Virtua Fighter 4 for PS2

Virtua Fighter 4 for PS2 is arguably the best fighting game ever made. The PS2 version of the visually amazing arcade game is beautiful, deep, fun and incredibly addictive. Fighting game experts will love the depth of the game and beginners will be able to pick it up and play with the thorough training mode. Virtua Fighter 1 was the first 3D polygonal fighting game, spearheading the movement which brought games like Tekken and Dead or Alive. The series are immensely popular in Japan but are somewhat ignored in America due to the deep, complex nature of the gameplay. Players who rely on button-mashing rarely find success in VF because it rewards skill and knowledge rather than quick reflexes. Sega-AM2 have made the steep learning curve in VF4 much easier to climb with the excellent training mode, which leads the player step-by-step in how to master the game. Lessons you are having trouble with can be skipped and retried at a later point. You can set up specific situations in the Free Training mode to practice on improving your weak areas. In addition, a beginner-friendly character named Lei-Fei has been added to the roster.

The real meat of the game is the Kumite mode (pronounced ku-mee-tay). It is essentially an arcade experience simulation: it is as if you are standing at an arcade machine with an endless line of people Challenging you to matches. The skills levels of the various opponents you face will vary and you will increase in rank by defeating players who are equal to your rank. The game keeps a detailed log of statistics on your performance, and offers advice on how you can improve your fighting skills. There are over four-hundred clothing items which you can take from opponents and add to your collection, including hats, earrings, necklaces and masks. After winning the items you can play dress-up with your character and customize his/her appearance.

The standard “Arcade” and two-player VS modes are included as well. An interesting feature called the A.I. mode is included. In A.I. mode you become the instructor and you show a computer controlled disciple how to play the game. The A.I. player will mimic your moves and wait for your approval, learning your combinations and tricks. The most fun thing to do with A.I. mode is to pit your disciple against your friend’s in order to see who is the better instructor.

Graphically, VF4 has an outstanding level of detail and animation. The character models are completely smooth and realistic looking, sporting high polygon counts and rich textures. Clothing flutters in the wind, tons of action happens in the backgrounds and the arenas you fight in are affected by the fighters. For example, the arena floor of the castle stage is covered in snow. Moving and falling in the snow leaves footprints and body impressions as the fight progresses. The beach level has deformable sand in a similar fashion and the most impressive level takes place in a large pool of water which realistically ripples with every movement. Virtua Fighter 4 is Sega-AM2’s first game on PS2, and it shows in some areas. The image quality is a little rough looking, with some jagged edges on objects and flickering in the backgrounds. These minor defects quickly become non-issues within five minutes because the gameplay is so mind-bogglingly good.

The sound effects have been mostly recycled from the previous Virtua Fighter games, meaning they are acceptable but not spectacular. Voice actors do a good job at presenting emotion and arrogance when characters taunt each other in the beginning of a fight and when they celebrate after winning matches. The music is much better than VF3’s forgettable tunes, using a lot of rock and heavy metal mixed with Asian themes.

Virtua Fighter 4 is the type of game that can be played forever. It is open and accessible to everyone regardless of previous experience with fighting games and it has rock-solid, addictive gameplay to boot. If you are looking for a PS2 game to last you for a long, long time, Virtua Fighter 4 is the perfect choice.

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