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Virtua Fighter 5

Virtua Fighter 5[b] is the fifth installment in Sega's Virtua Fighter series of arcade fighting games. The original version was released in July 2006 on the Sega Lindbergh arcade system board with a number of updates before home ports were released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2007. The first major update was Virtua Fighter 5 R (2008), followed by Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown (2010), with the latter ported to home systems in 2012. A remastered version of Final Showdown was released in 2021 as Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown on PlayStation 4 and as Virtua Fighter esports on Japanese arcades.

Virtua Fighter 5
Cover art of the original version, showing the main character Akira at the top and other characters below with Eileen and El Blaze in the center
Developer(s)Sega AM2[a]
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Yoshihiro Tsuzuko
Producer(s)Noriyuki Shimoda
Composer(s)
  • Tatsutoshi Narita
  • Shinichi Goto
  • Fumio Ito
SeriesVirtua Fighter
Platform(s)
Release
July 12, 2006
  • Arcade
    Version A:
    Version B:
    • JP: December 14, 2006[3]
    • WW: February 2007
    Version C:
    R:
    R, Version A:
    R, Version B:
    R, Version C:
    • JP: November 25, 2009
    Final Showdown:
    Final Showdown, Version A:
    Final Showdown, Version B:
    • JP: March 25, 2015
    esports:
    • JP: June 2, 2021
    PlayStation 3
    Version B:
    Final Showdown, Version A:
    • WW: June 4, 2012
    Xbox 360
    Version C:
    • EU: October 26, 2007
    • NA: October 30, 2007
    • JP: December 6, 2007
    Final Showdown, Version A:
    • WW: June 6, 2012
    PlayStation 4
    Ultimate Showdown:
    • WW: June 1, 2021
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemSega Lindbergh (VF5 – Final Showdown)
Sega ALLS UX (esports and Ultimate Showdown)

Gameplay

  • Throw speed has been reduced, from eight frames to 12 frames. In addition, "Instant", or 0-frame throws re-appear from Virtua Fighter 3 in guaranteed throw situations (such as during an evade).
  • Each stages’ rings have different shapes, weights and heights, rather than restrictedly square, nor have same ring size, as well as not all stages that have walls are at a same fence. Semi-open walls is not featured, but is replaced with single wall on certain stages.
  • To encourage a more "moral" style of play, Sega introduced the Clash System: when initiated with the right timing, an attack can be canceled out with a throw, creating a clash and leaving both players at +0 frame advantage (neutral).
  • Offensive Move: pressing "Punch + Kick + Guard" during an evade will initiate an angled forward dash. In addition, pressing "Punch" or "Kick" during OM will initiate an attack which can lead to side or back stagger or crumple, leading to a guaranteed combo opportunity.
  • The Xbox 360 version introduced online support via Xbox Live, which allowed two players from around the world to battle over the Internet. Developers have also suggested that the PS3 version could also be online-enabled in the form of a downloadable patch.[11] This was later discounted by Sega's Jay Boor, who said: "at this time SEGA has no plans to release a patch for the PS3 version of Virtua Fighter 5."
  • Version C of Virtua Fighter 5 was used for the 360 version which fixed up some gameplay issues, while the PS3 version used version B.
  • Different items are available in the Xbox 360 port of the game in Quest mode, as it is based upon Version C.
  • On January 16, 2008, the Xbox 360 version received an update, which made improvements and changes to online play and quest mode.[12]

Plot

All of the invitations for the Fifth World Fighting Tournament have been sent. And now, the 17 best fighters in the world begin their final phases of preparation. They must learn from their past mistakes and perfect every aspect of their mind, body, and soul – for there is no room for mistakes in this competition. Most of them are unaware that J6, the organization funding the tournament, has even more sinister ulterior motives for the contest and the syndicate's top secret Dural program is already underway. In the organization's quest for world domination, the scientists at J6 are creating the ultimate fighting machine with human features. The said Dural whom Kage-Maru fought and defeated in the Fourth World Fighting Tournament was not his mother, Tsukikage, leading J6 to kidnap Vanessa to further their mass production on the Dural project. She was able to escape with the help of an insider, but not before they captured her combat data and transferred it to the new advanced Dural model named V-Dural.

J6 is determined to find out the traitor that released Vanessa and see if V-Dural is ready to defeat the world's best fighters. Along the way, other than sending their Japanese judoka, Goh Hinogami to participate once again, J6 also deploys their Japanese-French karateka, Jean Kujo, who was once Lion Rafale's childhood friend and rival to enter there too. The Fifth World Fighting Tournament will reveal both.

Characters

The Virtua Fighter newcomers are marked below in bold:

  1. ^ Non-playable opponent in Ultimate Showdown
  2. ^ a b Added in Virtua Fighter 5 R

Versions

The first location tests took place on November 26, 2005[13] leading to the official release on July 12, 2006, in Japanese arcades. An export version, based on Version B, was released to arcades outside Japan in February 2007.

The revised Version B update was released in Japanese arcades in December 2006[14] and was ported to the PlayStation 3, for which it was released February 2007 and was a launch title for the console's European release in March 2007. Version C was released in Japanese arcades in July 2007[15] and was ported to the Xbox 360, for which it was released October 2007 in Europe and in North America. The Xbox 360 version would allow users to compete online via Xbox Live, a feature that was not available on the PlayStation 3 version.

