Virtua Fighter: Really that good?

[eastyy]

I have to admit the training mode in vf 4 really opened my eyes it gives ideas for follow up attacks or dodges and some smart combos to.

Also i have to say watching the match replays on the disc really gives something to aim for (though the clips of somebody pulling of combos WITH ONE HAND is perhaps a bit to far)

[Shoju]

So, by that rational, VF is the best 3D fighting game. Not the best overall fighter...

Personally I don't like the asthetics of a 2d fighter. I find the animation of a 3d polygonal fighter is far more realistic (with exaggerations) as the movements are motion captured from real people and as a result feel more satisfying and have more oomph. A 3d fighter also has lateral movement which you don't get in 2d fighters.

You can't judge the quality of a game just by the arcade scene as not every game gets the same hype, attention or support from the arcade centers. Do you judge the quality of a console game by it's postion in the charts? VF has a huge following in Japan where the arcade scene overall is much much bigger than it is here, what does that say?

VF is a game that becomes fun and plays alot faster as you get better at it over time. That I think is part of the problem though as if you never put the time you'll never see it. Alot of people don't and never actually appreciate it.

[Street Turk]

Where do you get these clips from? That one handed thing sounds interesting...

I had a look at the VF links posted on here but they require membership etc.

VF5 does look interesting...I am pretty anti Tekken nowadays at is just too simple a game to be any fun. Tekken Tag for example, is simply a matter of getting the first launcher in...

[eastyy]

the clips you can get while playing the game


Dont know where you can download them though

[Dogg Thang]

For some reason, I have bought the home versions of every VF and always hated them. Why do I keep putting myself through that?

However, I won't argue with anyone who says they are excellent because I think with something like VF you have to put in a serious amount of time before you know it enough to start to be able to fight strategically. And I haven't been able to put in that time.

To be honest, that is actually part of my problem with VF - the moves are so complex that I just see it as a test of memory and that's just not fun to me. At the risk of bringing up SF again, the actual moves are so simple that you can learn them all really quickly - after that, you get into the meat of it which is how to use them well, mastering the characters. So then it becomes how you use them and that's the fun for me. Trying to remember 100 combinations for a character just doesn't do it for me and certainly I felt for a long time that it was fooling people into thinking it was 'deep'.

But, probably given that time and having learned those combinations, the real depth of the game would be exposed - when those moves become instinct. Few people would get to that stage I think.

The problem with calling it the 'best fighter' or even 'best 3D fighter' is that it drops marks in one major category - accessibility.

[Goemon]

Geoman: Another great post. I have not sat down and really played it to the depth of months-I tried to but the lack of a sparring partner made it seem worthless.

I will get VF 5 and make my pal play it too-force him to learn the game. That way we can have the hate and rivalry we have on Pro Evo and used to do on Tekken...

Yea, I was the same - getting friends to play too definitely helps. They themselves don?t even have to get too in depth, just so long as they?re there for sessions/challenges. I forced some m8s to play sessions on it, but whereas they would only sit and play for the session I was the one off doing training etc. honing my skills in my free time.

Also, I have to say the Quest mode of Evo PS2 is also fairly impressive too, from fighting game AI point of view and you can definitely improve yourself going through it.

The main thing you have to contend with is dropping below button basher status when you first start out. This was my original rant ? the fact that altho I was ?learning? the game I was still getting chinned by people who didn?t know what they were doing. It gave to illusion of over-powerful characters. The thing is, when you start learning you slow right down as you are constantly thinking about what you want to do, whereas a button basher just mashes everything constantly (my friend still suffers from this problem and it really pi$$es him off fighting beginners).

You have to stick with it and get your reactions/moves up to speed! Once you?re there you can laugh at people who spam.

It?s arduous, so it's not for everyone, but it is possible come out on the other side. And when you reach that point, IMO - it's totally worth it.

[mid]

Take what Dogg Thang just said, replace SF with Soul Calibur (which is nice and accessible without feeling as cheap as Tekken or DoA), and pretend I said the same thing. It's much more eloquent than I would be.

I keep buying VF games because I can see that they're really well made. I just don't have the time or dedication to get through the rote learning phase and start enjoying the thing.

[Team Andromeda]

For some reason, I have bought the home versions of every VF and always hated them. Why do I keep putting myself through that?

However, I won't argue with anyone who says they are excellent because I think with something like VF you have to put in a serious amount of time before you know it enough to start to be able to fight strategically. And I haven't been able to put in that time.

To be honest, that is actually part of my problem with VF - the moves are so complex that I just see it as a test of memory and that's just not fun to me. At the risk of bringing up SF again, the actual moves are so simple that you can learn them all really quickly - after that, you get into the meat of it which is how to use them well, mastering the characters. So then it becomes how you use them and that's the fun for me. Trying to remember 100 combinations for a character just doesn't do it for me and certainly I felt for a long time that it was fooling people into thinking it was 'deep'.

But, probably given that time and having learned those combinations, the real depth of the game would be exposed - when those moves become instinct. Few people would get to that stage I think.

The problem with calling it the 'best fighter' or even 'best 3D fighter' is that it drops marks in one major category - accessibility.

And you coul say the same thing about Pro Evo, yet everybody sites that as the best football game ever made, Nobody says the more accessible FIFA is better. You may have to put the time in, but when you do both VF and Pro are the best 3D example of thier genre .

BTW, VF have very easy combo's that anybody could learn very quickly

[Street Turk]

MAster chief: Erm..where did I say that I hadn't touched it? I said I hadnt put in MONTHS-I put in weeks but not months. If you are going to criticise, please learn to read properly beforehand.

Popularity is an indicator of quality. It is not always the case, but if a lot of people play a game it is normally good. There are arguments for and against this of course-which I am sure you will highlight.


I know-lets read every post and try and pick up on things that we can throw back. That is really constructive.

Read my other posts and you will see that this is not an attempt to wind people up.

[stroppa]

http://virtuafighter.com/versuscity/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/137657/an/0/page/0#137657

There are regular VF Ranking Battles in london every few weeks or so. The scene is still there, albeit not quite what it was a year or 2 ago. My advice would be to get yourself out there while it was still breathing and get some experience of it.

I played VF Evo for the first time in a bit last night after playing a bit of DoA4 recently, and it really is so much better than any other 3D fighter. Compared next to DoA4 it's really apparent how much more tactical it is. Guaranteed throw situations, and thinking in frames and disadvantages...it's all there, I love it. As mentioned before, the mechanics of 2D fighters make them a different beast to 3D, so comparison at times is really unfair.

[nero1001]

Think before posting is my advice.

Flex those muscles admin man, pfft!

I think you`ll find that I had a valid point after the part where you quoted me.

[Wools]

I know-lets read every post and try and pick up on things that we can throw back. That is really constructive.

From your first post you did not state whether you had played it or not, just compared it to other fiighting games.

If I souded argumenative, I'm sorry I did not mean to.

I'm off I did not want to argue.

[Street Turk]

Sorry Master chief: I was a bit hasty there

I just do not get the attitude of certain people on here. I dared to question the quality of a game and get abuse.

Thankfully, at least some people can provide informative feedback.

[MartyG]

This is the final time I'm going to trim this thread rather than lock it - please can we play nice.

Thank you.

[baad bwoy]

Good going there marty g,
I haven't yet had time to read through the thread, but it seems a decent topic for discussion, would be a shame if it were spoiled.