Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown (PS3/360)

[iconoclast]

I think VF is extremely accessible, and I don't really understand how it got its reputation (in the west) for being only for the hardcore. The games have a really simple control scheme, and there aren't a bunch of subsystems and special moves to learn, like in 2D fighters. Of course, there is an incredible amount of depth to the game, but anybody can pick it up and start punching people. I'd say it's one of the best examples of a game being easy to understand, but hard to master.

Kinda like shumps.

[Op Intensify]

Nowhere near as mash-friendly as Tekken/Soul Calibur. Nearly everything is very punishable, not so in Tekken. That's why all the bros went for Namco's 3D fighters in the late nineties and never looked back. It doesn't help that VF wasn't on the Playstation until 4.

Despite having fewer buttons, VF also has much more difficult inputs for moves, grapples aside. The games also have more "vanilla" characters and settings. There's nothing overly exaggerated, fantastical, or sexually suggestive. No Darth Vader or Link, either. The bros won't stand for that.

You don't need to buy the customization packs, Gaijin.

[DragonInstall]

Eh VF5 is not very accessible at all. VF5FS is easily the hardest 3d fighter to really get into, but the most rewarding.

I really like how this game feels like a real fight, with each char representing their fighting style accurately. Asides from the juggle system & the huge jump attacks, it just feels very authentic in how they move, dodge, attack, throw, parry, and just everything.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjAb7wTo628

"Here comes my suplex." The english voice work is ridiculously bad to the point that it's kind of charming in its own way.

[Formless God]

To 360 users, is FS region locked?
Can I just purchase it with US MS points and play it on a Japanese console?

[BubbaMc]

Bump for a great game!

[Jonathan Ingram]

Why are you bumping it if you`re not going to post anything of worth?

Anyway, I played a few thousand ranking matches of this across my EU, US and JP accounts after it had come out in June, then stopped and haven`t really touched it since December. Recently, I`ve been looking to get back into it again. If anyone wants to play - PM me. I main Akira. PS3 version.

[Ruldra]

This game is now $5 on the US PSN, sale will only last until next tuesday. Is the online lag free? My connection isn't that good so I'm not sure if I should pick it up.

Also, the complete edition is $15. What else is included in it?

[Jonathan Ingram]

VF5:FS has the best netcode of any fighting game on the market. I constantly get two green bars when playing with the Japanese and almost always three bars with European players.

Bear in mind that the entry level is pretty high. It`s been more than a year since the game`s release and the online is almost exclusively populated by the VF diehard now(although I`d wager this sale would bring in some new blood). The first thing you should do regardless of whether you have any previous experience with the series or not is go through the tutorial and spend a few hours in the practice mode getting accustomed to the controls. Then watch this video: How to play Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown. Yes, it`s more than two hours and forty minutes long, but it teaches the absolute bare minimum anyone should know about this game before attempting to play it and walks you through the basics in a step-by-step manner.

[Zaarock]

Also, the complete edition is $15. What else is included in it?

You get costume customization for all the characters, nothing gameplay related. I agree the game has very good netcode. It's the same with Virtual-On and probably other sega games, impressive stuff. Been playing this every once in a while on 360 now, I'm terrible though :p

[GaijinPunch]

VF4 stole a small part of my life, and a huge part of my wallet. Always stayed away from this... so tempting... Haha.

[Ruldra]

Well, I bought the game and played some matches online. As expected, I can only get 0-1 bar of connection, but I'm really surprised that the game is very playable even with zero connection bars. Netcode is indeed top-notch.

Still, I think I'm only able to connect to a limited number of people. Didn't find many players to play against.

Don't bother challenging me yet since I'm still a mashing noob lol.

[Jonathan Ingram]

Didn't find many players to play against.

Log in from your Japanese PSN account(provided you have one) > Online Battle > Ranked Match > Matching Range: Same Area = tons of players online.

You get costume customization for all the characters, nothing gameplay related.

Not quite. Getting all the DLC packs unlocks the best single-player mode in the game called Special Sparring in which you fight teams of customized AI opponents. It`s a pretty poor replacement for VF4:E`s fabled Quest Mode, but at least it`s something.