encourage players to experiment with different fighters instead of picking Jon Jones or Israel Adysenya every match.

7 There’s No Joe Rogan

When it comes to the bigger events, having Joe Rogan on commentary is almost as iconic has hearing Bruce Buffer announce the fighters before a match. Unfortunately, Rogan is missing from this year’s entry and he’s been replaced by former UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.

RELATED: 5 Fighting Games That Are Beginner Friendly (& 5 That Are For Experts)

Apparently, Rogan opted not to do the commentary because in his words he found repeating the same phrase over and over again in a sound booth “mind-numbing”. Thankfully, Cormier’s commentary with fellow color man Jon Anik is fantastic and feels more natural in this year’s entry.

6 Unlock Bruce Lee

Previous games in EA’s UFC game series have featured legendary martial arts superstar Bruce Lee. This is because he helped pioneer the idea of combining various martial arts practices and using what works into one style.

Bruce Lee is back in this year’s game as a pre-order bonus or DLC. The easiest way to unlock him is by purchasing the game through the “buy it now” slide in the UFC 3 in-game menus.

5 Ground And Pound

The Ground and Pound mechanics have been reworked in UFC 4. Movements are far more fluid and realistic and the player is given far more control over their fighters in this game.

It still feels very much in favor of the offensive fighter on top, but the defending fighter on the bottom has more tools to escape, avoid punches, reverse submissions, and transition to gain the advantage.

4 Fighting In The Clinch

Players that may have been put off by the somewhat robotic clinch mechanics of the past games will be pleased to know that it’s smoother than ever in UFC 4.

RELATED: 10 Best Combat Sports Games, Ranked

Using EA’s RealMotion Player technology, initiating a clinch is easier than before although it still requires timing, and even escaping it looks and feels better than it ever did before. Moving in an off the cage and manipulating an opponent’s body is now more exciting and satisfying to execute.

3 Career Mode

UFC 4 Career Mode

The Career modes in previous UFC games have always been functional but pretty mechanical and without any real character or story, and nothing that measures up to the fantastic story mode in Fight Night Champion.

However, UFC 4 knocks it out of the park with a brand Career mode that implements RPG mechanics and a completely dynamic relationship system. This gives the mode replay value that the games needed and is a great way to learn the game’s mechanics.

2 Ultimate Team Is Gone

The Ultimate Team Mode was one of UFC 3’s most controversial modes and it has been removed from this year’s game. It was the right call because not only did allow the developers to focus and work on features that mattered but having a team mode in an MMA game always felt forced.

It was also a way for EA to try and make money from its players by implementing loot box-style microtransactions. This didn’t go down well with fans and caught some bad press from the media at the time of its release.

1 It Still Has Microtransactions

Thankfully, EA has removed the loot box-like Ultimate Team and the microtransactions that accompanied it. However, microtransactions still exist in the form of the new vanity-based Create-A-Fighter customization options.

In fairness to the developers, these vanity items are purely cosmetic and have no pay-to-win features. These features seem like they were created with the Fortnite fan base in mind and when one considers how much the average Fortnite fan spends on skin packs, it’s hard to blame EA for wanting to get in on some of the action too.

NEXT: EA’s UFC 4: 10 Legends That Deserve To Be In The Game