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Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution Preview
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Developer |
AM2
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| Publisher |
Sega
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| Genre |
Fighting
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| Release Date |
8/13/03
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In 1993, Yu Suzuki's Virtua Fighter stormed arcades and revolutionized the fighting genre. VF's unprecedented, polygonal graphics may have initially attracted gamers to their nearest arcade, but the amazing gameplay is what kept them coming back. The series was a huge international hit. Developers took notice and began designing games using Virtua Fighter as a paradigm. Fighters such as Dead or Alive, Soul Calibur and Tekken were all critically acclaimed and commercially successful. The success of these derivatives combined with the disappointment surrounding Virtua Fighter 3 led many to believe that the series could no longer keep up with the competition.
They were wrong.
Virtua Fighter 4, released in 2001, has been called the greatest fighting game ever. A bold claim indeed, but anyone who’s played VF4 instantly recognized its impeccable style and substance. It was developed to suit the tastes of both the casual and hardcore gamer. Casual gamers loved the detailed graphics and the simple but responsive controls. Hardcore fans loved the depth and variety of the fighting styles and the challenge of Kumite. VF4 is certainly a piece of videogame art all the while having universal appeal.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Suzuki definitely saw areas in VF4 that could be tweaked and refined to even an even higher level. Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution is the end result. Essentially more of a substantial upgrade than a full-fledged sequel, Suzuki improved upon an already great game by packing it with new characters, moves, and items. He didn’t stop there though. As a special treat to fans of the series, Evolution also contains Virtua Fighter 10th anniversary edition.
Two new characters are set to mix it up in Evolution. Brad Burns is a muay thai kick boxer who combines rapid punches and kicks with powerful knee and elbow strikes. Goh Hinogami is a methodical fighter who specializes in judo and utilizes an array of throwing techniques and grappling moves. On top of these new fighters, all of the original VF4 characters have roughly a dozen new moves added to their repertoires.
Evolution does not have online capabilities, but Quest mode does its best to simulate the experience. In Quest mode, which replaces VF4’s Kumite, you’ll fight in virtual arcades and compete against a plethora of CPU challengers. The AI of each opponent was modeled after the best Virtua Fighter players in the world, attempting to recreate their tactics and provide a more complex and human feel. Defeat enough opponents in Quest mode and you’ll move up in rank, open up new virtual arcades, and unlock items (1500 in all) to customize your character with. While these items are merely cosmetic, but they add a touch individuality to your character.
What really sets this upgrade apart from its peers is the inclusion of Virtua Fighter 10th anniversary edition. This mode allows you to play Evolution using the old-school polygon graphics from the original Virtua Fighter. All of Evolution's characters and moves will remain intact, but the fights will now take place in stages from the original game. Virtua Fighter 10th anniversary edition is an excellent way for longtime fans to relive the glory days when the series was king of the arcades. It will also allow for newcomers to see just how far this legendary series has come in the last 10 years. Kudos to Sega and AM2 for including this excellent bonus.
VF4 put the world on notice that the series was back in a major way. Amazingly enough, Evolution appears kick things up a notch and improve upon the legacy of its revolutionary predecessors. Too many times have we seen less than stellar upgrades being passed off as full priced sequels (*cough* Tekken *cough*). Not here. On top of all the fantastic additions and improvements, Sega will release Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution at the greatest hit price point. All this for twenty bones? Count me in.
Preview by Erick Kelsen
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