Otaku World

Virtua Fighter 2

Sega

Platform ReviewedSega Saturn
Genre3D Polygon One-On-One Fighting Game
Number of Players1-2
Multiplayer ValueMinimum
LengthShort
DifficultyVariable
Skills RequiredHand-Eye Coordination
Interface DevicesSega Saturn Joypad
Interface DesignGood
ProgrammingGood
Game Design and PlayabilityExcellent
Type Of FunBeat-Em-Up
Replay ValueHigh
Overall ValueHigh
QualityHigh
The BestA great improvement over Virtua Fighter, good graphics and sound, realistic (relatively) attacks.
The WorstThe arena doesn't track with the background, certain touches are absent in comparison to the arcade version, such as the bridge, the colors could be brighter. I miss the arcade music and demo.
How much would I be willing to pay for this 45 Bucks

Description:

It's 3D polygon-based game, but the fighting occurs essentially in one plane, there's a number of fighters to choose from, and, well, they fight.

Story:

You get hit, you fall down. There's this martial arts tournament. A cast of fighters are invited. They get their keisters kicked, somebody wins. The End. Time to go to sleep, children. Good night.

Review:

Virtua Fighter was perhaps the very first 3D polygon fighter, now everyone and their dog is coming out with one. Virtua Fighter II improves upon the original and is a pretty good reflection of the arcade version, in fact the actual fighters themselves actually look better and smoother than the arcade. What has suffered, however, are the beautiful backgrounds that made the arcade Virtua Fighter II such a joy. Gone is the bridge in the river raft fight, buildings have been simplified, and the little touches that made me so amazed are simply not there. The worst crime of all, in my opinion, is that the area stage upon which the fighting occurs fails to track properly with the background scene. The impression is of fighting on a Lazy Suzan floating in front of a painted wall, which (programming-wise) I am fairly certain is essentially the case. Compared to the real and solid worlds of the fighters Tekken and Battle Arena Toshinden on the Sony Playstation, I find this graphic failure quite annoying. Such a thing really destroys for me the feeling of immersion, but then I am very picky about such details.

If what you want or truly care about is the PLAY of Virtua Fighter II, then I can say that the Saturn version delivers all of the moves and action one could hope for. Playwise the Saturn version is identical to the arcade, and as has been previously noted, if anything the fighters themselves look even better.

Recommended, with the aforementioned caveats.

Reviewed by Jennifer Diane Reitz, Dec. 28, 1995

Jennifer Diane Reitz is a Game Designer and Computer Artist, and one of the founders of Happy Puppy. She is the creator of numerous games and software products, including Boppin' , Shark Chums, Elsewhere, and many others. She has worked for such companies as Activision, Sculptured Software, Epyx, SRI, and Electronic Arts, and founded Accursed Toys. She has been active in the computer gaming industry since it's earliest days. She considers games to be works of artistic merit and achievement, and views computer entertainment as the most important media of our era.