Paitence Grasshopper!
The impact of Virtua Fighter as a fighter can't be given justice in one sentence. As the first 3D one-on-one fighting game by Yu Suzuki's famed AM2 department, it fluently demonstrated how flexible 3D could be in producing life-like graphics and gameplay. And with each sequel and home port, it continued to serve this testament correctly. Virtua Fighter 4 is no different. In truth, Sega can stay rest assured that their IP is in safe hands. Each Virtua Fighter game manages to introduce something new to the realm of fighting games. Better yet, VF does it without the need of making any drastic changes to neither the heart nor an embodiment of dozens new cast-members and mini-games on the side.
Instead Virtua Fighter 4 continues the tradition of providing gamers with a severely polished and much improved entry into the long running fighting series. It blows the competition way out of the water too. So before that, allow this review to explain the gameplay of Virtua Fighter. It is a one-on-one three button fighter. A button is used to punch, another for kick and the last is used for guard. This all sounds intrinsic but where other fighters rely on intense button combinations and rhythm control stick movement, Virtua Fighter depends entirely on timing and execution. So say you intend to use Akira's Soutoushou attack, a devastating but very much manoeuvrable command, you need to plan it correct and use a proficient reversal attack incase all goes wrong.
Virtua Fighter follows many of the standard fighter conventions otherwise; drain your opponents health for a knock out, time over rules work in favour of the character with the most energy and you can push enemies off the edge of the stage in order to call a ring-out round victory. Virtua Fighter 4, abides all of these rules much like it has with its predecessors yet it does make a few alliterations. In particular, the multi-tiered stages of Virtua Fighter 3 have been rendered into conventional ring based stages again. Gone also is the evade button – a double tap of up or down will instead position at a different angle on the stage.
All of the characters from Virtua Fighter 3 return also (excluding sumo wrestler Taka) and introduced new fighters Vanessa and Lei Fei. Though the regnant fighters such as Jeffery, Wolf and Akira mentioned earlier might intimidate newcomers from enjoying Virtua Fighter 4, the game does cater towards novice gamers as well. Jacky, Sarah and Lion can be played relatively easily. With a little practice, it is possible to seamlessly play against friends and the computer with the more adept Lau, Kage and Aoi. Although Virtua Fighter 4 has no story mode or theatrical endings as seen on other fighters it rather focuses on other areas of the gameplay.
Virtua Fighter 4 has a number of sophisticated modes to play, play being the keyword here. This newest entry in the series can hold its head high for the inclusion of edit mode and kumite. Character customisation and a completely graded rank system are sequentially what make Virtua Fighter 4. In Kumite mode you progress your rank all the way from 10th Kyu in virtual arcades, unlocking new items and awards as you defeat each challenger who crosses you. It isn't much, but in reality kumite mode is what makes Virtua Fighter 4 so engrossing.
Past kumite, Virtua Fighter 4 features training mode which does what is says on the tin. It is actually a very useful tool and teaches you all the necessary techniques to better yourself at the game. You can finally train an AI to also use in Kumite mode, which gives you the mentor/master position over your distant minded robot student. AI mode really is there to kill time. But it has to be said, where is the team battle mode? Where is survival mode?
Unsurprisingly it makes Virtua Fighter 4 a short game. You can only live so long on a game based by addiction and while AM2 may succeed triumphantly in gaining your attention it is a wonder how long they'd keep it. Though admittedly, Virtua Fighter 4 is an illustrative masterpiece. It is a technical showcase of the prowess Sega's Naomi 2 arcade board offers and it shows unimaginably on Playstation 2. The characters and stages are all gorgeously rendered and the life breathed into miniscule details such as hair and skin needs little acquaintance.
The soundtrack of Virtua Fighter 4 should also be in regard for pumping out some of the best Yuzo Koshiro inspired electronic music in a long while. Generally speaking the audible flexibility is parallel to Virtua Fighter 4's booming atmosphere. It works like a charm. Voice acting is solid but charmingly camp as always from Sega ("Feel the REAL power").
And that about sums up Virtua Fighter 4. It is a bodacious sequel to 3TB and bound to convert the unrewarded 3D fighting fans with an absolute cracker. Length issues aside this is the perfect game to keep you at bay from Tekken 4 and Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance, but one might argue it would give even those two games a run for their money. I guarantee it ;D
