"A work of art for 2003"

The Dark Watcher was never a true fan of the Virtua Fighter series till the arrival of VF4 for Playstation 2. So of course we took an interest when Sega AM2 began work on the update called “Evolutions”. At first we were skeptical. Would it be a VF 4.5? An excuse for AM2 to tweak and bugfix then add new alternate outfits? We had no idea….till we got our claws into the Japanese import.

Keep in mind that this review is based on the import. As of this writing the NTSC US and UK PAL version are still not released. There may be changes once those versions arrive on store shelves. If you simply cannot wait for the game to arrive locally, the import contains enough English text, images and voiceovers to get you playing. Some areas may require some poking around, but it is not difficult to navigate.

When Virtual Fighter debuted last year it became a showcase as to what the Playstation 2 console was capable of graphically. We expected slight graphical improvement in VF Evolutions. Once we started the game it became clear that AM2 wanted to amaze once again. The first thing you will notice is the game load speed. In VF4, the eye candy was crammed onto a single compact disk. Evolutions on the other hand takes full advantage of the DVD format. The game loads quickly and has you well on your way to battle. In terms of visuals, VF Evolutions is a masterpiece. Not only did AM2 improve backgrounds, but character models as well. The characters look stunning, and move fluidly. Impressive touches such as flowing hair, background interaction, light / shadow effects, clothing movement, and weather changes such as rain and snow. Pictures do this game no justice. A single battle will contain many animated effects, and thanks to the DVD format there is no hint of slowdown.

Once we managed to stop staring, we picked up our dropped jaw and checked on sound. Not complaints here either. Great sound effects have you feeling every punch and slam. Character voiceovers are clear and fit each characters personality. After each victory your character will always have some insult or quip to say. The battle music is fitting and doesn’t get tiresome.

So how do you improve gameplay on an already impressive Virtua Fighter formula? Try adding two new unique characters to the roster. AM2 also gave characters new moves, and simplified controls for a few of the older moves. Contact is spot on. Each character responds with different animations to jabs, strikes to the face, strikes to the midsection, or having there legs taken out from under them. There are also game replays that can be saved to relive those impressive knockouts. The game sports all the original’s game modes with the exception of Kumite. Kumite has evolved to something more interesting, and is now called “Quest”.

We will tie in the explanation of “Quest” mode with the game’s replay value. “Quest” mode simulates your journey through various arcades throughout Tokyo (and elsewhere perhaps?). Your goal is to compete against other simulated arcade opponents, and be crowned champion of each arcade. It is reported that AM2 based each simulated arcade opponent’s AI on actual arcade player gameplay. So you will definitely find each battle a different experience. In order to add more to the simulated arcade experience, your opponent will have something to say (in text) after each fight. Since the text is in Japanese, we cannot judge this addition. Victories earn you money that can be used in a simulated store. You can purchase items and accessories such as masks, gloves, cloths, etc to customize your character appearance. Rare items can also be won facing different opponents. Hell..You can even purchase a customized look for your character that gives them polygonal graphics from the original Virtua Fighter game. Making your way through arcade ranks, and collecting all items available adds an enormous amount of replay value for the single player experience. Two players battling is in a class by itself of course.

It will be interesting to see how “Quest” mode translates when Evolutions makes it to local shores. The only gripe we have with this game (and trust us it’s hard to find one) is the final boss. Virtua Fighter has graced different consoles, and has seen different versions. Why the hell is Dural the same boss every time? However no matter how you look at it, Virtua Fighter 4 Evolutions is a must have game. Own VF4? So what! Don’t own a Playstation 2? Buy one or pray to the emulation lords! There is no doubt that this game is a work of art for 2003.





Pros:

Gorgeous graphics and animation

Great gameplay and replay value

A showcase of what the PS2 can do

Cons:

Boss battle Dural again?

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/27/03, Updated 06/27/03