Virtua Fighter Kids

"Looks Like Duke Nukem has Been Around the Virtua Fighter World, but He's Missed Some Heads..."

Virtua Fighter Kids was the final addition to my Saturn Virtua Fighter family, and while it isn't the best Virtua Fighter game, it certainly isn't the worst. A great concept for a fighting game, and it runs on the exact same engine as the other virtua fighters, thus you don't have to learn a whole new fighting system to play this game. That is one reason why the game play is so good in Virtua Fighter Kids.

Game play: 9/10

Excellent game play. The game plays like Virtua Fighter 2 exactly; same moves, same ways of winning, same characters, same everything. With the characters being smaller, some of the moves are less successful when hitting, or for range/height etc. On normal mode, the characters heads are a lot bigger, and I mean A LOT bigger, thus they get in the way a lot, and that is a good thing or a bad thing. The controls are still smooth and effortless, and the jumps still take 5 years! The story is another element that is equal to Virtua Fighter 2.

Story: 7/10

The story is the same as Virtua Fighter 2, although I believe that AM2 didn't really care about the story when it came to this game. Graphics are next.

Graphics: 8/10

This is the only area that differs from the other Virtua Fighters. AM2 went with a slightly more anime look for this game, and it delivers. Mind you, the characters don't look quite as sharp as they do in Virtua Fighter 2 (much less detail), however they have facial expressions, and the faces in general are a lot better than the other Virtua Fighters. The backgrounds are also not as sharp as they were in Virtua Fighter 2, but they aren't bad in the slightest. Sounds bring the score up just a bit.

Sounds: 9/10

Great sounds, really funny too. Everything is sped up sound-wise, and as a result, you have a sort-of Alvin and the Chipmunks style voice. As for the music, the great music from Virtua Fighter 2 is back, only remixed, so now you have 3 different versions of the Virtua Fighter 2 level music (Original, remixed, and Virtua Fighter Kids remixed). Can the game be replayed though?

Replay ability: 10/10

The new modes are begging to be played, as is ranking mode, which I find to be MUCH easier than Virtua Fighter 2's ranking mode. Furthermore, there are now two different ways you can fight; normal mode (the one with the over-sized heads), and kid mode (where the fighters are a lot smaller, like kids). This game will be played for a while.

Buy or rent?

Yet again, Saturn games cannot be rented, so you'll just have to settle for buying it. It can get a bit pricey (sometimes into the $25.00+) range, however it is worth it.

A great addition to the Saturn lineup. While Sega may have milked the Virtua Fighter franchise on the Saturn, it was worth it for all of these great Virtua titles we have gotten. Who would have thought though that kid versions of the Virtua Fighters would make such a great fighting game? AM2 did, and they succeeded. (with pop can in hand) "I look forward to our next bout!"

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/28/07, Updated 09/11/09

Game Release: Virtua Fighter Kids (JP, 07/26/96)