Virtua Fighter 5 Impressions (ign.com)
- ign.com -
UK, November 23, 2006 - Sure, we've already taken a long, hard look at SEGA's forthcoming Virtua Fighter 5 for PlayStation 3 here at IGN. However, given yesterday's fleeting office visit by our friendly, local SEGA PR chap, we thought we have a quick stab at the game to see how things are coming along.
If you're a fan of the legendary series, you're probably already well aware of Virtua Fighter 5's two new characters - the Lucha Libre-inspired El Blaze and Monkey Kung-fu-ing Eileen. Both were present and correct in the build we played - as was the newly-implemented 'Offensive Move' technique, enabling you to dodge blows by circling around your opponent while moving in out out, pressing diagonally on the d-pad.
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Speaking of the d-pad, we're pleased to report that the game plays perfectly well using Sony's latest SIXAXIS controller - characters move and fight with the kind of reponsiveness we expect and demand from a game of this nature. Currently, for completists out there, block moves are assigned to the square button, punches to triangle and kicks to square. Shoulder buttons are used to access slightly different variants on each.
Given our brief hands-on time with the game, we didn't really have the opportunity to get to grips with the new features in this latest iteration of the series, nor the promised customisation and online options, still absent from our build. However, fans of the arcade version will be pleased to hear that SEGA has confirmed that Virtua Fighter 5 on PS3 will be based on the 'Revision B' arcade machine, featuring all the gameplay and technical tweaks that entails - most specifically improved loading times and textures.
What's more, it's pleasing to see that, even at this stage, the PlayStation 3 version of Virtua Fighter 5 is indistinguishable from its arcade counterpart. Whether you're familiar with the game or not, this means the incredible levels of visual detail found in both the character models and arenas are all intact.
Given our brief hands-on time with the game, we didn't really have the opportunity to get to grips with the new features in this latest iteration of the series, nor the promised customisation and online options, still absent from our build. However, fans of the arcade version will be pleased to hear that SEGA has confirmed that Virtua Fighter 5 on PS3 will be based on the 'Revision B' arcade machine, featuring all the gameplay and technical tweaks that entails - most specifically improved loading times and textures.
What's more, it's pleasing to see that, even at this stage, the PlayStation 3 version of Virtua Fighter 5 is indistinguishable from its arcade counterpart. Whether you're familiar with the game or not, this means the incredible levels of visual detail found in both the character models and arenas are all intact.
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Characters themselves sport a fantastic degree of individual personality, thanks to beautifully fluid animations and texturing. In particular, when the camera zooms in close at the start of fights or for some post-match victory posturing, everything from individual pores to streaks of sweat are evident in all their hi-definition glory. Clothing too flaps and billows convincingly during battle, with environmental elements directly affecting material, whether its repeated contact with water dampening then drenched clothing or costumes catching in the wind.
Arenas are equally stunning, with stages like Snow Mountain drenched in evening light that cascades through distant rugged peaks, while mist creeps across the ground and birds flock in the sky. In fact, whether it's a golden-red sunset playing over rippling water, snow crunching under fighters' feet or gnarled trees bending in the wind amidst the thick of a lightning storm, you can't help but be impressed by the level of graphical finesse on display.
Hopefully, our next encounter with Virtua Fighter 5 will reveal more of those promised, yet currently elusive, console-specific features. Till then though, we're thrilled to see that SEGA's classic series is still looking set to offer a first class arcade experience when it hits PS3 next year.
Arenas are equally stunning, with stages like Snow Mountain drenched in evening light that cascades through distant rugged peaks, while mist creeps across the ground and birds flock in the sky. In fact, whether it's a golden-red sunset playing over rippling water, snow crunching under fighters' feet or gnarled trees bending in the wind amidst the thick of a lightning storm, you can't help but be impressed by the level of graphical finesse on display.
Hopefully, our next encounter with Virtua Fighter 5 will reveal more of those promised, yet currently elusive, console-specific features. Till then though, we're thrilled to see that SEGA's classic series is still looking set to offer a first class arcade experience when it hits PS3 next year.
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