This is one of those forgotten games that it makes a more seasoned gamer like me sad to see sitting unloved on a shelf. For me this was at Family Video, at a bargain rental price (they do this for underplayed and/or really bad games in an effort to get them out the door more often). Gran Turismo 3, for some insane reason, was also at the bargain price, but we won't get into that here.
In any case. Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution is one of the better fighting games I've played (this does no include the other VF's; haven't had a PS2 long enough to compare). The game recognizes its arcade heritage and embraces it in story mode, where you play a random guy in a big city trying to become top Virtua Fighter in said city. You'll pick a fighterand carry him/her through, but the fighter isn't the thing. It's the other arcade players you're fighting. You'll work your way through various arcades, beating up on nobodies and working your way up to the big guns. All have idiot screen names, and I found myself having loads of fun during the rental period anticipating new opponents and laughing at their stupid names. Of course mine was 'mtvcdm', so I couldn't laugh too hard, but still. Along the way you'll also get to buy and unlock various visual upgrades for your chosen fighter. This'll take a while. You can also compete in underground tournaments. These are hard. Winnable, but hard, and a sharp jolt of reality if you've been spending a lot of time beating up on small frys in the first couple arcades.
In addition, you can unlock a Virtua Fighter 1 game-- well, the graphics are 1, the fighters are the same ones from 4: Evolution. But still, a nice touch.
In conclusion, I enjoyed the game immensely, and had I either known I'd have a PS2 past January when we anticipate my brother moving out and taking it with him or been with Virtua Fighter longer, I'd probably have bought it. A 4... out of 5.
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