(LAST UPDATE: 7/15/09)
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Developer(s): Sega-AM2
Publisher(s): Sega
Designer(s): Yu Suzuki
Platform(s): Arcade,
Playstation 2
Release: 2001 (Arcade), January 31st 2002 (JP PS2), March 17th 2002
(NA PS2), May 10th 2002 (EU PS2)
Characters:
Akira,
Jacky,
Kage,
Lau,
Jeffry,
Sarah,
Wolf,
Pai,
Shun,
Lion,
Aoi,
Vanessa,
Lei
Fei, Dural
Related Games:
Virtua
Fighter, Virtua Fighter Remix, Virtua
Fighter 2, Virtua Fighter Kids, Virtua
Fighter 3, Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution,
Virtua
Fighter 5, Virtua Fighter 5 R, Fighting
Vipers, Fighting Vipers 2, Fighters
Megamix, Last Bronx
Review:
With Virtua Fighter 4, Sega brought the series back to it's roots,
ditching the multi-tiered backgrounds from VF3 and re-introducing the square
shaped rings from the likes of the original Virtua Fighter
and Virtua Fighter 2, also adding walls on certain
stages. All of the characters from the previous installment return (except for Taka-Arashi) and in Virtua Fighter tradition, of course "two" new characters
were added to the roster, those of which are Lei
Fei (a Shaolin monk) and Vanessa
(a Vale Tudo fighter).
Also staying
true to the series' traditions, the graphics are nothing short of amazing.
Character models are superbly detailing, showing off some of the best clothing
detail/effects to date...
Character faces are also some of the most detailed we've seen to date, as each
character has a variety of facial animations.
Several stages also have cool graphical effects that interact with the
fighters, such as snow on the ground, rain puddles, and breaking tiles on the
ground. The graphics aren't perfect though, as certain stage textures are
at a lower resolution than others, but overall VF4 is a very good looking game.
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The gameplay
is as deep and as solid as you'd expect from the series... Like in any good
3D fighting game, button mashing
won't do you any good here. There are some odd "ground juggles" that can
be pulled off, but overall; VF4's gameplay is beautiful to watch and a
lot of fun to master. Thankfully, since this is a quality 3D fighting game, the
sidestepping game and wall game is well done... but a bit on the slow
side when compared to some other 3D fighters (a good thing and bad thing
perhaps). The home version of VF4 on
the PS2 includes a Kumite mode, in which players fight one computer controlled
opponent at a time, achieve different ranks, and also collect different
customizable items such as clothing colors and attire to change the look
of your fighter of choice!
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- Review is for PS2 version of Virtua Fighter 4 - |
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Closing Comment:
VF4 was definitely the best installment to date and didn't bring along any fatal flaws, yet still left room for the series
to grow and improve... Sega released VF4: Evolution
nearly a year after VF4, which built upon VF4's engine and was a great
sequel. The kumite mode, ranks, and customizations options that debuted
in VF4 were later used in other 3D fighting games like Tekken
5. ~F.Yagami,
Webmaster
of TFG
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