The PlayStation 2 has a new King of Fighting Games and it is Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution. No other fighting game comes close at least on the PS2.
Many remember VF4 as a great fighting game with some amazing replay value but some horribly crappy graphics this (even VF3 on the Dreamcast looked better!). Be prepared to be amazed as the Sega team has done an amazing job bringing VF4 E to the next century.
If you've already played VF4, you're probably asking: Do I need to buy this game? In a word, yes. There is just so much more in this '10th Anniversary" game, including improved graphics, reworked stages, two new original characters and the all important 1500 accessory items. Oh yeah, and the original VF is in there too. Sega Saturn anyone?
Unlike Sega's rehash of Sonic on the GameCube, this game just oozes in replay value. The manual is very well done, listing pretty much every command and move available for each player (finally a fighting game that doesn't make me buy a strategy guide!!).
When you start, you have these items on the menu: arcade (which ironically, is like the arcade version of the game). VS mode (play against another player), QUEST (tournament battle), TRAINING (duh), Command (kinda like a debug mode to see what you're doing when fighting), and Free mode (lets you do whatever you want) and Trial (scenario practice) mode, which has it's own menu.
Only three buttons are used in game: circle for punch, x for kick and square for guard. Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? It's not – the game is very deep and you can hit multiple buttons to unleash combos and grabs. It is very intuitive and while it takes a while to master, you'll still have fun even in the early stages of the game.
When fighting, there are the usual 'dash' attacks and evasive combos as well as a reversal combo. You can also defect attacks from your opponent. There's plenty of moves for each character and they are all detailed in the manual Timing is very important but once you get it down, you'll be incredible.
Luckily you won't be going through this game in a day – the Quest mode is incredibly deep. In the quest mode you'll first select a character and a location where you'll have to fight other people at the local arcade. Winning these tournaments give you more money which you can then use to buy more accessories for your character or enter higher priced tournaments, which of course, earn you more money. See the cycle?
The sound won't wow you, unless of course you like the Japanese techno featured in earlier renditions of VF. Nothing great to write home about here, but not awful either.
The game is a total blast to play – and what's even better? The price tag! That's right – this game which was just released is being sold at a $19.99 Greatest Hits price tag. How can a game be released as a greatest hit? Beats me – I guess Sony thinks of the game as a VF add on so it can be sold that way. No biggie to me, as you should definitely take advantage of the price.
I've been playing this game so much, it's very close to knocking off the Dreamcast's Soul Calibur as the best fighting game ever. Of course, with SC 2 just weeks away, we'll have to see who will win that battle, but for now, Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution is a fighting gamer's dream – it's the total package and highly recommended. -Dan
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