Virtua Fighter 2

• Release Date: 1996
• Genre: Fighting
• Style: 3D Fighting
• Similar Games: Fighting Vipers (Arcade), Virtua Fighter (Sega Genesis 32X), Fighters Megamix (Sega Saturn), Fighting Vipers (Sega Saturn), Virtua Fighter (Sega Saturn), Virtua Fighter Kids (Sega Saturn), Virtua Fighter Remix (Sega Saturn), Last Bronx (IBM PC Compatible), Last Bronx (Arcade), Virtua Fighter (Arcade), Virtua Fighter Kids (Arcade), Virtua Fighter Remix (Arcade), Fighting Vipers (Sega Saturn), Fighters Megamix (game.com), Last Bronx (Sega Saturn)

Game Description

Sega's hit arcade fighting game makes its anticipated Saturn debut with an assortment of extra features and options. All ten 3D characters from the coin-op are included for play in an 11-match tournament. You'll battle the computer or a friend in matches held within ten texture-mapped, outdoor environments. To win, you must either deplete your opponent's health within the default time of 30 seconds or knock your rival out of each locale's "ring." Defeat each challenger three times to advance. As in Virtua Fighter, three buttons are used to block, kick, and punch, while directional pad motions initiate dashes, jumps, crouches, and more.

In addition to the arcade game's tournament and versus play, the Saturn version includes the following variants: Team Battle, Ranking, Watch, and Expert. "Team Battle" has you selecting five characters and challenging a rival team's fighters in succession until one side is defeated. "Ranking" features the same structure as the arcade mode, only you'll receive feedback and ratings based on how fast and effective you were in defeating the computer. "Watch" is a non-interactive fight between two computer-controlled characters, while "Expert" is an advanced mode in which the AI attempts to learn and exploit your tendencies.

Roots & Influences

Virtua Fighter became a hit in the Arcades resulting in home conversions and sequels. Virtua Fighter 2 is influenced by the original and two different Arcade versions of Virtua Fighter 2, 2.0 and 2.1.

Review: Overall

Virtua Fighter 2 is the sequel to a groundbreaking game. At the time of the original's release nearly every fighter was a Street Fighter clone. That mold was broken by Virtua Fighter with its original look and pure fighting, nothing supernatural like fireballs was included.

Gameplay is smooth and controls are accurate. Characters can each perform around 10-15 of the same basic moves and a huge number of their own moves (about 25 a piece). Pulling off moves is not too difficult with the gamepad but much easier to perform with a joystick. Virtua Fighter 2 includes both Arcade versions, 2.0 and 2.1. They look the same as all of the differences take place during the action.

To make the battles against the computer more challenging Sega has created a computer learning system. The computer will take note if you use the same move over and over in order to force you to learn other moves. However, if you don't want the highest challenge this game can provide then you can turn the computer learning feature off. Although even with this setting on the game is not very difficult. Despite being able to know if you are repeating the same move, if that move is hard to block then you will still be able to land it.

Graphically is where this games sets itself apart from most other fighters. Characters are polygon based and contain a lot of details. They are all very sharp and move quite realistically. Backgrounds are bright and look great but some of them do not contain a lot of items.

Virtua Fighter 2 is one of the best fighters available for the Saturn. However, if you like fighting games that include supernatural moves and lots of blood then this game is not for you. You won't find any fireballs or fatalities here. This is a pure fighting game as each character has their own style of fighting and it certainly shows, especially with the Drunken master Shun-di. The game's only flaws are the endings. Endings consist of showing pictures of the winning character and then rolling the credits, nothing about the character accomplishing their goals that are mentioned in the storyline.

Review: Enjoyment

This is one of the best fighting games but it needs new endings.

Review: Graphics

Characters are the focus in this game and they look great as well as move smoothly.

Review: Sound

Complement the game's action perfectly.

Review: Replay Value

Characters have a good number of moves, there are two versions, and plenty of modes of play.

Review: Documentation

Includes move lists for all of the characters and details about the differences between the two {!Arcade} versions.

Production Credits

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