Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Review by: Shogun Gamer - 8.7/10
Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown - Most Difficult 3D Fighting GameVirtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown - Most Difficult 3D Fighting Game...in a Good Way
Virtua Fighter has come a long way as being one of the most technical 3D fighting games. The series has had its moments of fame around the world, and moments where it was only popular in Japan. Other times, it brought for a large audience, or scared them away with it's very advanced techniques practiced by hardcore VF fans. Without a doubt though, it's definitely one of Sega's best ongoing series and the best fighting game they have made.
Now we have Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown which was on Japanese arcades since 2010 and released to the ps3 and 360 2012. Many console port players of Virtua Fighter 5 waited 6 years for this huge revision, but there actually was another Virtua Fighter 5 revision that was made two years after the 2006 release of VF5. Virtua Fighter R of 2008 which included a few of the features in VF5FS was in a way, a beta to Final Showdown to test if the audience liked the few details added to the game before moving onto the bigger project. It was certainly worth the wait for this perfected Virtua Fighter game.
Depth: 7
Having played every Virtua Fighter that ported to consoles, I have to say, this is the best Virtua Fighter game in a long time. Compared to the last Virtua Fighter 5, the battles have never felt so smooth and crisp since Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution on the ps2. However, unlike Virtua Fighter 4-5, the game no longer includes Quest mode which is a bit of a letdown being that Quest mode was the way to collect customization items for your characters...explaining why costumes and items are all in DLC packs. But regardless, with or without having video game fashion at your disposal, the game remains a blast to play as it is a fighting game after all.
What modes Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown has to offer are 4 single player modes: Arcade, Score Attack, License Challenge, and Special Sparring (only unlocked by buying all costume packs). The license challenge basically tests your skills by setting you up with conditions you must perform before defeating your opponent which can help you improve your skills and focus as a player. The Special Sparring allows you to fight rounds of opponents fitted by SEGA with DLC outfits. However, the real idea behind it is that these characters you fight all use a certain strategy, so whether you are trying to improve and better understand the character you play, or you want to have a challenge, try this mode on hard or very hard.
The single player is just a little disappointing and not too special in a way but the point I see to getting a fighting game is to get better and enjoy the fighting system, play against friends in offline versus, challenge players online, and join in fighting game tournaments. That is what makes a player improve twice as much. Of course, the only thing that could make an online experience worse is a bad net code causing lag during fights. Luckily, VF5FS has a really good net code! Through my experience of playing VF5FS, I've never experienced lag even with my occasionally bad internet connection. Not to mention, the online fighting community is full of hardcode players so if you want to really challenge yourself, online is the way to go.
The dojo mode comes with command training, free training, and tutorial (like VF4 Evolution). The command training mode does well to show you all the ropes to performing hard moves with control input demonstrations, frame data, and input frame data so you know exactly how a move is performed at its fastest. The tutorial will help players become introduced to basic and advanced concepts of Virtua Fighter so it'll make it easier to understand how the game should be played to reach an expert level. The free training mode is perhaps the best mode you can use to really take your training sessions to the next level, not just providing the usual training features, but a handful of circumstances that occur during a match, three slots for recording whatever you want that can be randomized to create a situation, and more. The computer in training mode fights very close to that of a human player, so if you want to train for online battle, try challenging the computer at level 4-5. You can also enable frame and input data in free training mode. All of the dojo modes are very useful, command training being perfect for those who just can't figure out the timing to a combo, tutorial for those who are new, and the free training mode to go as far as recreating a moment you experienced against another player.
In the terminal menu, you are able to customize and create your own character costumes if you purchase the dlc costume packs, and you can watch your own replays or even download replays from online players. The customization mode would naturally be available from the get go, but this time, you have to pay. For me, I felt it was worth it because I can't stand looking at the same two default outfits of a character the whole time, so I bought both DLC packs and boy, was it worth it. The customization pack comes set with a huge amount of items, accessories, hair, and more to customize with and at least 8 particular clothes styles in plenty of different color styles. I've actually been able to create all sorts of unique creations from all the many choices for just one character (at least 18 so far.) For those of you who just love customizing characters, I suggest getting the DLC packs if you have the game, or getting Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Complete Edition if you don't have the game yet (IT'S ACTUALLY CHEAPER THAT WAY TOO).
The overall game play actually feels smoother than the original Virtua Fighter 5 by a long shot and somehow difficult combo strings I struggled with before actually worked out in my favor this time around. The battle speed is pretty fast and as usual with Virtua Fighter 5, very technical. In a way, knowing what frame advantages your character has plays a big part in winning against opponents online. However, the game does have simple ways of teaching players to become good at the game by featuring easy to use characters like Jacky Bryant, and difficult to use characters like Akira Yuki. If you love 3D fighting games and you want to develop your reflexes to insane levels, you'll have a blast with Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown.
Difficulty: 9
Virtua Fighter may at first seem like an easy game with its 3-button scheme layout, but it's in fact one of the most difficult and hardcore 3D fighting games out there. With Virtua Fighter, I actually recommend to go into the training mode to understand the basics of the game before taking anyone on online as pretty much everyone I've come across is at a pro level, especially by now. What makes the game so difficult is the idea that you can't just go into Virtua Fighter, button mash, and expect to have fun with the game as compared to a few others. In Virtua Fighter, the fun is found in becoming a better player, learning better strategies, and eventually reaching a pro level where one single mistake can literally end it for you.