While Japanese arcades received the first major update Virtua Fighter 5 R, the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and arcades would get the second update Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown.

An enhanced remaster of Final Showdown, titled Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown[c] was released worldwide for PlayStation 4 on June 1, 2021, and Japanese arcades on June 2, 2021.[16]

PlayStation 3 version

The PlayStation 3 port is based around the older Version B revision.[17] On January 16, 2008, Sega confirmed online features will not be added to the PlayStation 3 version due to the Version B's technical limitations.[18]

Xbox 360 version

The Xbox 360 port of Virtua Fighter 5, known as Virtua Fighter 5 Online in North America and Virtua Fighter 5 Live Arena in Japan, benefits from the additions and refinements that have been made to the Version C arcade revision, including online play and an online update ability.[19]

Virtua Fighter 5 R

On February 14, 2008, at the AOU Amusement Expo, Sega AM2 announced a revision to Virtua Fighter 5 known as Virtua Fighter 5 R. This new version was released for the arcades on July 24, 2008, and features brand new stages as well as a new character named Jean Kujo,[20] who practices Karate. The sumo wrestler Taka-Arashi also returns, making his first appearance since Virtua Fighter 3 and bringing the fighter count up to 20 (counting Dural).

Version B of Virtua Fighter 5 R was officially released in Japanese arcades on May 21, 2009. This version featured changes in the animations of moves on all the characters, as well as changes to enhance the gameplay modes and an improved camera system.

Version C was released on November 25, 2009. However, this particular version mainly added new team items for the character's outfits.

Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown

On February 18, 2010, Sega released a trailer for a second and final revision called Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown. This update for the Sega Lindbergh arcade system debuted at the 2010 AOU Expo, and features new character costumes and new animations. The game was officially released in Japanese arcades on July 29, 2010. Version A of Final Showdown was released on April 20, 2011, in Japanese arcades. It was announced at Gamescom 2011 that Final Showdown would be coming to PlayStation 3 on June 5, 2012 and Xbox 360 on June 6, 2012, complete with online play for both platforms. The game was released in downloadable format.[21] Within a week, Final Showdown surpassed Japanese sale goals expectations.[22]

Version B of Final Showdown was released on March 25, 2015, in Japanese arcades, and removed Internet functionality. This version of the game is playable in the in-game arcades in several of the Yakuza games, including Yakuza 6, Judgment and Yakuza: Like a Dragon.[23]

The Xbox 360 version of Final Showdown was later made available on Xbox One on September 15, 2016, via backward compatibility, also becoming available on Xbox Series X/S.

Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown

An enhanced remaster of the game, titled Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown, also known in Japan as Virtua Fighter esports, was teased at Tokyo Game Show 2020 Online in September 2020 as Virtua Fighter x esports Project and announced in May 2021, in celebration of Sega's 60th anniversary. Co-developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega AM2, this version features updated graphics, using the Dragon Engine, new background music, a new user interface, a new opening cinematic and new online features. It was released worldwide exclusively for PlayStation 4 on June 1, 2021.[24]

Ultimate Showdown also offers downloadable content in the form of the "Legendary Pack", which includes all background music tracks from the previous Virtua Fighter games; various costumes and items for character customization; and cosmetic options based on the original Virtua Fighter, including an alternate health bar design, Jacky's classic stage, and low-polygon 3D models for each character. The final three costume sets from the previous versions are missing, and Dural is a non-player character boss which cannot be unlocked.[25][26] As part of co-development with Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Yakuza-themed costumes and music tracks, including the arranged music of Virtua Fighter 3, were announced on December 4, 2021, and released on December 8, 2021.[27] The costumes, health bar design from Tekken 7 and music tracks from the Tekken series were announced on March 20, 2022 after Virtua Fighter's Challenge Cup Season 0.[28]

Reception

The game reached number seven in the UK sales chart.[45] The game received significant critical acclaim from most reviewers. In 2009, Edge ranked the game No. 24 on its list of "The 100 Best Games To Play Today" (the highest-rated 3D fighter on the list), stating: "One of gaming's great myths is that VF is inaccessible to all but the initiated. It takes care of frame-counting junkies, of course, but the core of AM2's series is a beautiful balance of attack, block and counter-attack that anyone can enjoy. Each new entry refines, making that solid animation even more seamless and introducing new characters that seem like they were always there."[46]

Final Showdown received a 9/10 from Eurogamer, which called it "deeper than any of its peers."[47] Edge favorably compared Final Showdown with Street Fighter IV, Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Soulcalibur V and Mortal Kombat, noting: "Its prudence, that veil of simplicity masking a system of astonishing possibility and depth, makes it one of the purest fighting games on the market today."[48] The game was featured in 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die, with journalist Richard Stanton stating: "No matter how good the latest Street Fighter or Tekken is, they'll still be undisciplined teenagers compared to Virtua Fighter's cool, mature mastery of fighting."[49]

Notes

  1. ^ Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown co-developed with Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
  2. ^ Japanese: バーチャファイター5, Hepburn: Bācha Faitā Faibu
  3. ^ Known in Japan as Virtua Fighter esports

References

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