Virtua Fighter 4
Virtua Fighter 4by Sega of America, Inc.
Platform: PlayStation2
ESRB Rating: Teen
ASIN: B00005Y1BG
Check price @ amazon.com , amazon.ca , amazon.co.uk
Features:
• The definitive martial arts sim
• Optimized for PlayStation2
• Enhanced fighting system and AI
• 2 new fighters join 11 veterans
• 1-2 players
Amazon.com Product Description: This new version of the definitive hand-to-hand martial arts sim features fully optimized graphics designed to harness the power of the PlayStation2. Virtua Fighter 4 also delivers an extremely deep fighting system, highly tuned AI, and two new characters hungry for their place at the top. If you are new to the Virtua Fighter series, the in-depth training system will teach you the art of combat, move by move. Rewards await those who master every move, and you can expect to unlock a few secret techniques along the way.
Two new characters (Lei Fei and Vanessa Lewis) join 11 VF veterans for a grand total of 13 fighters, each with his or her own unique styles based on real martial arts. New counters and defensive moves allow players to switch up their stances and fighting styles midbout. High-polygon character models, exquisite detail, and brilliant light sourcing combine to create breathtaking visuals. You can also train a computer-controlled character through sparring and an easy-to-use rewards system, then pit your character against a friend's, or challenge the arcade mode. A new accessory system allows you to customize your character's clothing, sunglasses, hairstyles, and more.
Amazon.co.uk: Virtua Fighter 4 is Sega's first blockbuster release for the PS2. Exclusive to Sony's machine (for now, anyway), this is the game that's supposed to put Sega on the map for PlayStation2 owners. The pedigree couldn't be any better: the original game was the first ever 3-D beat-'em-up title, and this third sequel has possibly the most stunning graphics yet seen on the PS2.
If you sense a "but" coming, you're either getting to the end of your cigarette or you've already played the arcade version. The Virtua Fighter series is renowned for its tactical fights, full of blocks and counters rather than the more simplistic combo-centric gameplay of the rival Tekken games. This makes the Virtua Fighter games a little harder to get into, but far more rewarding over time. The "but" comes into play when you realize that Virtua Fighter 4 is substantially different from what has come before. For starters, the Dodge button has been axed, making it much harder to take full advantage of the 3-D arenas. There's also less of an emphasis on counterattacks and more on chaining together effective combos.
All of this has no doubt been done to attract Tekken fans, and indeed if you're a fan of that series but were disappointed by the lackluster Tekken Tag Tournament, this is definitely the game for you. If you're an old-school Virtua Fighter fan, this is still the game for you, but it does come with a slight hint of disappointment. But then, life's like that. --David Jenkins
Customer Reviews:
In the cover of night someone please steal this game from me, November 21, 2002
Reviewer: makohsuan from Eugene, OR
This is possibly the worest fighting game I've ever played. Woo Hoo it's hard to learn how to do moves, but even when you do learn the fighting still looks blocky and forced. The music is terrible, and your confined to a little boxed ring. The backrounds may look beautiful, but that doesn't matter you won't have a chance to fight in them. The characters are pathetic as well, but this brings up a bigger question. Why would any developer put wrestlers and boxers in a martial arts sim? I would like to see a true martial arts sim, where each fighter has a highly developled arsenal of moves based on real moves in real martial arts. Do yourself a favor and stay away from all of Sega's fighters. Yes, even Soul Caliber, it's garbage. Go and pick up any Tekken and watch the fluidity and grace in which the moves flow together, this is what simulated martial arts is all about.
A great choice for fighting fans, but I prefer Tekken 4, November 11, 2002
Reviewer: technodemon from Acworth, GA
Virtua Fighter 4 adds more depth to the Virtua Fighter series than ever. 14 characters, superb graphics, complex gameplay, and the ability to build your own character through Kumite mode all make it a great choice for fighting game fans. New features since VF 3 include breakable walls, more detailed backrounds, 2 new characters, and the removal of the evade button. However, there are features missing from VF 4 that hinder it from becoming a true classic in my opinion. First, there are no individual endings for the characters...where's the incentive to beat the game? Also, compared to Tekken 4 the controls seem stiff and stubborn. VF 4 is intended for those who take their fighting games seriously. The Virtua Fighter series has been long regarded as the expert's fighting game, and for good reason. Even though the button layout seems simple (punch, kick, and guard), learning and implementing all the attacks/reversals for each character takes dedication. So if you insist on having every little detail of the game balanced and refined, Virtua Fighter 4 is for you. If you prefer more accessable gameplay, larger than life characters, and a deeper story, I recommend Tekken 4 instead.