The game controls are simple, punch (p), kick (k), and guard (g). However, through button combinations of p+k, p+g, k+g, and p+k+g, all sorts of different techniques can be performed and used towards your advantage and all of them must be used to win a battle online especially. You can set up the controls however you prefer, and the game already included a handful of default set ups popularly used by arcade stick players. Regarding the game's input commands, some moves within a move set can be very precise and require just frame exact timing to actually pull of, and luckily, these moves are demonstrated in command training.
In any of the one player modes, playing on the easy mode won't be anything too challenging, and normal mode could prove a challenge for players new to the game thus being a good place to start off. The hard and very hard modes are the real challenge where the opponent as fast or even faster than a player, taking advantage of any weak spots you give off. Beating hard CPU or players are indeed possible as long as you take the effort to learn about the characters in the game and have fun experimenting new ideas to test. Eventually, you'll be as good as the hardcore online community. The same applies to any game, but with Virtua Fighter, there are a lot more techniques and tricks to learn and can prove difficult to adapt to.
Without a doubt, Virtua Fighter is not your casual fighting game. If you like 3D fighting games, it's certainly worth it, and if you want to better yourself as a fighting gamer, Virtua Fighter is the way to go.
Addictiveness: 8
I actually find myself coming back to play Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown when I feel like playing a 3D fighting game. Playing against friends in this fighting game absorbs me right into the combat always making new strategies to defeat my opponent. Going into training mode to try and create your own combos is especially fun. In general, the game just has a nice feel to it and can keep you playing for quite some time if you really love to challenge yourself.
Graphics: 9
From the previous Virtua Fighter 5, the graphics have certainly improved very much. Overall, everything has improved! The characters look very smooth and crisp, not to mention detailed. Soul Calibur V had been released maybe half a year or so before the game and I have to say, compared to that, I really prefer the look of Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown.
The stage environments are very breathtaking and some stages have been changed, others were modified. The tweaks to previous stages really bring out the beauty in the scenery around and what not and just look excellent overall.
Sound: 5
In my honest opinion, I not really a fan of the new Virtua Fighter music after Virtua Fighter 4. I don't believe in the idea that fighting game music should be ignored and never given an ear because it distracts a person from the fight. As a musician, I'm a hard core nut when it comes to music in many video games and the history of what music for a series has been done for before, and Virtua Fighter is no exception.
The original soundtrack composed for Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown sounds like crap, not to mention, plenty sound very similar in a few ways to each other. Virtua Fighter 1-5 originals sound more creative and much better on the ears by a long shot when compared to the constant ongoing tinny, whiny rock music . Of course, this isn't every song and probably three of the only songs I can respect is Akira Yuki's, Jeffery's, and Vanessa theme, though not as good as previous themes, it's better than the rest of the soundtrack.
Luckily, you don't have to hear VF5FS's soundtrack and you can choose to listen to the soundtracks of the previous Virtua Fighter games in the options menu. However, two of the Virtua Fighter soundtracks aren't included, that being Virtua Fighter Remix/PC which had amazing arrangements of the original Virtua Fighter 1 soundtracks featuring extended sections and solos, and the alternate VF5 R songs. Regardless, being given the choice to listen to the previous Virtua Fighter themes is a nice plus.
The voice acting in the game hasn't changed from Virtua Fighter 5 and still remains as cheesy as ever, which I honestly like. Even though it's so cheesy, it stays in your head once you hear it and it's hard to forget after that and you end up liking the quote eventually. The voice actors even put their 2 bits while performing certain moves which is really nice also and adds a nice touch to the performance of their techniques.
The sound effects also remain the same from previous Virtua Fighters using the same epic thunder strike effects for strong attacks, and long whooshing sounds for spinning kicks and what not. The sound effects in fact work really well for the game considering that it's fast paced and just has that powerful effect on how devastating a move may be.
Overall: 8.6
Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown is definitely a must have if you own Virtua Fighter. The game is definitely geared towards bettering one's self to take on pro players and provides a good amount of material you need to get to higher levels of game play. On the other hand, the DLC costume packs for the game can be a little pricey but actually do come with a huge set of customization items. The graphics are certainly appealing and do justice for the breath taking stages, however, the original soundtrack for VF5FS in no way compares to the previous Virtua Fighter soundtracks which are selectable at least. One issue that could change whether one buys the game or not is the fact that the Virtua Fighter series is difficult to learn and adapt to. It's possible the game could shun away casual gamers looking to button mash to win, but given the time, even a casual gamer could achieve that of an amateur level through training or maybe even become a pro.
Most of all, to those who haven't bought the game and are curious or want to use the customization and one more single player mode, I seriously recommend Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Complete which actually comes with all the customization packs for only 30$. This is actually cheaper than buying the game and then deciding on buying the customization packs adding up to 45$...
(If I hadn't got the game as a plus user for free, I would have ended up buying the game for 15$ and paying an extra 30$ for the two DLC costume packs)
If you want to challenge me online, nero955 is my PSN (I'm a little out of practice though)
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