The fighting legend limbers up to regain its crown...
Way back when Sega's Saturn console was facing off against Sony's brand new polygon-pushing PlayStation hardware, there was one particular software battle that captured imagination of the entire industry. Virtua Fighter, the progenitor of 3D fighters, came head to head to Sega's arcade Nemesis Namco and their high-kicking Tekken franchise. It was a dirty, bloody battle which saw Tekken, with all its fast free-flowing combos and colourful characters, come out on top as far as the general public were concerned. VF, meanwhile, retained a loyal, arcade-going public who valued its deeper fighting substance over Tekken's impressive style.
Of course, if someone back then had suggested that, in a decade-or-so's-time, we'd be seeing a fresh Sony system release with a brand spanking new Virtua Fighter, we'd have thought they'd taken one too many tiger uppercuts to the temples. Nontheless, Virtua Fighter 5 stands loud and proud amongst the PS3's launch lineup as a must have for all fighting fans.
Visually, Virtua Fighter 5 certainly raises the bar for the genre. Improved from arcades via the sheer graphical grunt of PlayStation 3, it's a highly detailed and immaculately animated fighting title. Having said that, it doesn't look all to dissimilar from VF4 in art style, but the reflections, lighting, character models and overall HD sheen lend great weight to every bruising blow and bone-crunching counter.
Improved from arcades via the sheer graphical grunt of PlayStation 3, it's a highly detailed and immaculately animated fighting title.
And the fighting is definitely going to be the main draw here. Once again Virtua Fighter delivers deep, involving fighting action with a simple three button execution; kick, punch and guard buttons can be combined with all-direction movement – labelled Offensive Move, no doubt by some buzzword-toting Sega PR exec – to devastating results in the hands of a skilled expert.
Thankfully, Virtua Fighter 5 retains Sega's skill for providing an immaculately balanced character roster, and, much like their other stunning arcade favourite Virtua Tennis 3, proves both instantly playable but also increasingly rewarding in the long term for it.
Each of the 17 combatants – including two new faces El Blaze and Eileen – keep in line with standard Beat ‘Em Up conventions – small quick characters; slow, hulking powerhouses and good all-rounders – but all offer enough individuality to be worthy of inclusion. VF aficionados will find their old favourites handle much as before, but with smoother flow and more combo options, while those new to the series shall have hours of fun ahead of them getting to know the fighters and choose their favourites.
Virtua Fighter 5 retains the series reputation as the fighting game for the Beat ‘Em Up hardcore.
That's a good thing, because Virtua Fighter 5 asks you to engage more with its fighting mechanics than it does with a multitude of modes. Arcade, Versus and Dojo options all return from VF4 on PS2 to deliver an enjoyable, but somewhat basic assortment, while the new Quest Mode, instead of placing you into a VF-themed story, instead sees you taking on the persona of a pro Virtua Fighter player... and travelling around arcades battling virtual VF nuts. Indeed, that single mode probably best represents how Virtua Fighter 5 retains the series reputation as the fighting game for the Beat ‘Em Up hardcore.
But what about the rest of us? Does all the hardcore fighting focus, lack of modes and absent online play stop this being a game the masses could enjoy? Thankfully, the answer is a resounding no. In the end with Virtua Fighter 5, quality tells; it's simply an exceptional fighting game, and despite the simplistic presentation should be high on every PS3 owners shopping list. Indeed, played in versus multiplayer it proves a revelation, and with two skilled players – reactions honed by hours of practice – facing off, the game comes into its own. Namco's new Tekken will be out in due course, but the classy combat of Sega's Virtua Fighter 5 will more than fill the gap.
GAME's Verdict
- The deepest fighting game going
- Stunning visuals
- Immensely enjoyable in skilled multiplayer sessions
- Could be considered a little too hardcore for its own good
- A more minimalist style than something like Tekken
- Lacking in modes, specifically online play
Review by: Mark Scott
Version Tested: PS3
Review Published: 30.03.07