One of the Best PS2 Games I've ever played!, October 10, 2002
Reviewer: A 12-year old gamer
When I first heard of Virtua Fighter 4 I thought it was just a regular fighting game, but as soon as I started playing I noticed how everything on this game was not regular. The graphics couldn't have been any more precise, the music went prefectly with the arenas, and the characters crystal clear moves were the all time best. You work your way up on your experience and get accessories, 2 different styles of clothes, and as you work your way up you can change your the colors of the clothes. Also, you can mix and match their clothes too. This is my favorite PS2 game out there. Try it today!!(or ASAP! :))
Also, Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution with be coming out soon with 2 new characters!
worst fighting game for ps2, October 8, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer
this game is so bad i'm almost sick. take my advice dont wast your time with this and buy tekken 4.
i HATE this game!, October 6, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer
there is absolutely no story line! there is only one secret character to unlock!this game doesn't even go par with Tekken 4 (great game Tekken 4 is!)you are trapped in a little box or your on a little spuare where you always get ring-out.you get to get items to put on your character but,that makes them look ugly.
So Good It's a Little Rediculous, October 1, 2002
Reviewer: Brendan from Dallas, TX
After purchasing Tekken 4 for Playstation 2, I am still absolutely amazed at how superior this game remains in the fighting genre. From my perspective, this series has been asleep for too long and has been kept alive by a cult following of some of the most dedicated fans out there. I would like to personally thank anyone who has supported this series long enough to provide grounds for this installment because it seems many of us have been too busy promoting the likes of the VF knock-offs Tekken and Dead or Alive series (not that either series is without merit). I remember abusing the VF1 cabinets back in the early 90s and wasting obscene amounts of money in the process, and then only hearing rumors that new installments in the series were made without ever finding the cabinets in my favorite arcades. Instead, we were given the fast, souless Tekken cabinets overcrowded by button mashing masses, eager to flail away at each other. Slowly we fighter enthusiasts forgot our quiet origins and adopted the sloppy medium of flash over intelligence.
Now almost a decade has passed and Virtua Fighter, the game once so revolutionary, is reborn in a more mature and polished form. Slowly, fans of the 3d fighter will return to their origins and pay homage to the father of 3d hand-to-hand combat. While not as fast as Tekken 4 and not as pretty as DOA3, it is far more intelligent and believable than either and relies on depth and achievement rather than shallow awards like hidden characters and button tapping combos. There is only one reward to seek in VF4, and that is the complete annihilation of your opponents. All fighting fans owe this game at least a try.
The pinnacle of fighting games so far, September 24, 2002
Reviewer: Brendan from Dallas, TX USA
This game embraces what a fighting game should, strategy, fast reflexes, and practice. It does not reward brutality, and it spits in the face of an over-aggressive player. This game relies on the gamer's discipline and knowledge. Sun-Tzu made the general statement that knowing yourself and your enemy is the only true path to complete victory, and that knowing only yourself will always lead to defeat, since the enemy will always remain unpredictable. This is one of the few fighting games in which you must not only be able to understand your own strategy, but also to acknowledge the strategy of your opponents. I believe that this is the greatest fighting game ever made, and that mastery of this game will make every other fighting game seem like child's play.
The best fighting game on Playstation 2 thus far, September 22, 2002
Reviewer: karnas84 from Wexford, PA United States
VIRTUA FIGHTER 4 is undoubtedly the best fighting game out on Playstation 2, edging out DEAD OR ALIVE 2: HARDCORE. There are a total of thirteen fighters, each of whom possesses an entirely unique arsenal of moves and a personal fighting style. The graphics are fluid and impressive (although not as photorealistic as DEAD OR ALIVE 3 on Xbox). New fighters to the game include Lei Fei, a Shaolin Monk. Older fighters reprise their roles and come back with a lot of new moves.
For older Virtua Fighter players, you will find that there is enough to make this a worthwhile purchase. New features include training your own Artificial Intelligence fighter, which is both fun and painstaking (just like keeping a real pet). There is also a Kumite Mode, where you can advance in ranks all the way from the lowly 1st kyu to the mighty High King or Emperor. Reaching the highest ranks requires a considerable amount of skill and time, but is well worth the effort (and is fun to boot!).
For those new to the Virtua Fighter series, there is a lot to recommend here. VIRTUA FIGHTER 4 is not a reversal fest like some other games, and there are enough of a variety of fighters to satisfy both the button mashers and those who need precise control over their fighters. There are also a ton of features (some mentioned above) that make the replay value very high.
Overall, this is an excellent purchase and will definitely compete with Tekken 4 when that comes out. I doubt that will be anything noticeably better until the release of Soul Calibur 2.
Not bad at all !, September 12, 2002
Reviewer: Ofir from Ramat-Gan Israel
It's actually a pretty good kick'em and throw'em game. A tad limited on character selection but the moves are impressive and the combos are also very good. Tekken still rules as far as I am concerned but Virtua Fighter is a good title to own if you like these kind of games.
This is a very fun game, September 3, 2002
Reviewer: Jonathon Taylor from Longview, WA United States
I rented this game some time ago. I don't know when. ...and I think that this game is the best. That's the reason I bought it from Amazon. I like all the characters. The characters are fun, and the fights are fun too. I also like the AI system that Sega Of America installed in the game. I also like it because there is a sound test, and a music test. If you don't like the music, and wish to turn it off, You can. Just go to the options mode, select sounds, and you're there. This is a very fun game to play. I highly recommend this to future gamers.
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