Virtua Fighter 4
 

 
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 VF and VF2. In addition, certain stages now featured walls, opening up all new strategy to the tried and true gameplay. 


All of the characters from the previous installment make the return with the exception of the Sumo wrestler Taka-Arashi, and in Virtua Fighter tradition, of course "two" new characters were added to the roster. The newcomers are Lei Fei (a Shaolin monk with a dynamic and flowing fighting style) and Vanessa (a badass Vale Tudo chick who's a little rough around the edges). The new characters bring some solid variety and also some much needed personality to the series.

 

 

Also staying true to the series' traditions, the graphics are nothing short of amazing. Character models are superbly detailed and show off some of the best clothing details & effects to date. Character faces are also some of the most detailed we've seen in a fighting game, 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 notably lower resolution than others, but overall VF4 is a very very pretty game.

 

 

The gameplay is as deep and as solid as you'd expect from the series... like in any quality 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 rewarding to master. The sidestepping game and wall game is solid... but possibly a bit "slow" when compared to some other 3D fighters out there (which has it's pros and cons).

 

 

The home port of VF4 on PS2 debuts the all new Kumite mode where players fight one computer controlled opponent after another. Though winning ranked matches, players can advance through the ranks and can also collect a wide variety of customizable items such as clothing colors and attire to change the look of your fighters! Awesome!

 

Page Updated: July 10th, 2024 Developer(s): Sega-AM2 Publisher(s): Sega Designer(s): Yu Suzuki Platform(s): Arcade, PlayStation 2 Release Date(s): 2001                                   Arcade Jan. 31st, 2002               PS2 Mar. 17th, 2002             PS2 May 10th, 2002              PS2 Characters:  Akira Yuki, Sarah Bryant, Jacky Bryant, Kage, Lau Chan, Jeffry McWild, Wolf Hawkfield, Pai Chan, Shun, Lion Rafale, Aoi Umenokouji, Vanessa Lewis, Lei-Fei, Dural Featured Video: Related Games: Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution, Virtua Fighter, Virtua Fighter Remix, Virtua Fighter 2, Virtua Fighter Kids, Virtua Fighter 3, Virtua Fighter 5, Virtua Fighter 5 R, Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, VF5: Ultimate Showdown, Fighting Vipers, Fighting Vipers 2, Fighters Megamix, Last Bronx, TEKKEN 4, TEKKEN 5     Gameplay Engine  9.5 / 10 Story / Theme  6.5 / 10 Overall Graphics  10 / 10 Animation  9.5 / 10 Music / Sound Effects  7.5 / 10 Innovation  8.0 / 10 Art Direction  8.0 / 10 Customization  9.5 / 10 Options / Extras  9.5 / 10 Intro / Presentation  6.5 / 10 Replayability / Fun  8.5 / 10 "Ouch" Factor  8.5 / 10 Characters  8.0 / 10 BOTTOM LINE  9.0 / 10  Review based on PS2 version       Final Words: Virtua Fighter 4 was easily the best and most polished installment in the series to date. For those who got to play it at arcades (rare in the U.S.), VF4 was a captivating 3D fighting game. The eventual PS2 version was a great port and definitely a fighting game worth playing. Nearly a year after VF4, Sega released VF4: Evolution which built upon VF4's foundation, added new characters, moves, and stages... and was an incredible sequel. VF4's Kumite mode, ranks, and customizations options were very innovative for the time - later to be used and evolved in other 3D fighting games such as TEKKEN 5. ~TFG Webmaster | @Fighters_Gen    Click Here for all Box Art / Arcade Flyers / etc.     Click Here for all Stages / Backgrounds! Click Here for all Screenshots! FOLLOW    ON:                             TFG NEWS CHARACTERS GAMES