Sound: 9
Gameplay: 10
Replay Value: 10
Reviewer's Tilt: 10
Overall: 9.9
Reviewed by Chris
First, I thought there was a little bit much hype...and for a fighter game, of all categories! Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of fighter games--Tekken 2, Tekken 3, Tekken Tag Tournament, and Dead or Alive 2 to be exact--but Virtua Fighter 4 sounded a little like another game from Sega Dreamcast, which was killed by the PS2's success. Basically, it sounds like another one of those situations where Sega ported us one of its games that might not be so successful on the PS2.
Ha ha ha. Oh, am I foolish. Jeez, that was the biggest mistake I've made this year. All those people who I said were idiots on GameFAQs, well please forgive me, because I have seen the revolutionary future of the fighter genre. I like it too! It's highly playable and replayable. It's graphically precise, with some of the best water effects I've seen in gaming, and the controls are dead-on accurate. The character models look better than Dead or Alive 3, and a few stages do as well. Thanks to some excellent sounds and music, this game has enough depth to put it on the must-have games of 2002. Best fighting game ever made? Absolutely.
One unique thing about the future of fighting games (aka Virtua Fighter 4) is the concept of skill development. Tekken and Dead or Alive games are just not good at this. All it takes in Tekken and Dead or Alive is button mashing. Hit a couple buttons at the same time to get some odd combo move. Well, in VF4, the game relies on pure skill instead of mindless button mashing. Personally, I prefer this over any fighting game because of this reason. Once I can take down a really tough fighter, and I realize I did it all on my skill level and nothing else, I feel thrilled. Joy overpowers me at this state. You have to not be overpowered by the enemy, because you won't win that way.
Kumite mode is the most addictive mode in any fighting game. It's sort of like Arcade mode, but with much more depth. You fight your way through many computer opponents, unlocking neat outfits along the way. Customization is the key to Kumite mode, and VF4 provides the player with all the tools he or she needs to succeed. You will sharpen your skills as you progress, and thanks to this excellent fighting engine, you get what you want. Thank you so much to Sega for giving us Kumite mode, which is one of the reasons that I keep coming back to this beautiful game.
Of course, you also get your Training mode, which is simply the most helpful and user-friendly tutorial that I have seen. This is just one of the things that Virtua Fighter excels at, and this training will be beneficial to the challenging and tactical gameplay.
You can't be afraid to test your moves. Before playing, I highly recommend going to practice in the Practice section of the game against the computer. Try to remember your buttons and commands, beat the crap out of the computer and then your friends (for once, the game's AI is actually tougher than your friend!), then boot up the Arcade mode and let that AI have it! You probably won't win, but it's worth a shot. Remember, Virtua Fighter 4 takes a long time to master, so it's not one of those pick-up-and-play titles like you might initially be fooled to think.
I recommend Virtua Fighter 4 to everyone. I can't believe how great it really is. I was taken by surprise by this game and I love playing it, and you will too. It has enough depth to make it the first must-have title of 2002, and this should not be missed by anyone. This is the best fighting game that I have ever played, and it is so much fun to play. The Training mode alone is worth the purchase, but you also get a game in there. A very beautiful one. I think that Tekken 4 will have much to prove if it wants to hang out with this game. --Chris Currey
